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The out athlete has supported the organization since coming out publicly.
Carl Nassib, the first out gay active player in the NFL, has joined the board of directors for The Trevor Project, the nation’s leading suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ+ young people. The announcement, made Friday, comes amid a challenging time for LGBTQ+ youth in the U.S.
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Nassib, 30, made history in 2021 when he publicly came out while playing for the Las Vegas Raiders. Since then, he has advocated for LGBTQ+ youth, donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to The Trevor Project, fundraising even more, and using his platform to amplify the organization’s mission.
“The Trevor Project has been very special to me for a long time,” Nassib said in a statement. “I am thrilled to continue supporting their life-saving work to end suicide among LGBTQ+ youth in this new, impactful way. When I came out publicly in 2021, I was lucky to have an incredible support system of family, friends, and colleagues who had my back. But many LGBTQ+ young people do not have that support, and that’s where The Trevor Project comes in. Trevor acts as a shoulder to lean on for LGBTQ+ young people, 24/7. It is an honor to call myself a board member.”
Jaymes Black, The Trevor Project’s new CEO, celebrated the announcement in a post on LinkedIn: “At the end of a tough week for LGBTQ+ news, I am thrilled to share a very exciting announcement: Carl Nassib has officially joined The Trevor Project’s Board of Directors,” they wrote. “We are beyond honored to welcome Carl to our board, and I can’t wait to see the continued impact he will make on our life-saving work in the years to come.”
Related: The Trevor Project, the LGBTQ+ suicide prevention org, announces Jaymes Black as its new CEO
The Trevor Project estimates that more than 1.8 million LGBTQ+ youth in the U.S. seriously consider suicide each year.
Nassib first partnered with The Trevor Project in early 2021 as he prepared to come out publicly. In his coming-out video, he announced a $100,000 donation to the nonprofit, inspiring matching contributions from the NFL, the Las Vegas Raiders, and Booking.com. That week, The Trevor Project saw a 350 percent spike in website traffic and a 50 percent increase in donations.
In October, during National Coming Out Day, Nassib announced that the NFL would donate an additional $100,000 to The Trevor Project. Speaking on the NFL Network’s Good Morning Football, Nassib emphasized the urgency of the organization’s work, noting that LGBTQ+ youth are four times more likely to harm themselves compared to their peers. “This $100,000 is going directly to that organization to continue that work,” he said.
The Trevor Project has faced challenges in recent years, including staffing changes and increasing demand for its services amid a record wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. Black, who became CEO in July, has emphasized resilience and hope during these turbulent times.
Since coming out, Nassib has participated in numerous campaigns, including the NFL’s “My Cause My Cleats,” where he designed cleats to benefit the nonprofit and served as a visible advocate at events like NYC Pride.
If you or someone you know needs mental health resources and support, please call, text, or chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or visit988lifeline.org for 24/7 access to free and confidential services. Trans Lifeline, designed for transgender or gender-nonconforming people, can be reached at (877) 565-8860. The lifeline also provides resources to help with other crises, such as domestic violence situations. The Trevor Project Lifeline, for LGBTQ+ youth (ages 24 and younger), can be reached at (866) 488-7386. Users can also access chat services at TheTrevorProject.org/Help or text START to 678678.
