Panthers' Ekblad to gay athletes: 'Don't be afraid' of coming out

The LGBTQ community may not have the President of the United States in its corner, but it does have Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad.

Though Ekblad isn't LGBTQ, he does consider himself an ally. In an interview with Boca Magazine, Ekblad had a clear message for athletes who are concerned about coming out.

"Don't be afraid," he said. "You'll be surprised how many people are accepting."

Ekblad appeared in a Nike commercial for Pride month in June. He starred alongside basketball player Brittney Griner and skateboarders Lacey Baker and Brian Anderson, all of whom identify as LGBTQ.

"It was a great experience," Ekblad said about participating in the ad. "On Facebook and Twitter some people congratulated me and thanked me for speaking out. I appreciate that."

With no openly LGBTQ active athletes in the NHL, MLB, NFL, or NBA, Ekblad hopes that a former No. 1 overall draft pick and rookie of the year acting as a spokesperson can provide some sense of comfort for those considering coming out.

Even though homophobic slurs are still used in "locker room talk," Ekblad believes the overall acceptance of LGBTQ people has improved.

"Do I think it's getting better? I think so. People are getting more educated and more understanding," he said. "I would like to think the climate is getting better."

Last season, the NHL made February "Hockey Is For Everyone" month. In the end, that's all Ekblad is trying to accomplish. He doesn't want athletes to have less of a chance at succeeding just because of their sexual orientation.

"If you're good enough to play, you're good enough to play on my team," said the Panthers' alternate captain.

- With h/t to Outsports.com