PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — "I'm gay."
For the first time in the 102-year history of the NFL, a player on an active roster said those words publicly, with a desire to cultivate a more accepting and compassionate culture for LGBTQ people.
"I've been meaning to do this for a while now, but I finally feel comfortable enough to get it off my chest," said West Chester native and former Penn State defensive lineman Carl Nassib on Instagram. The former Big Ten defensive player of the year now plays with the Las Vegas Raiders.
"I really have the best life. I've got the best family, friends and job a guy could ask for."
Nassib also announced a $100,000 donation to the Trevor Project, a group which he called "an incredible organization" that helps prevent suicide among LGBTQ youth.
He said on Instagram that he was not coming out for attention, and he could not have gone public without support from the NFL and his Raiders teammates and coaches.
He recognized the significance of being seen.
"Representation and visibility are so important. I actually hope that one day, videos like this and the whole coming out process are just not necessary," he explained.
"I'm going to do my part to cultivate a culture that's accepting, as compassionate."
Nassib's donation is fueled by studies he cited that say one accepting adult lowers the risk of LGBTQ youth suicide by 40%.
"Whether you're a friend, a parent, a coach or a teammate, you can be that person" he said.
Shortly after Nassib's announcement, the Raiders and the NFL shared their support on social media.
Former University of Missouri defensive end Michael Sam publicly came out in February 2014. He became the first openly gay NFL Draft pick when the St. Louis Rams chose him later that spring, but he only got as far as the practice squad of the Rams and Dallas Cowboys without making their active rosters.