Religion to blame for NFL homophobia?

[cbayer]

http://michaeloloughlin.religionnews.com/2013/02/28/religion-to-blame-for-nfl-homophobia/


Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe was on the cover of Out magazine.

Michael J. O'Loughlin | Feb 28, 2013 |

Former Chicago Bears’ quarterback Jim Miller raised eyebrows this week when he suggested that religion may be the reason there are no openly gay professional athletes in the NFL. From the Chicago Tribune:

“There are some religions that are just not going to accept a gay individual in the locker room,” Miller told “The McNeil and Spiegel Show” on WSCR-AM 670. “So now, are you as an organization going to bring that element into your locker room and think everything is going to be OK?

“Last time I checked, whether it’s Christianity or Muslims or other religions that are out there, they’re just not going to accept it. They’re just not. It’s just not realistic for Mike Florio or any progressive or liberal to think that everything is going to be OK in the locker room and we should all just wise up and accept it.”

He was responding to reports claiming that some NFL franchises are asking, perhaps illegally, about their prospects’ sexual orientation.

But today we learned that two National Football League players, the Minnesota Vikings’ Chris Kluwe and the Baltimore Ravens’ Brendon Ayanbadejo, filed an amicus brief seeking to block the implementation of California’s ban on same-sex marriage, Prop 8. In it, they cite the power of professional sports to shape culture, in both positive and negative ways. They write that while there is much progress to make, many professional athletes are speaking up—both to clear the way for any teammates who may be gay and closeted, and from an understanding of how even seemingly minor acts by professional athletes can reverberate with the public. Tolerance is becoming the message in locker rooms and from teams that recognize they cannot countenance use of pointless slurs like “faggot,” “queer,” and “gay.” Regardless the intent with which those terms are spoken, they classify a group and particular people as synonymous with the lesser, and professional athletes are beginning to understand that.

more at link

[Kalidurga]

1. Religion in general might fuel homophobia...

But, I don't think you can specifically say it's the cause in the NFL.

[cbayer]

4. I think Jim Miller was just looking to cover his own homophobia.

I doubt that anyone messes with Kluwe in the locker room.

[Kalidurga]

9. Well of course...

Homophobia hasn't been socially acceptable for a while now. So, the most convenient thing is to duck behind religion. But, I don't think religion causes that, I just think it is a contributing factor.

[cbayer]

10. There is no question that some religious groups have fueled homophobia across the spectrum.

Certainly it's there in the NFL, but groups of men playing sports have always had some homophobia, be it religiously driven or not.

Some of the most homophobic language imaginable can be heard in locker rooms.

So, kudos to those players that are coming out, taking a stand and trying to change the culture. They are clearly the strongest and bravest in the group.

[rrneck]

2. I don't think it fuels it so much as feeds off it. nt

[cbayer]

5. Not sure what you mean.

[rrneck]

6. I think there are two basic ways to get people to pull together -

find them a common cause or a common enemy. Minorities make good scapegoats.

[cbayer]

7. Agree with that, but I think Jim Brown's premise is wrong here.

[cleanhippie]

3. Religion seems to be a trait shared by homophobes.

It's almost as if religion is the one thing they all (homophobes) have in common.

Coincidence or something more?


No, not all those that share religion are homophobes. (for any obtuse readers out there)

[trotsky]

8. It's worth noting that in this very group, the two most recent individuals PPRed...

for their homophobic posts were staunch Christians who frequently and vocally opposed non-belief.

[struggle4progress]

11. I bet the most popular religion in the NFL is football

[cbayer]

13. Ain't that the truth! There is more ritual there than in most religions.

[Goblinmonger]

12. Kluwe is all kinds of awesome

His twitter feed is hilarious (even more so if you are a gamer geek).

And religion certainly fuels the homophobia as we saw in the California Prop and other events.

[Plantaganet]

14. Not just NFL homophobia... n/t