Brothers Khalen and Kameron Saunders are working to make the sports world more inclusive.
The famous siblings have found incredible success in their respective fields. Khalen Saunders, 28, of the New Orleans Saints has two Super Bowl rings from his time with the Kansas City Chiefs. Kameron Saunders, 32, is a popular dancer who made a name for himself on Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour.”
Now, inspired by his brother, Khalen Saunders is putting on a football camp focusing on LGBTQ+ acceptance.
According to a 2020 report from The Trevor Project, a number of LGBTQ+ youth choose not to participate in sports due to reasons related to discrimination or fear of LGBTQ-based discrimination.
Taking place July 5 in St. Louis, Missouri, the Original Element Foundation Youth Football Combine is the first youth camp in the nation hosted by a current NFL player that intentionally includes LGBTQ+ youth, according to a news release.
Exclusively speaking with NBC’s Joe Fryer, the brothers touch on their humble beginnings, close relationship and why they’re teaming up for the first-of-its-kind youth football camp.
For the last couple of years, the NFL star has hosted a youth football camp in his hometown. This year, in partnership with GLAAD, he’s promoting it as LGBTQ+ friendly and a welcoming space for queer athletes and a place for players to be allies.
“I hope this camp can accomplish teaching the younger generation how to be accepting and loving and empathetic of others,” Khalen Saunders says. “Because at the end of the day, loving one another is the most important thing. I feel like my No. 1 rule that I’ve always went by is, treat others as you want to be treated.”
The one-day camp will include drill runs by current and former NFL players, an allyship workshop to educate people about how to support and uplift diverse communities and a dance clinic led by Kameron Saunders.
Putting out positivity into the world, the brothers have taken two different paths but share one deep bond when it comes to giving back and being their most authentic selves.
Kameron Saunders came out to his family at the age of 11 and had his whole family’s support, including then 7-year-old Khalen Saunders. From a young age, the NFL star has felt a strong desire to protect his older brother from bullies and hopes the camp will help spread kindness to all.
When asked how they describe their relationship, Kameron Saunders says, “One that is full of lots of love and patience.”
“We share so much pride with each other and so much happiness with each other because that’s how we came up,” Khalen Saunders says, adding that when his brother came out, “It made me from a very early age start to understand and be more empathetic for people.”
For Kameron Saunders, his family’s support meant “the world,” expressing how his mom, grandma and great-grandmother, as well as his dad, “were extremely welcoming with me.”
“I didn’t have the story that so many people in the queer community have. And I think that that’s important to talk about,” he says, “To be 100% clear, my circumstances were very different and I’m very, very grateful for how that turned out. But that’s not the story for a lot of people.”
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Kameron Saunders has always cheered on his younger brother at his games and continues to attend them when he can.
“(Khalen) has set such a standard of love, tolerance, acceptance and joy in a way that makes people feel safe,” Kameron Saunders says of his experience attending NFL games. “When I go to his games, when I meet his teammates, it’s one of the most safest I’ve ever felt in a sports community place.”
Khalen Saunders returned the favor by watching his brother show off his moves alongside Swift on the “Eras Tour.”
“I’m just so proud, and I’ll be so giddy and happy watching all the shows and stuff,” the football player says. “He’s worked so hard and been working so hard. I’m talking about since middle school, putting on entire shows.f
“And then I get drafted and he’s still working,” he adds. “So watching him gain all his success and take off like this… I felt like I was watching the (NFL) draft from his eyes when he was there.”
Just like Kameron Saunders feels welcomed at his brother’s games and Khalen Saunders is proud to see him succeed, the two want all athletes to feel the same way.
“I am a huge believer in representation and visibility,” Kameron Saunders says. “I think that when you label something in a way that makes people feel welcome, wanted, loved, seen, heard, valued, that can shift an entire generation of people into believing they’re able… to exist in a certain space without judgment, without ridicule.”
He adds, “And this camp will be the catalyst for how future generations navigate spaces — particularly male-dominated spaces — in a more loving, nurturing, caring way.”
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