Caution: This column is not for the mentally weak or irrationally bigoted. This is not a religious debate or political plea; this is a call for open-mindedness and acceptance. Stop reading if you hate equality and don’t advocate change.
In America, intolerance is a virus often manifested through piercing words. In American sports, intolerance is a disease often coupled with deafening silence.
It's 2011, and enough is enough.
A current article in “Out” magazine profiling Michael Irvin and his relationship with his gay brother is making online headway. Irvin was contrite and especially blunt. He confessed he should have spoke out sooner, but for someone with a flapjack stack of demons, the Playmaker had precise perspective.
“I think growth comes when we share. Until we do that, we’re going to be stuck in the Dark Ages about a lot of things. When a guy steps up and says, ‘This is who I am,’ I guarantee you I’ll give him 100 percent support. … I’m not gay, but I was afraid to even let anyone have the thought. I can only imagine the agony — being a prisoner in your own mind — for someone who wants to come out. If I’m not gay and I am afraid to mention it, I can only imagine what an athlete must be going through if he is gay.”
Homosexuality is an uncomfortable topic anywhere, but it’s an especially sore subject in sports. Although gays have made significant inroads in today’s society — the recent New York legislation and removal of the military “Don’t ask, Don’t tell” policy specifically — until the sports world accepts homosexuals equally, universal discrimination will not diminish.
I don’t believe I’m overstating this.
Like it or not, we’ve boosted our physical heroes to demigods and kings.
No longer are athletes’ domain simply sports. We obsess over their fashion, sexual dalliances, musical tastes and political interests.
The sports world, almost more than any other aspect in the country, can act as the leading platform for change.
Although the negative stigma of gays in society has slowly begun to fade, the resistance in sports has been as unyielding as the Berlin Wall. But it too, is ready to crumble.
As courageous as it was for John Amaechi, Johnny Weir, Billie Jean King and others to come out, people barely batted an eye.
As brave and audacious it was for Phoenix Suns CEO and top NBA executive for three decades Rick Welts to admit he was gay, people shrugged their shoulders.
Each circumstance, despite the fresh dialogue, were merely a blip on the sports Richter scale.
America needs a face.
We need someone that’s revered, idolized and venerated. We need someone that exudes swag and masculinity or beauty and femininity. We need someone to stand up and help tear down the barriers of stigmas and stereotypes.
We need a gay Kobe Bryant, a homosexual Peyton Manning or a lesbian Serena Williams.
Irvin and Charles Barkley have become outspoken in their support for equality and transparency. Both are admirable for their efforts, but many more sports personalities and stars are needed to help marginalize the intolerance.
In a sports world full of dominant African-American athletes, black heroes specifically possess the most unique position in the fight against bigotry.
As Sir Charles, Irvin and prolific sports writer Jason Whitlock all admitted, discrimination is discrimination, no matter the skin color, religious belief or sexual orientation.
Admittedly, I am no saint. I have made my share of slurs and ill-conceived, über-macho gaycist remarks. But it’s 2011, and enough is enough.
The time has come for a prominent gay athlete to emerge and lead the resistance against discrimination and prejudice.
America needs a gay Tim Tebow to take the road less traveled.
