NYC gay football forum attracts prominent gay athletes

Next Thursday GLAAD, the New York Gay Football League, Gay Superbowl 7 and Chelsea's own Gym Sportsbar are hosting a forum titled "The Closet Doors of the NFL," which (as you might guess) aims to discuss the challenges faces by gay athletes in pro football.

Out football vets Dave Kopay and Esera Tuaolo will be on the panel, along with out lesbian Jackie Lepow, who works with the New York Giants, and CBS sports columnist Mike Freeman.

The event grew out of continued interest on the part of gay athletes and fans in the sport and the success of the Gay Games and Gay Football League, and marks the first venture in GLAAD's Sports Media campaign.

GLAAD President Neil Giuliano says:

"'The Closet Doors of the NFL' will shed light on the grim realities gay athletes face when trying to play professional sports ... By giving voice to the struggle against anti-gay prejudice, we bring visibility to an important cultural change happening in the world of American sports."

Needless to say, we find all this talk of gay football players highly exciting. Purely in the academic sense, of course.

For more info on the event, check out Gay Superbowl 7's website.