Brendon Ayanbadejo Says Gay Doesn't Equal Femininity

Brendon Ayanbadejo Says Gay Doesn't Equal Femininity

During an interview with "Meet The Press" on Sunday, former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo, who works closely with Athlete Ally, said he wants to erase the stereotype that being gay equates femininity.

"People think that gayness has something to do with femininity," he said. "When really we just need to erase that stereotype from our minds because LGBT people come in all different types and shapes and forms. I think that's really what we're fighting."

As Think Progress points out, the ally who has used his platform to promote marriage equality and a safe haven for gay athletes in professional sports went on to add that he's working towards making athletes' announcement of being gay inconsequential, similar to when newly Phoenix Mercury player Brittney Griner came out publicly during an interview with Sports Illustrated.

"The beautiful thing about what Brittney Griner did is that it barely made a splash. And that's what we're trying to do in men's sports, when people announce that they're gay," Ayanbadejo explained. "We don't even want it to change the climate or anything in sports. We just want everybody to be accepted."

He also expounded upon his previous announcement that a few gay NFL players will soon come out. In April, the 36-year-old said that he was in talks with a handful of players who were considering coming out.

Recently, NBA center Jason Collins made history when he came out in an exclusive op-ed piece for Sports Illustrated, making him the first male U.S. athlete in a major professional sport to come out as gay.

Watch the clip above.

Before You Go

Brendon Ayanbadejo

Straight Professional Athletes Who’ve Come Out In Support Of LGBT Rights

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