Athlete Dave Kopay -- LGBT History Month Day 21

Today’s LGBT History Month icon is athlete Dave Kopay.

Born June 28, 1942, Kopay made headlines in 1975 when he became the first NFL payer and one of the first professional athletes to come out.

Biography via Equality Forum:

The second of four children, Kopay was born in Chicago into a strict Roman Catholic family. When he was in grammar school, the family moved to North Hollywood, California.

Kopay began his football career at Notre Dame High School in Los Angeles, a school known for its championship athletics. He was named to the all-Catholic conference all-star football team. He enrolled at the University of Washington and as team co-captain led the Huskies to the PAC-10 conference title. The following year, he was named an All-American running back.

In 1964, Kopay was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers. He was the team’s leading rusher in his rookie year. He played for five NFL teams in his nine-year career, including the Detroit Lions, the Washington Redskins, the New Orleans Saints and the Green Bay Packers.

While playing for the Redskins, Kopay had relationships with women and men, including teammate Jerry Smith, who died of AIDS in 1986. At the suggestion of his therapist, Kopay married a woman to try to fix what he perceived as a problem. The marriage lasted a year.

Three years after retiring from the NFL, Kopay came out publicly in an interview with the Washington Star. He shared details about his struggle with homophobia and sports in “The David Kopay Story,” published in 1977. Kopay pursued coaching positions with NCAA and NFL teams, but believes he wasn’t hired because he is gay. Since 1982, he has worked in his family’s business.

Kopay is one of the founding Gay Games Ambassadors, and has been present to support participating athletes and artists at every edition of the Games.

A champion of gay rights for more than 30 years, Kopay has given hundreds of speeches and media interviews. In 2007, he donated $1 million to the University of Washington’s LGBT center.

Despite suffering serious injuries during his football career, Kopay still misses the thrill of playing for the NFL. “There’s nothing like the rush of playing on Monday Night Football,” he says. “There’s nothing that will ever fill that void.”

Kopay resides in Los Angeles.

Below is a recent profile of Dave Kopay in which you can find out more about his career, including more on his best-selling book, and also his life today:

Bibliography:

“Dave Kopay Profile.” Outsports.com. 2 June 2011.
“David Kopay.” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 2 June 2011.
“Kopay Donates $1 Million to Alma Matter.” The Advocate. 3 June 2011.

Website:

IMDB

Books:

David Kopay Story (2001)

Films:

Playing the Field: Sports and Sex in America (2000)
Tru Loved (2008)

Image taken from the LGBT History Month video, no infringement intended.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Annmari L.

1:23PM PDT on Oct 30, 2011

That therapist,if still practising, should be revoked of license.
Dave Kopay is a great role model and a hero in his field.

October 30
send a green star

Joe R.

3:50PM PDT on Oct 23, 2011

Read his autobiography - great role model. Thanks for coming out, you are a pioneer!

October 23
send a green star

Norma V.

12:59PM PDT on Oct 22, 2011

Thanks Dave Kopay, for giving people the opportunity to get over their homophobia and allowing others the freedom to be themselves.

October 22
send a green star

patricia l.

8:39AM PDT on Oct 22, 2011

He is wonderful and hearing about men like him "flies in the face" of the homophobes stereotypes!

Wayne M.

7:31AM PDT on Oct 22, 2011

I really enjoy this series learning about LGBT people working and living in all kinds of work and areas of human life. These people are true role models for LGBT and questioning youth, a reminder that it is possible to be Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans – and live responsible, caring and positive lives.

Fred K.

6:57AM PDT on Oct 22, 2011

More good positive role models. If he's not disrobing and fornicating in public, he's not doing anything wrong with a consenting adult partner. Down with homophobia!

Anne B.

5:18AM PDT on Oct 22, 2011

thanks, Steve. I'm not a football fan, but I appreciate the courage it took for this pioneer to come out, especially in a sport that has had the reputation for being homophobic...

Hillary K.

3:41PM PDT on Oct 21, 2011

Dave Kopay you are truly an inspiration!! thank you for having the courage to do what you did :)