LAS VEGAS–Logging into on social media throughout the world, NFL fans around the nation filled comment sections on news articles about how much they do not care. Carl Nassib is reportedly the first active player in the NFL to come out as gay, and fans responded with a sigh.
“I’m a straight man and I don’t care. I just don’t see why we have to be aware of people’s sexual orientation,” said a straight Raiders fan Dan Swift. Swift’s profile picture shows his child’s gender reveal party, featuring blue explosives that he purchased for the occasion. “It doesn’t matter,” he continued. Mr. Swift’s Facebook profile shows that he is interested “In Women.”
It’s not just Swift. A review of the ESPN SportsCenter comment thread showed that approximately 50% of the comments contained a different fan letting everyone know how they specifically didn’t care, individually. While many people said they did not care, they then elaborated on which parts they uniquely did not care about. “He’s clearly doing it for attention,” commented an anonymous fan with a profile picture of an American Flag. Nassib’s video explicitly states that his coming out is not for attention.
“I’m not a homophobe or anything, I just don’t care about what a guy decides to do in his bedroom,” Dan Swift said. At the time of reporting, Swift has never knowingly met gay person in a living room, dining room, or public location, however his future son will become a daughter.
“It’s just none of my business,” added Swift’s wife, Brandy Swift, whose Facebook profile includes “Interested in: Men.” It also contains Mr. Swift’s name as her spouse in her public “about me” info. “I don’t care about your lifestyle, no need to broadcast your choices to the world.”
A review of public posts from 2014 on both Swift’s profiles showed that their positions had evolved over the years, as when the also openly gay Michael Sam was drafted by the St. Louis Rams, they cared enough to include lamentations of the decline of men and America and football.
When asked when he chose to become straight, Dan Swift declined to comment.