Professional sports leagues across the country have expanded Pride Nights, launched rainbow merchandise and posted statements of support for LGBTQ+ communities. But as conversations grow louder, especially following the release of Crave’s Original TV show Heated Rivalry, athletes are questioning whether that visibility always extends beyond marketing.

In 2021, Carl Nassib made history when he became the first active player in the NFL to come out as gay. In an Instagram post, Nassib said, “I just want to take a quick moment to say that I’m gay,” adding that he hoped representation would one day no longer be a “big deal.”

His announcement was met with widespread support from teammates and fans, but it also showed how rare it remains for male athletes in major sports leagues to come out while on an active roster. While women’s leagues like the WNBA have long had openly LGBTQ+ stars, men’s professional leagues have seen fewer.

At McHenry, junior Brooklyn Anderson, who competes in wrestling and flag football said her experiences have felt far less dramatic than others may suggest. “I think it’s really that nobody actually really cares, it doesn’t make a difference,” Anderson said. “Being known or not known, nothing really changed.

Anderson explained that being openly LGBTQ+ had not changed her role on her team or how her teammates treat her during practices and competitions. “It hasn’t really made much of a change,” Anderson said. “I don’t feel any different than anyone else.”

Yet when asked whether professional leagues genuinely support LGBTQ+ athletes or sometimes lean into Pride for branding purposes, she acknowledged the complexity. “I feel like most of the time it is performative,” Anderson said. “But at the same time, if it was that big of a deal, they wouldn’t even be trying to make an effort. So I would say it’s really a mix.”

Junior Brody Lidbury, a cheerleader and lacrosse player, said masculinity stereotypes still influence how male athletes are perceived, particularly in traditionally male-dominated sports. “When I was younger, I definitely felt like I had to be more masculine,” Lidbury said. “But now I just want to act how I want to act. I’m not going to change my way just because somebody thinks it’s weird.”

Lidbury joined cheer this year, a decision that drew comments but not hostility. He said most reactions have been mild, often reduced to labels like “cheer boy,” rather than outright hate. “I don’t like being normal,” Lidbury said. “I like being weird.”

He believes professional leagues sometimes treat LGBTQ+ visibility as a part of a broader brand strategy, especially in men’s sports where coming out is still uncommon. “I think it’s definitely performative sometimes,” Lidbury said. “They’re not supporting it out of just the goodness of their hearts, but rather to form a better brand reputation.”

The release of “Heated Rivalry,” a hockey centered romance novel featuring two male professional athletes, has amplified conversations about queerness in traditionally hyper masculine sport spaces. While fictional, its popularity has encouraged fans to question why openly gay male stars remain rare in leagues like the NBA and NFL.

Despite national debates, both Anderson and Lidbury described feeling secure within McHenry athletics. While Anderson and many others said locker room spaces have not felt uncomfortable and she has never felt like she has to choose between her identity and her sport. Lidbury said team culture, especially in cheer, has been welcoming and tight knit.

The contrast between professional controversies and local experiences highlight a key difference: inclusion at a ground level often depends on team culture rather than league wide marketing.

As pride in sports becomes more visible, from sold-out Pride Nights to athletes coming out on national platforms, the question continues to shift. Representation is growing. Conversations are louder. But for many athletes, the real measure of progress is not rainbow merchandise or social media statements, it is whether they can compete without feeling like their identity is the headline.