Can You Be Gay and Play in the NFL?

by Michael Jones · 2010-05-06 10:45:00 UTC
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NFLJob interviews can be harrowing experiences. "Why did you leave your last job?" "What's your biggest weakness?" "Give me an example of how well you multi-task." "What are the three qualities you're looking for in a boss?" "Are you a flaming homosexual?"

Say what?

Generally employers treat questions like "How old are you?" or "Who do you sleep with?" as off-limits when it comes to interviews. But not one team in the NFL, at least according to Defensive Tackle Geno Atkins. While Atkins was interviewing with NFL teams in advance of last month's NFL draft, he said that one NFL team asked him a particularly bizarre and rather invasive question.

"The only unusual question I got was if I was straight or gay," Atkins said, carefully keeping the name of the team secret. (Atkins was eventually drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals, but no word on whether they were the team that asked about his sexual orientation.)

Calling that question "unusual" is one word for it. Calling it "homophobic" and "way over the line" would be another way to put it, too.

Does being gay have anything to do with how well one plays football?

Atkins is a defensive tackle. Generally, defensive tackles are charged with blocking, breaking up plays, sacking the quarterback, or dropping into coverage during a zone blitz scheme. (OK, I had to rely on Wikipedia for that last one.)

Given those job responsibilities, it would make sense for a defensive tackle, or DT as they say, to be a big dude, to have some flexibility, and to maybe be a bit quick on his feet. Beyond that, what would it matter if said DT were to go home at night and cuddle up next to a man?

Obviously, the answer is it doesn't. Chances are that if Atkins' memory is serving him correctly, and he was asked this question, it was probably just the fault of some NFL scout or coach not using their brain before opening their mouth.

But is it any wonder, given questions like this, that closeted LGBT athletes fear for their safety when it comes to their sexual orientation? Mike Freeman, the sportswriter and author of Bloody Sundays, actually interviewed a closeted gay NFL player a few years back. What did the player tell him about homophobia inside America's biggest sport?

That if anyone were to find out he was gay, "serious physical harm would follow."

That was in 2004. But the question Atkins got was just this past month, meaning that when it comes to the NFL, it looks like the more things change, the more homophobia remains.

Photo credit: Mr. Usaji

Michael Jones is a Change.org Editor. He has worked in the field of human rights communications for a decade, most recently for Harvard Law School.
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