I played in the NFL. Outrage over male cheerleaders is really about attempts to control masculinity

My experience in the NFL reveals underlying issues with male cheerleaders and masculinity enforcement The Minnesota Vikings recently included two male cheerleaders in their squad, sparking a mix of reactions from fans. The team stood firm despite calls for boycott and homophobic slurs from some quarters. Male cheerleaders are not new in the NFL, with … Read more

‘The strongest fear I had ever felt’: RK Russell on coming out in the male world of football | NFL

Back in Texas, everyone I knew had strong feelings about homosexuality. If you were straight, you would use slurs like faggot and pussy boy and rant about masculinity and manhood – things no teenage boy knows anything about. If you were gay, you had to fight for your freedom and sometimes even your life. I … Read more