Football news in the first week in September usually revolves around opening night, injury reports and final fantasy league preparations. This year, marriage equality received a surprising amount of attention in the sporting news. For readers who might not read the sports page, it’s worth a replay, because it shows some very positive yardage for LGBT rights.
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo kicked off the issue by appearing in a video for Marylanders for Marriage Equality to support a ballot initiative that would allow same-sex marriage in the state. On its own, Ayanbadejo’s statement wasn’t major news, as he has reportedly worked with Equality Maryland for some time.
What really moved the story forward was a letter sent to the Ravens owner Steve Biscotti by Maryland House of Delegates member Emmett Burns Jr., “requesting that you take the necessary action, as a National Football franchise owner, to inhibit such expressions from your employee.” Burns, a Democrat, added “I know of no other NFL player who has done what Mr. Ayanbadejo is doing,” apparently unaware that former Giant Michael Strahan cut a video in the battle for marriage equality in New York, and former Charger (and current Jet) Antonio Cromartie was photographed for the NOH8 campaign.
A letter from an elected official suggesting that an employer restrict free speech was bound to draw a response, and did it ever. While the Ravens brass appears to have remained silent on the issues, Ayanbadejo’s friend and fellow UCLA Bruin, Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe, replied in an open letter to Burns that has LGBT sports fans cheering, and likely has his press agent shaking his head and Burns, a pastor, looking up the phrases “narcissistic fromunda stain,” “hot dong action,” and “colossal foot-in-mouth clusterfuck.” In between the colorful metaphors, Kluwe makes some amazing points, including that the NFL and Major League Baseball might still be segregated if not for courageous owners and players speaking out against injustice.
Having NFL players talk about equality also begins to break down the walls that keep pro sports the last refuge for those who think gay men aren’t “real men.” With the exception of pro sports, all of the masculine occupational myths have been shattered, with gay cowboys, servicemembers and policemen already in the cultural collective conscience. Ayanbadejo’s comments helps create the atmosphere needed for the first out gay NFLer.
Perhaps most important is the question Kluwe poses to Burns: “Why do you hate freedom?” He calls it a “personal quibble,” but it’s much more important. For years, opponents of marriage equality have convinced voters that their right to live and raise children in a world without same-sex marriage was more important than the freedom of LGBT citizens to marry the person they love. In a way that may best come from an ally; Kluwe appropriately asks what impact gay marriage would have on Burns. Then, perhaps less appropriately, he assures Burns that gay people won’t turn him into a “lustful cockmonster.”
Kluwe’s response suggests that more people see marriage equality appropriately as a question of freedom vs. fear, instead of freedom vs. freedom. If that spreads, we’ll have marriage in a walk, much to the chagrin of Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, who must be feeling ever more isolated in his opposition.
