NFL's Anti Discrimination Policy Includes Sexual Orientation

The collective bargaining agreement from the NFL Players Association, which passed on August 5, 2011 and remains in effect until 2021, states, "There will be no discrimination in any form against any player by the Management Council, any Club or by the NFLPA because of race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or activity or lack of activity on behalf of the NFLPA".

This is a huge step towards ending homophobia and acknowledging the rights of the LBGTQ (Lesbian, Bi-sexual, Gay, Transsexual and Queer/Questioning) community on the football field.

This year, a handful of quality and high ranked athletes, stepped up in support of Marriage Equality. 

Michael Strahan, Steve Nash and Sean Avery lent their voice and image to endorse New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's Marriage Equality Act.

This Act grants same sex couples the same legal rights as heterosexual couples in the state of New York.

Only a limited number of NFL players have been brave enough to come out of the closet:

David Kopay in 1975, Roy Simmons in 1992 and Esera Tuaola in 2002.  Yet all waiting until after retirement from their football career.

Adding 'sexual orientation' as a protected class under their newly enacted anti-discrimination policy can open the doors to not mere tolerance but acceptance of the gay community and, in particular, homosexual NFL players.

I hope this encourages players to get 'out of the closet', step forward, smash stereotypes, have pride in who they are and play hard on the field.