Former Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Khalen Saunders believes that football is for everybody, regardless of race, religion, or creed. Or sexual preference.
Today, on NFL Network‘s “Good Morning Football” show, he made a special announcement for football fans who may not always feel included in the game.
Former Kansas City Chiefs Defensive Tackle Khalen Saunders Will Host a LGBTQ-Friendly Football Camp
Kansas City Chiefs, Khalen Saunders
Nov 6, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Khalen Saunders (99) celebrates after a play against the Tennessee Titans during the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Saunders announced that on July 5, he will be hosting a LGBTQ-friendly youth football camp alongside former Dallas Cowboys player RK Russell, who came out as bisexual in 2019.
“Football is for all,” Saunders said. “Being an ally is more than just saying I support, but it’s also showing up. Being in the NFL is very male-dominant and heterosexual dominant and it feels as though there’s not really a space for the LGBTQ community.”
Saunders’ brother, Kameron Saunders, is a popular choreographer and backup dancer for Taylor Swift. During her Era’s Tour in Europe, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce performed with him during one of Swift’s shows.
“These are people who feel like they have to be hidden, although they might love the sport, they might love the NFL, they might love football in general as a sport, but they kind of shy away from it just because of orientations, or all these other kind of outside things.
“That’s my goal to continue to spread positive energy around that because football is for everybody.”
Former Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl Champion Khalen Saunders Joins Green Bay Packers Legend Vince Lombardi as an Outspoken LGBTQ Ally
Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, Jerry Kramer
Jan 14, 1968; Miami, FL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Green Bay Packers head coach Vince Lombardi is carried off the field by Green Bay players (64) Jerry Kramer and (75) Forest Gregg after defeating the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl II at the Orange Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Tony Tomsic-USA TODAY NETWORK
Green Bay Packers legend Vince Lombardi was known for his advocacy for African American players to get the same pay, opportunities, and accommodations as white players. When Wisconsin’s housing laws in the 1950s prevented his African American players from finding decent homes, he worked with the state government to pass a fair housing act.
However, he also was one of the NFL’s first advocates for the inclusion of gay players. While coaching in Washington, he famously told his assistants assigned to work with Ray MacDonald, an openly gay running back, “And if I hear one of you people make reference to his manhood, you’ll be out of here before your a– hits the ground.”
Lombardi’s brother, Harold, was gay. In an interview with ESPN, Richard Nicholls, who was Harold’s partner for 41 years until his death, said “Vin was always fair in how he treated everybody…a great man who accepted people at face value for what they were, and didn’t judge anybody. He just wanted you to do the job.”
Lombardi, of course, passed away 55 years ago. But one can imagine that, if he were coaching in today’s NFL, he would make it a point to be a part of Saunders’ LGBTQ football camp.
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