Football breakthrough

The day when a professional athlete coming out as gay isn’t big news can’t come quickly enough.

In fact, the sooner that gay athletes’ sexual orientation is no longer seen as relevant, the better.

For now, however, LGBTQ people sadly too often still face ignorance, discrimination and even outright hatred. They continue to be harassed, assaulted and even murdered due to their sexual orientation, even in countries that boast progressive cultures.

That’s what makes Carl Nassib’s decision this week to come out so noteworthy.

For LGBTQ youth struggling with acceptance and self-doubt, Nassib has instantly provided a strong role model, showing it’s possible to be true to yourself while pursuing a career in a field you love.

That’s especially true for LGBTQ youth in sports.