The 2023 National Book Festival was held this year at the Library of Congress on August 12. Like past years it featured numerous talented authors, including R.K. Russell, who gained notoriety for telling his truth in the sports world and the book world.
Russell gave insight into his life during an open forum with Book TV as he became the first openly active NFL player to identify as bisexual in 2019. Recently, Russell has stated the NFL is “being more intentional” when it comes to players coming out in an interview with CBS News. Russell would play two seasons in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before switching his focus to social activism and literature.
Since coming out, Russell has written about his journey as a Black queer man in sports for the The New York Times, The L.A. Times, Out Magazine, and numerous others. The Gay Times honored Russell as Sportsperson of the Year in 2019, and he also received a nod for the Out100 list that year. However, it took trials and tribulations for Russell to be able to get to that point.
During the open forum, Russell discussed how he struggled with an identity crisis and losing the friend who was actually the first person he came out to. He also spoke of not knowing if he would be accepted for who he truly was – worried if his true self would cost him his football career.
“My journey outside of football has been filled with ups and downs, hills and valleys, depression and grief from losing my best friend,” Russell said to Book TV. “Fear from hiding my identity from the world of football. Scared that if people knew that I was bisexual, that I would no longer be able to play in the league that I just described to you as my dream come true.”
Russell’s career throughout college and the NFL were not subpar at all, but the thought in the back of his head was always, is it worth it if he’s not being his true self? In Russell’s memoir “The Yards Between Us,” he would also describe his coming out as “the strongest fear I had ever felt.”
Reactions to his announcement were somewhat reasonable, but definitely not at all what he hoped for. This was according to his Mother, who unfortunately at first was more concerned about how his sexuality would affect his career than Russell being happy. Russell’s mother would eventually come to support him down the line.
It was inspiring to hear Russell’s story because he essentially risked everything he had to live his truth. That just shows that no amount of money truly brings you happiness, especially when you look within yourself to find that happiness.
Article photo courtesy of Andscape.