FILE PHOTO: Nov 1, 2020; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib (94) celebrates after the Raiders beat the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo
U.S. President Joe Biden praised the courage of the Las Vegas Raiders’ Carl Nassib for becoming the National Football League’s (NFL) first openly gay active player and Japan women’s soccer forward Kumi Yokoyama for coming out as a transgender man.
“To Carl Nassib and Kumi Yokoyama – two prominent, inspiring athletes who came out this week: I’m so proud of your courage,” Biden tweeted on Tuesday.
“Because of you, countless kids around the world are seeing themselves in a new light today,” Biden added on Twitter.
To Carl Nassib and Kumi Yokoyama – two prominent, inspiring athletes who came out this week: I’m so proud of your courage. Because of you, countless kids around the world are seeing themselves in a new light today.
— President Biden (@POTUS) June 23, 2021
Nassib’s announcement video on Monday, during Pride month, was greeted with support from the NFL and his team, and the 28-year-old took to social media to express his “gratitude and relief.”
Yokoyama, who plays for National Women’s Soccer League side Washington Spirit, said living in the United States and Germany had shown that it was possible to be more comfortable with their identity.