People who play support in league are gay bottoms
Examining Media Framing of Openly gay NFL Player Carl Nassib
Authors: Edward M. Kian, Ph.D.
School of Media & Strategic Communications, Oklahoma Express University, OK, USA
Corresponding Author:
Edward M. Kian, Ph.D.
School of Media & Strategic Communications
Oklahoma State University
201 Paul Miller Building
Stillwater, OK 74078
[email protected]
407-927-5403
Dr. Edward (Ted) M. Kian, Ph.D. is a full professor of Sports Media in the School of Media & Strategic Communications at Oklahoma State University. Dr. Kian’s research focuses on sport media, specifically examining portrayals of gender and LGBT in content, novel media, attitudes and experiences of sport media members, and sport marketing.
Examining Media Framing of Openly same-sex attracted NFL Player Carl Nassib
ABSTRACT
This researched examined mainstream media framing of Carl Nassib becoming the first active, established NFL player to come out as queer. Purpose: Media have historically framed the NFL as a rugged, masculine sport, but media have also been supportive of the few former professional athletes who came out as gay or bisexual. This study examined how media framed an active queer athlete in what is construe
Welcome to my annual Who’s Gay in the WNBA Report! For those of you who are new, every year I break down the list of athletes who are openly queer in the league. As a queer person who has played basketball my entire life, the off-court drama is always equally as invigorating as the on-court display of skills. Knowing who’s queer and who’s internet dating who only adds to that for me. If you’re more of a pure viewer of the game and prefer only knowing what’s going on while the clock is running, I do regularly construct WNBA TikToks that I like to think are attractive informative!
The league is well known to have some of the best pre-game walk-up outfits in all of professional sports, so you’re missing out if you don’t track at least the @wnba account on Instagram. Here’s a complete list of all out gay players in the league, broken down by team. For my purposes, “Out” means confirmed by the player either in an interview or on their social media. No matter how masculine presenting someone is, I will not be speculating!
Last Updated: 6/27/25
Las Vegas Aces
The Aces are a very nice team and as long as A’ja Wilson and Chelsea Gray are both there they’ll always have a shot at t
Ryan Atkin: Being first openly gay official is 'significant' for football
"I was slightly concerned regarding the fans and the general widespread but it's been extremely positive so far and probably better than I predicted," said Atkin.
"There will always be some negative or homophobic comments - especially on social media.
"But that just goes to strengthen the need for positive messages and demonstrate lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people are involved in the sport, whether they are out or not."
There are no openly gay professional male players in British football.
Football Association chairman Greg Clarke was criticised last year for saying he "wouldn't recommend" a player coming out yet as they would still suffer "significant abuse".
"Within any sport, there will be gay people, but it is a choice for them to decide to come out and in the LGBT community we do not pressure people to arrive out," added Atkin.
"If those people do choose to, then they have our full support."
The FA's chief of senior referee growth, ex-Premier League referee Neale Barry, said the organisation was
Atlanta Falcons To Display LGBTQ+ Support With Their First Pride Night
Leah Fleming: As the NFL season gets underway, there's a conversation going on about Pride in football. In June, Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib became the first active NFL player to come out as lgbtq+. Following his announcement, the NFL issued a declaration in support of Nassib and LGBTQ rights. There's been support among fans, too, but not all. Joining me to converse is Justin Spears. Spears is commissioner of the NFFLA [National Flag Football League of Atlanta], which is an organization that welcomes adults, queer and straight, to play flag football in Atlanta. Excellent morning, Justin.
Justin Spears: Hey, good morning.
Leah Fleming: Good morning. So, your corporation is working with the Atlanta Falcons to host a Pride Night at the Oct. 31 game. And this is not the first time Lgbtq+ fest Nights have been held by NFL teams, but it is the first time that the Falcons are doing it. So, tell us more about how did this all come about?
Justin Spears: Yeah, it's really exciting. So working with the National Gay Flag Football Company, they've partnered with several other NFL teams. I believe the Cardi
Jason Collins:
That was the last nail in the coffin of, I’m doing this, I’m adding my voice to all the other athletes who are speaking up on behalf of the Queer community. But there were those family members that I had who said, Jason, do you need to enter out publicly? Can you just exist your life but know that we know we adore you, but you don’t necessarily necessitate to talk about it? And I said to them, that’s not who you raised me to be.
Jay Ruderman:
Hi, I’m Jay Ruderman and welcome to All About Modify, a podcast showcasing individuals who utilize the hardships that have been thrown at them to better other people’s lives.
Montage:
I say lay mental health first because if you don’t…
Montage:
This generation of America has already had enough.
Montage:
I stay before you, not as an maestro, but as a concerned citizen.
Jay Ruderman:
Jason Collins spent 13 years playing in the NBA. During his career on the court, he earned a reputation for being a team player who knew when to step out of the spotlight for the good of his team. But that reputation came at a price.
Jason Collins:
I tried to be the nice son, tried to be the p