For NFL defensive tackle Khalen Saunders, football has always been more than a game. It’s been a source of discipline, brotherhood, and for many young players, a rare safe space. But this year, the two-time Super Bowl champion is flipping the script on what inclusion in sports can look like.
In a bold and inspiring move, Saunders has announced the launch of the “Open Play Youth Football Camp” — the first of its kind in the Midwest, designed to be fully inclusive of LGBTQ+ youth.
Set to be held this summer in St. Louis — Khalen’s hometown — the camp aims to give young athletes of all identities a space to train, compete, and be seen, without fear or judgment.
“It’s about creating the kind of locker room I wish every kid had access to,” Saunders said. “Football should be a place where you find your voice, not where you’re told to hide it.”
Shifting the Culture from the Inside
Saunders, who currently plays for the New Orleans Saints, has never been shy about challenging norms. Known for his dance moves and defensive hustle, he’s now bringing that same energy to shift the culture off the field, specifically, the often hypermasculine, exclusionary environment of youth sports.
Black LGBTQ+ youth, in particular, face steep barriers in athletics: lack of acceptance, bullying, and limited role models. According to a 2023 GLSEN report, over 60% of LGBTQ+ students avoid sports spaces due to fear of discrimination. For Black queer youth, those numbers rise even higher.
Saunders says his camp is designed to rewrite that narrative.
“There are so many kids who love the game but don’t feel safe stepping on the field,” he said. “We’re here to change that.”
Building a New Playbook
The Open Play Youth Football Camp will offer more than just drills and scrimmages. It will include mental wellness workshops, affirming leadership talks, and small-group sessions focused on respect, identity, and team culture. Coaches are being trained on inclusive language and trauma-informed mentorship, ensuring the camp walks the walk.
Saunders is also teaming up with local LGBTQ+ organizations and school counselors to provide support for campers and their families, both on and off the field.
“This is what allyship looks like in real time,” said Janelle Brooks, a St. Louis-based youth advocate and former coach. “It’s powerful to see someone with Khalen’s platform open doors for our kids—especially Black and queer kids who are used to being sidelined.”
Representation That Moves the Chains
While many major athletes have supported LGBTQ+ inclusion publicly, few have created programming specifically for queer youth in football. Saunders’ initiative marks a major step forward in expanding access and acceptance in one of the most traditionally rigid sports.
For a sport that often prides itself on toughness, Saunders’ camp redefines what strength really looks like—courage, compassion, and community.
This initiative is also deeply personal for him.
“I’ve got family, friends, and fans who are LGBTQ+,” he shared. “They love this game like I do. Why should they feel like they have to hide to be a part of it?”
The Future of Football Is Open
As registration opens and word spreads, the impact of Saunders’ camp is already rippling across the sports world. Young athletes from across the country have expressed interest, and NFL peers have voiced support.
But Saunders isn’t chasing headlines—he’s chasing healing.
“Football helped shape who I am,” he said. “I just want to make sure it’s shaping our next generation into stronger, more whole versions of themselves.”
Uptown Sunday celebrates Black athletes who break molds and build bridges. In a time when inclusion is under fire, Saunders’ leadership shows us that real change doesn’t start in stadiums—it starts in spaces like this, where every kid gets to show up as their full self.
