Jaguars associate strength coach Kevin Maxen comes out as gay in a first for US-based pro leagues

want to take *** quick moment to say that I'm gay, I've been meaning to do this for *** while now, but I finally feel comfortable enough to get it off my chest Raiders. Defensive lineman Carl Nassib became the first active NFL player to come out as *** gay man last year during Pride month. Nassib described it as *** moment of gratitude and relief sharing the news with the world and his fans on Instagram. However, writing sadly, I have agonized over this moment for the last 15 years. I just think that representation and visibility are so important. Um I actually hope that one day videos like this and the coming out process are just not necessary before Nassib, not once had there been an openly gay player in *** regular season. NFL game. Michael Sam came close to him in 2014 before being drafted by the Rams, the defensive lineman came out as gay. However, Sam never got the opportunity to play in *** regular season game. Many men have come out after their careers have ended going back to the seventies. Not only did David Copei inspire *** new generation of players, but he also paved the way for other gay athletes in male dominated sports. With Nassib coming out as an active NFL player, there's *** change in the air and athletes of all orientations are taking notice sophomore Jamie Lash was on the men's soccer team at UVM while he doesn't identify as *** member of the LGBTQ community. He understands the team environment, has the potential to create an unsafe space for those who do, There's *** stigma around it, like it's definitely *** scary thing because, you know, there's obviously people who don't accept it on the continuum of sort of what it means to be masculine in this, in this society. We're talking about somebody who's really breaking down norms and saying this is who I am, and I'm also *** great athlete. I'm gonna do my best and do my part to cultivate *** culture that's accepting and compassionate. And I'm gonna start by donating $100,000 for the Trevor Project. The Trevor Project is *** nonprofit organization that focuses on suicide prevention efforts among lesbian gay bisexual transgender queer and questioning youth when we have somebody in *** public figure um such as this that's able to step forward um and and provide that role model of of confidence and acceptance in oneself. That's *** win for everybody. Okay. Mhm. Oh. Mhm.

Kevin Maxen, an associate strength coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars, has become the first male coach in a major U.S.-based professional league to come out as gay.Maxen spoke about his sexual orientation in an interview published Thursday by Outsports.“I don’t want to feel like I have to think about it anymore,” Maxen said. “I don’t want to feel like I have to lie about who I am seeing, or why I am living with someone else.“I want to be vocal in support of people living how they want to live, but I also want to just live and not feel fear about how people will react.”While Maxen's announcement is a first for a male coach, NFL players have come out previously. Michael Sam became the first openly gay player to be drafted when the then-St. Louis Rams selected him in 2014. In 2021, Carl Nassib, then with the Las Vegas Raiders, became the first active NFL player to come out publicly. Nassib played for Tampa Bay last season.A few female coaches in U.S.-based leagues have come out publicly, including Katie Sowers, a former assistant with the San Francisco 49ers.Maxen said he no longer felt comfortable hiding his sexuality or his boyfriend of two years.“You have other coaches who have significant others, and they’re talking about their significant others,” Maxen said. “And I felt guilty that I couldn’t do the same thing, that I was letting myself down.”

Kevin Maxen, an associate strength coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars, has become the first male coach in a major U.S.-based professional league to come out as gay.

Maxen spoke about his sexual orientation in an interview published Thursday by Outsports.

“I don’t want to feel like I have to think about it anymore,” Maxen said. “I don’t want to feel like I have to lie about who I am seeing, or why I am living with someone else.

“I want to be vocal in support of people living how they want to live, but I also want to just live and not feel fear about how people will react.”

While Maxen's announcement is a first for a male coach, NFL players have come out previously. Michael Sam became the first openly gay player to be drafted when the then-St. Louis Rams selected him in 2014. In 2021, Carl Nassib, then with the Las Vegas Raiders, became the first active NFL player to come out publicly. Nassib played for Tampa Bay last season.

A few female coaches in U.S.-based leagues have come out publicly, including Katie Sowers, a former assistant with the San Francisco 49ers.

Maxen said he no longer felt comfortable hiding his sexuality or his boyfriend of two years.

“You have other coaches who have significant others, and they’re talking about their significant others,” Maxen said. “And I felt guilty that I couldn’t do the same thing, that I was letting myself down.”

Jaguars associate strength coach Kevin Maxen comes out as gay in a first for US-based pro leagues

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