The sports world is coming around. The NFL has put sexual orientation on its list of protected classes. So now an athlete can come out and not feel threaten that he could get fired.
A new collective bargaining agreement from the NFL Players Association states that, "There will be no discrimination in any form against any player by the Management Council, any Club or by the NFLPA because of race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or activity or lack of activity on behalf of the NFLPA."This is a good move for the NFL.
Olsen discovered the change after comparing the latest version of the agreement to the last one in 2006, which didn't include the words, "sexual orientation." The new agreement was ratified by the players on August 4 and signed by the commissioner the next day. It lasts until 2021.
Three former NFL players have come out after leaving the sport behind — Esera Tuaolo in 2002, Roy Simmons in 1992, and David Kopay in 1975. But none has lived openly while still playing.
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Kudos to the NFL for this. I think they saw the inevitable writing on the wall and figured now was the time to acknowledge that they probably do have gay players out there.
ReplyDeleteLook, by pure numbers there are a lot of gay people in sports. Statistics bear it out too.
I'm glad this finally happened. Jerry Smith, one of the best tight ends (no pun intended) to ever play the game, died of AIDS and stayed in the closet his whole life.
ReplyDeleteI hope I never see that happen again to another NFL player.
Wow. Very interesting.
ReplyDeleteI am proud of the NFL for taking this step forward. It's about time.
ReplyDeleteAbout time. Good for them. Hoping this has a domino effect for other sports leagues V.
ReplyDeleteGood stuff
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