LGBT

Carl Nassib, NFL’s First Openly Gay Active Player, Retires

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Carl Nassib, who made history as the first openly gay active player in the NFL, has announced that he is retiring. “This is a bittersweet moment for me but after seven seasons and just over 100 NFL games, I am retiring to focus on my company Rayze,” Nassib wrote on Instagram. “It really feels like just yesterday starting out as a walk-on at Penn State. Football has given me more than I ever could have imagined. I can truly hang up my helmet for the last time knowing I gave it everything I had.”

Furthermore, Nassib spoke to People that he would like to remain connected to the NFL in some way. “Maintaining that relationship shows that the NFL is continuing to support me,” Nassib said. “They’ve supported me so much over the last two years, and I really couldn’t have done it without that support. I think that I can provide a very rare and specific view of how life is for an out gay player, and I think that there are some amazing opportunities that I can also learn.” Nassib’s company, Rayze, is an app that helps people find charities and non-profits that match their interests and passions.

Read More: Sean Payton blasts Russell Wilson for lack of football focus

Carl Nassib Retires

Drafted by the Browns in 2016, Nassib made history in 2021 when he came out as gay. While he was not the first gay NFL player, he was the first to come out while still an active player. The NFL very much embraced Nassib, matching his $100,000 donation to The Trevor Project after he came out. Playing with the Raiders at the time, Nassib spent the 2022 season with the Buccaneers. A free agent entering 2023, Nassib revealed to People that the thought of retirement actually came to him last season.

“This would have been my 23rd football season. I’ve been playing football since I was eight years old, and I’m really excited to move on to the next chapter of my life. [I found myself] staying at the Bucs facility until 9 p.m. every night working on Rayze. I feel like it’s my calling and it’s what I’m meant to do. I’m really excited to move on to the next chapter of my life and to give Rayze everything that I have.” Nassib appeared in 99 regular season games and two postseason games over his seven-year career.

Read More: Jags coach becomes first gay male coach in major American sport

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Janelle Monáe Vows To ‘Never Sit Back And Be Silent’ About ‘Injustices’ Trans And LGBTQ People Face Amid New Laws

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Janelle Monae 2023 Academy Awards
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Now is a complicated time for the LGBTQ community. We’re a week into Pride Month, but the celebration comes after the recent passage of laws across the US targeting drag and trans people. As all this is going on, Janelle Monáe does not plan on being silent.

In a recent video interview with NBC4 Washington, Monáe was asked how they respond to the recent legal happenings and they answered, “You respond by fighting back, by speaking out against, standing with our trans community, my siblings. As a nonbinary, queer, pansexual person, I am proud to be in this community. I will never sit back and be silent about the injustices that are happening against our trans community.”

She spoke about similar topics in another recent interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, saying, “There are a lot of laws being put in place around my trans family and the LGBTQI+ communities and even Black folks — you can’t even talk about certain things in school anymore. Those who are trans, they’re literally trying to erase their existence and not treat them with human decency. So, of course we fight, but even in the middle of the fight we take time to find joy.”

When asked if it was difficult to discuss these topics, Monáe responded, “I feel like I’m one of the most vocal, loud and proud, pansexual, queer, non-binary, black folks who have a platform! I feel I’ve said a lot. I don’t feel uncomfortable now, thank God. But I know there are a lot of people who may be uncomfortable with it, who don’t have to feel rushed or forced into talking about something that is private for most folks. There is no right or wrong way to talk about being in the LGBTQI+ community. As long as it’s with love, it’s fine.”

Janelle Monáe is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Lil Nas X Kicks Off Pride Month With Hilarious Advice For LGBTQ+ Allies

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Today is June 1, which means it’s officially the start of Pride Month. There are certainly many celebrations to come over the next few weeks, and Lil Nas X is getting the party started early on Twitter with his signature sense of humor.

He started the day by announcing an opportunity for his followers, although it seems unlikely he’ll actually follow through on his promise. He wrote, “happy pride month. i will be having sex with 100 lucky fans to celebrate.” Shortly after that, he offered some advice for allies, which their LGBTQ+ friends will certainly like: “for pride month if you have friends who are part of the lgbtq+ community let them know that they are loved. give them all of your money.”

He also responded to a Pride Month tweet from the NFL, writing, “unfollowing. this is sad that y’all support that lifestyle.” A couple minutes later, he did a 180, tweeting, “after further consideration, i changed my mind, i now support the community and am now too also a homosexual.”

It seems like there will be more to come from Lil Nas X aside from cracking jokes on Twitter: A couple weeks ago, he declared he wants to do “something special” for Pride Month.