David Kopay (1942 - )

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David Kopay Story by David Kopay, Perry Deane Young

Originally published in 1977, The David Kopay Story was an earth-shattering event. It has never been duplicated. Twenty-three years after publishing his story, David Kopay remains the only NFL player who has publicly acknowledged his homosexuality. After a ten-year career as a running back for the San Francisco 49ers, the Detroit Lions, the Washington Redskins, the New Orleans Saints and the Green Bay Packers, and exhausted by the agony of living a double life, Kopay bravely talked to the Washington Star and took his place in history as the first prominent male athlete to come out of the closet. In The David Kopay Story, he reveals the conflicting emotional states that both prevented him from living openly and finally drove him to a place of total honesty. From psychotherapy to hypnosis to heartbreaking family confrontations to finally surprising acceptance from former teammates and coaches, this is a story of denial leading to acceptance, and finally to pride. As inspiring today as it was upon publication, Advocate Books is proud to make The David Kopay Story available to a new generation of readers.

David Kopay

Fan site from the LGBT Athlete Web Ring

Recently, when asked about the homophobic comments of another Green Bay Packer Reggie White, Kopay was "absolutely appalled that someone of White's stature would be so insensitive to a group that has faced so much discrimination and bigotry."

But while being an icon and role model who has helped thousands of young gay jocks, being openly gay has not come without a cost. Unable to find coaching jobs, Kopay currently runs a home improvement store in Los Angeles...

David Kopay

From The Knitting Circle

Excerpt:

In 1975 he saw an article in the Washington Star based on an interview with Jerry Smith who was an American Football tight end with the Washington Redskins from 1965 to 1977. The article was one of a series on gay athletes written by Lynn Rosellini. It did not name Jerry Smith but David Kopay recognised who it was and was annoyed by him going as far as talking to a reporter but then failing to go all the way and coming out. David Kopay contacted Lynn Rosellini and arranged for an article to be written and it was published in the Washington Star in December 1975. In the article he came out publicly as gay. As a result many hate letters were sent to the newspapers and television channels who reported the coming out. However, David Kopay also received letters from people who thanked him for the way he had changed their lives by his coming out and had given them courage...

Kopay:  Apologizes to Aikman

Interview From espn.com, December, 1998

Twenty-five years after disclosing he was gay, Dave Kopay remains a pioneer

By Dan Raley, © 1998-2000 Seattle Post-Intelligencer

It was as if everyone in the NFL broke from the huddle, dropped in a stance, listened for the cadence and one guy jumped offside. One guy for all to see.

Nearly 25 years ago, that person was Dave Kopay.

A former University of Washington running back, he was the first professional athlete in the three major sports to reveal his homosexuality, sending shock waves throughout his macho surroundings...

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