President Joe Biden praises Carl Nassib and Kumi Yokoyama for coming out: 'So proud of your courage'

President Joe Biden praised two professional athletes for coming out on Tuesday over Twitter. 

Biden tweeted: "To Carl Nassib and Kumi Yokoyama - two prominent, inspiring athletes who came out this week: I'm so proud of your courage. Because of you, countless kids around the world are seeing themselves in a new light today."

Carl Nassib, a 28-year-old defensive end for the Las Vegas Raiders, came out as gay on Monday in an Instagram video. He became the first publicly open active NFL player and garnered support from teammates, fellow athletes and league commissioner Roger Goodell. 

Yokoyama, a forward for the NWSL's Washington Spirit and Japan's national team, came out as a transgender man in a YouTube video posted Sunday.

Several experts and LGBTQ advocates told USA TODAY Sports in January that it was more likely for closeted athletes to come out with the turnover of the Biden administration from the Donald Trump administration. 

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