San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver spent the day at the office of The Trevor Project, which provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth.
The 24-year-old NFL star drew media attention in late January, just days before the Super Bowl, with comments he made to radio host Artie Lange.
When asked about the possibility of gay players being on the 49ers, Culliver responded: “I don’t do the gay guys man, I don’t do that. We don’t got no gay people on the team. They gotta get up outta here if they do. Can’t be with that sweet stuff.”
On the day after his comments, the 49ers organization released a statement “rejecting” Culliver’s comments.
Culliver, himself also released a statement of apology: “The derogatory comments I made yesterday were a reflection of thoughts in my head, but they are not how I feel. It has taken me seeing them in print to realize that they are hurtful and ugly. Those discriminating feelings are truly not in my heart. Further, I apologize to those who I have hurt and offended, and I pledge to learn and grow from this experience.”
In an effort to learn and grow, Culliver, as well as 49ers’ vice president of football affairs Keena Turner and public relations director Bob Lange met with The Trevor Project’s executive director and national education trainer in Los Angeles, reports The Sacramento Bee.
Laura McGinnis, Trevor Project spokeswoman, told The Sacramento Bee that as a volunteer, Culliver could work in crisis intervention.
She also noted that there was no reason to believe Culliver was insincere about his desire help at-risk youth.
Follow Carrie Healey on Twitter @CarrieHeals.