David Kopay
Encyclopedia
David Marquette Kopay is a former American football
running back
in the National Football League
who in 1975 became one of the first professional athletes to come out
as gay
.
Kopay attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California
. He entered the University of Washington
in 1961 and became an All-America
n running back in his senior year. He was signed by the San Francisco 49ers
. He played professional football from 1964 to 1972. After he retired from the NFL, he was considered a top contender for coaching positions, but he believes he was snubbed by professional and college teams because of his sexual orientation. He went to work as a salesman/purchaser in his uncle's floorcovering business in Hollywood. He is also a board member of the Gay and Lesbian Athletics Foundation
.
His 1977 biography, The David Kopay Story, written with Perry Deane Young
, offers insights into the sexual proclivities of heterosexual football players and their homophobia. In 1986, Kopay also revealed his brief affair with Jerry Smith (1943–1986), who played for the Washington Redskins
from 1965–1977 and who died of AIDS
without ever having publicly come out of the closet.
Since Kopay, only two additional former NFL Players have come out as gay, Roy Simmons
in 1992, and Esera Tuaolo
in 2002. Kopay has been credited with inspiring these athletes to be more open about their sexual orientation.
Kopay appears as himself in a small but pivotal role in the film Tru Loved
(2008). His scene features young actor Matthew Thompson and Alexandra Paul
.
Kopay became a Gay Games Ambassador for the Federation of Gay Games
. He came to Gay Games VII in Chicago in July 2006 and was a featured announcer in the opening ceremonies.
Kopay announced in September 2007 that he will be leaving $1 Million as an endowment to the University of Washington Q Center.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
who in 1975 became one of the first professional athletes to come out
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
as gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
.
Kopay attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He entered the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in 1961 and became an All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n running back in his senior year. He was signed by the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
. He played professional football from 1964 to 1972. After he retired from the NFL, he was considered a top contender for coaching positions, but he believes he was snubbed by professional and college teams because of his sexual orientation. He went to work as a salesman/purchaser in his uncle's floorcovering business in Hollywood. He is also a board member of the Gay and Lesbian Athletics Foundation
Gay and Lesbian Athletics Foundation
The Gay and Lesbian Athletics Foundation or GLAF is a non-profit organization based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Its purpose is to increase acceptance and visibility of LGBT athletes in the professional, amateur, and recreational athletics communities....
.
His 1977 biography, The David Kopay Story, written with Perry Deane Young
Perry Deane Young
Perry Deane Young is a journalist, author, playwright, historian, and professional gardener. He is the author of Two of the Missing, about fellow journalists Sean Flynn and Dana Stone, who went missing during the Vietnam War and whose fates remain unknown, and the co-author of The David Kopay...
, offers insights into the sexual proclivities of heterosexual football players and their homophobia. In 1986, Kopay also revealed his brief affair with Jerry Smith (1943–1986), who played for the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
from 1965–1977 and who died of AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
without ever having publicly come out of the closet.
Since Kopay, only two additional former NFL Players have come out as gay, Roy Simmons
Roy Simmons
Roy Franklin Simmons is a former American football player who played for the National Football League. He played offensive lineman for the New York Giants and then with the Washington Redskins during Super Bowl XVIII in 1984. In 1992, he came out of the closet as gay on the Phil Donahue Show...
in 1992, and Esera Tuaolo
Esera Tuaolo
Esera Tavai Tuaolo is a retired American professional football player. He was a defensive lineman in the NFL for nine years.-Early life:...
in 2002. Kopay has been credited with inspiring these athletes to be more open about their sexual orientation.
Kopay appears as himself in a small but pivotal role in the film Tru Loved
Tru Loved
Tru Loved is a 2008 independent feature film written and directed by Stewart Wade.-Plot:Sixteen-year-old Tru has been raised in San Francisco by two lesbian mothers and two gay fathers...
(2008). His scene features young actor Matthew Thompson and Alexandra Paul
Alexandra Paul
Alexandra Elizabeth Paul is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Lt. Stephanie Holden in the television series Baywatch from 1992–97. She has starred in over 60 movies and television programs.-Personal life:...
.
Kopay became a Gay Games Ambassador for the Federation of Gay Games
Gay Games
The Gay Games is the world's largest sporting and cultural event organized by and specifically for LGBT athletes, artists, musicians, and others. It welcomes participants of every sexual orientation and every skill level...
. He came to Gay Games VII in Chicago in July 2006 and was a featured announcer in the opening ceremonies.
Kopay announced in September 2007 that he will be leaving $1 Million as an endowment to the University of Washington Q Center.