Swedish American Football player comes out as gay

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A Swedish American Football player has come out, saying he wanted to inspire any young LGBT people who feel like they don’t belong.

Marcus Juhlin, who plays for the Carlstad Crusaders, came out in the new issue of Swedish QX magazine for April, saying that he wanted to inspire other people to take the steps towards coming out.

Tipped as the first American Football player in Sweden, where the game is very popular, to come out, he said his team’s reaction was nothing but supportive.

Out.com reports that QX magazine editor in chief Anders Ohrman said: “They all support and respect him.”

According to Ohrman, Juhlin sent an email to the magazine in December asking: “Please help me come out from the closet and close that door once and for all.”

Speaking of coming out to his mother two years ago, Juhlin says he called her, simply saying: “I like guys.”