Total Pro Sports
Football fans are praising New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Khalen Saunders after he put on a football camp for the LGBTQ+ community on Saturday.
Homosexuality has been a well-documented issue in sports (youth, college, semi-pro and professional), including American football. Just 11 years ago, Missouri product Michael Sam made history as the first openly gay player to be drafted in the NFL, when the St. Louis Rams took him in the seventh round.
Per Ben Morse of CNN, Khalen Saunders held a youth football camp for the LGBTQ+ community in St. Louis with his brother, Cameron. The 28-year-old stressed the need to “promote positivity” and provide a safe environment for everyone:
“So my intention with this camp is to unify everybody and just promote positivity and empathy amongst others as far as just being accepting of everybody and showing everybody love.
“But also, with my brother, being able to come to all my events and feel comfortable being himself, I would want anybody who has a brother or family member in general that comes to their sporting events to feel safe and welcomed when they when they attend that.”
Saints DT Khalen Saunders is hosting a football camp specifically for youths in the LGBTQ+ community. https://t.co/KgCQVUlyRm
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) July 5, 2025
Football fans praised Saunders for his kindhearted gesture:
“This is very good thing to do. All kids need to have safe places to play & learn,” said a user.
This is very good thing to do. All kids need to have safe places to play & learn.
— Jamesetta Cleveland 🏈 (@sports_mom_u) July 6, 2025
“LEADERSHIP LOOKS LIKE KHALEN! 💪🏾🫡,” wrote another.
LEADERSHIP LOOKS LIKE KHALEN!
💪🏾🫡— LeeFordHere (@TheGame7Guy) July 5, 2025
“@khalenNOTkaylen you a real one big dog,” a fan said.
@khalenNOTkaylen you a real one big dog
— Paul Gruber’s Left Foot (@SeeseJ1) July 5, 2025
“That’s awesome!! 👏🏾👏🏾,” wrote another.
That's awesome!! 👏🏾👏🏾
— 🏈🇲🇽🦅🌲🐺TIMBERLOBOS🌲🐺🦅🇲🇽🏀 (@jaguil612) July 5, 2025
“Thank you, Saunders! 💯💯💯,” commented a fan.
Thank you, Saunders! 💯💯💯
— Opethian (@RickBarrios9) July 5, 2025
“Khalen Saunders is a good dude. You love to see it,” said a user.
Khalen Saunders is a good dude. You love to see it.
— Chris Murr (@chris_murr) July 5, 2025
Saunders was selected in the third round (84th overall) by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019. He spent four seasons there and helped the club to Super Bowl championships as a rookie and in 2023, before leaving for the Saints as a free agent.
Over his first six NFL seasons, Khalen Saunders has 6.5 sacks, six pass breakups and 181 combined tackles.
Saunders and the new-look Saints will try to kick off the 2025 season on a high note when they play host to Kyler Murray’s Arizona Cardinals on Sept....
