Gay Marriage and the National Football League

categories: Gay Marriage, LGBT Sports, Marriage Equality

Published September 29, 2009 @ 05:05PM PT

NFL

Somebody must have slipped something into the Gatorade of the National Football League. Or, better yet, maybe we're finally seeing hearts and minds starting to change in the wide world of professional male sports. But within the past two weeks, two high profile NFL players have reiterated their support for marriage equality. And in doing so, at least according to some, they're potentially changing the hyper-masculinity of a sporting culture that all too frequently shames sexual orientation instead of celebrates it.

First it was Baltimore Ravens Pro-Bowl player Brendon Ayanbadejo, who penned an article on HuffPost supporting same-sex marriage and was subsequently honored by Equality Maryland. In his article, Ayanbadejo said "I think we will look back in 10, 20, 30 years and be amazed that gays and lesbians did not have the same rights as every one else. How did this ever happen in the land of the free and the home of the brave?"

A profound question. And a question that fellow NFLer, and defensive captain of the New Orleans Saints, Scott Fujita thinks needs an answer. Fujita responded to Ayanbadejo's position on marriage equality by coming out as a supporter of same-sex marriage himself. Fujita said people need to stop looking at same-sex marriage through a prism of homophobia, most often taught by churches, parents, or in some cases, locker room culture.

"People could look at this issue without blinders on...the blinders imposed by their church, their parents, their friends or, in our case, their coaches and locker rooms," Fujita said. "I wish they would realize that it's not a religion issue. It's not a government issue. It's not even a gay/straight issue or a question of your manhood. It's a human issue. And until more people see that, we're stuck arguing with people who don't have an argument."

Perhaps there's no more simple an argument -- and no more profound an argument -- to make for marriage equality other than "it's a human issue."

And though it's a bit weird on the surface to be placing so much stock in the words of two professional athletes, these folks are certainly going out on a limb to champion equal rights in a sporting culture that likes to boast masculinity and shun the perception of gayness. Dave Zirin at The Nation writes as much this week, saying that professional athletes -- especially in the NFL -- are operating in an environment steeped in male insecurity and evangelical Christianity. Both of those elements tend to look at the issue of same-sex marriage with discriminatory-colored glasses on.

Sporting culture may change slowly on this issue. But one thing is clear: Ayanbadejo and Fujita are breaking down doors with their statements. That's something we should all celebrate.

And how's this for good karma: both the New Orleans Saints and the Baltimore Ravens -- the two teams on which Scott Fujita and Brendon Ayanbadejo play for -- are undefeated. Anyone want to make the argument that supporting marriage equality makes your team better at football :)

(Image courtesy of fanpop.com)

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Comments (6)

Anyone want to make the argument that supporting marriage equality makes your team better at football :)

I won't go that far, BUT I'm sure someone will make the stretch and say that "gawd" is the determining factor in their "undefeatedness."

Now onto the idea of football being "straight!" There is so much homoeroticism in the sport it's not even funny! Think about it! Where else (other than the ballet) do you find men in tights as tight as those you find in the sport of football? Let alone running around chasing balls? Where else do you find a man reaching between another man's legs for a ball? Where else do you find a man with his face looking straight at another guys ass as they are bent over? Where else do you find a bunch of guys in a locker-room running around naked and patting each other on the ass?

I'm semi-joking about the above paragraph.

I'm sure I have JUST ruined the sport of football for Mr. Berg, and if that is one of the positive consequences, then that is AWESOME!

Now seriously, I'm am REALLY going to have to change the order of my favorite teams! I just may have to dump the Charger's unless some of them come out in support of our rights! These two guys are absolutely AWESOME to put themselves on the line like that!

Kudos to Ayanbadejo and Fujita.

Posted by Dave Hershey on 09/29/2009 @ 05:56PM PT
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The sportsworld must become more tolerant towards LGBT people because homophobia brings no benefit and is unjustified. It's good that Brendon Ayanbadejo and Scott Fujita believe in the important right of same-sex marriage. It's well known that players in the NFL are well disciplined because of extensive workouts and expectations, however tolerance towards LGBT people must not be overlooked. Most hopefully, the NFL will represent good football and tolerance.

Posted by Edwin Bonilla on 09/29/2009 @ 06:30PM PT
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I think Marriage Equality is bringing the LGBT population to a healthy state mind and well-being, where it belongs. I think in truth and soon more significantly by research we are going to find that the general population is more LGBT as a whole, than not. I say this from being a bartender, priest, pastor, psychologist and now an activist of the LGBTI people. My life has always been surrounded by a diversity of people, still there are so many people yet to get to know, and so much I do not know. As researchers are showing us more and more that gender identity, sexual orientation, etc. are on continuums. This means that nearly everyone is a mixture of LGBT components to some degree. And the harsh ignorant antiLGBTI social and religious norms just keeps us separated from one another because of what we cannot accept in our themselves. When we have educated the world population about the truths of the complexities that make up human sexuality that each person is a unique mixture of components of LGBT including Intersex, we will then fine peace among the diversity of people and a lot of happiness. It will increase our human potential in the world by leaps and bounds, finding cures of all kinds of diseases and much more.

Posted by Fr. Marty Kurylowicz on 10/01/2009 @ 11:40AM PT
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I dont much care for sports but Im always happy whenever and wherever a growing sense of tollerance kicks out prejudice...So I agree with mr. hershey and add my kudos to mr. ayanbadejo and mr. fujita.

And I too say that anything that pisses off mr. berg along with all the other homohating idiots is definatly a good thing.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/02/2009 @ 05:23PM PT
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After reading this piece and the comments I have a renewed hope for the youth of the country and for all people in the US and around the world. The ignorant teaching the ignorant following the ignorant give birth to more ignorant but a well educated population will give birth to a better nation and a better world. All citizens of the world will benefit.

Posted by Gerald Mattos on 10/05/2009 @ 10:54AM PT
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Thank you mr. mattos.

Blessed be.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/06/2009 @ 06:58PM PT
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Michael is the Communications Director for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School, and previously was Communications Director for Pax Christi USA, a progressive Catholic human rights organization.