NFL Player Khalen Saunders launches LGBTQ-Inclusive youth football camp

New Orleans Saints player Khalen Saunders is stepping up in a major way to ensure inclusion in sports by launching a youth football camp designed to welcome LGBTQ participants.

Khalen Saunders LGBTQ youth football camp

Saunders, 28, announced the initiative during the 2025 GLAAD Media Awards on March 27 and shared more details during an appearance on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” recently.

The Super Bowl champion said the NFL remains a predominantly male and heterosexual space, and he wants to change that dynamic.

“Being an ally is more than just saying I support, but it’s also showing up,” Saunders said. “Being in the NFL is very male-dominant and heterosexual dominant and it feels as though there’s not really a space for the LGBTQ community.”

Collaborative effort

Saunders is partnering with GLAAD and the NFL Pride Football Combine, collectively working to ensure young LGBTQ athletes feel seen, heard, and supported. The camp is part of his Original Element foundation and officially kicks off July 5.

“These are people who feel like they have to be hidden,” Saunders said during the interview. “They might love the NFL and football in general, but shy away from it because of orientation or other outside things. My goal to continue to spread positive energy around that because football is for everybody,” Saunders said. “Football is for all.”

During the announcement, Saunders was joined by former Dallas Cowboys R.K. Russell, who came out as bisexual in 2019.