christian vs gay

Last week, Tim Tebow was released from his job as backup quarterback of the New York Jets

A few hours later, NBA veteran Jason Collins became the first active player in major professional sports to come out of the closet.

I saw this cartoon and found it to be fitting. The sports media was often critical of Tebow when he would profess his love for God. Tebow, a devout Christian, would begin every interview by thanking God. This rubbed some people the wrong way.

It was interesting when Collins, a 7 foot 12 yr journeyman, told the world that he was gay. The media applauded him. Some even called him a hero.

Collins is no hero. Nothing is wrong with Tebow.

Maybe the sports media has "overblown" it for both men?

As fans...do we care?

More importantly...do we have the right to judge?

I don't care. And I won't judge.

your favorite athlete is gay...

Your favorite athlete is gay...

Lebron James is a queer...

Peyton Manning is a fag...

Derek Jeter is a homo...

Danica Patrick is a dyke...

Yeah...your favorite athlete is gay. The cat is out of the bag. Now what? How do you feel? Does it even matter?

My hope is that you would say that it DOESN'T matter. Personally, I could care less if my favorite athlete (or anybody else for that matter) is gay. That's their personal choice. It's none of my business who these people sleep with. And who I sleep with is none of their business. Honestly, I think the above mentioned athletes are straight. We assume that they are. But we don't know because we don't know them personally. And it really doesn't matter if they were. Not to me at least.

There has been some discussion in the sports world that there are "as many as FOUR current NFL players who may come out of the closet." They should! Now may be the best time to do it. I think most people would be willing to accept a gay teammate in their locker room. Truth be told, there are already gay players in all major sports. If teams don't think they have gay players on their roster, then they are delusional. The numbers suggest that they are there. I think it would be a great thing. Come out of the closet. Be who you are. Anybody with an open mind would be ok with it. I know there are some who will say "well, in the Bible it says blah, blah, blah." Kill that noise. I believe in the Bible but it was written a gazillion years ago and everybody's interpretation of it is different. (I wish I had time to talk about how "church folk" talk about inclusion of all people but are quick to look down on gays and lesbians...but that's not a part of today's discussion). 

Recently, there has been some pictures to surface online of NFL player Kerry Rhodes and his personal "assistant" on vacation. While Rhodes has denied being gay, the pictures of him sharing intimate hugs and laughs with this man could suggest otherwise. Would there be backlash if he came out? Not really. I think Rhodes...and any other player would feel relief that they no longer had to hide their secret. 

We are all different and we all do different things. If we worried more about ourselves and not about other peoples personal business...things would be much better. 

NO HOMO

"Stay away from Chris. He's a faggot."

I can't remember how old the first time that I heard the word "faggot". I was 6 or 7...i think. I wasn't sure what or who a "faggot" was but I was assured that it wasn't something that you wanted to be. And I was sure to stay clear from Chris. That was the first time that I heard the word faggot but it wasn't the last.

I think I grew up like most kids in the 70s & 80s...homophobic. While I knew that I would never harm a man because he was gay, I didn't want to be around them either. Once the explosion of AIDS in the early 80s, homophobia ran rampant. During my freshman year at South Carolina State University, we were faced to deal with AIDS in a big way. On November 7, 1991, Magic Johnson announced that he would be retiring from the NBA because he had acquired HIV. I remember seeing dudes in the dorm crying because they thought Magic was gonna die. Some wondered..."was Magic gay?" My response was "does it matter if he got HIV from being gay or doing drugs? It shouldn't. You should be concerned about the man...not the disease." It was at that moment, I realized that my thought process had changed.

Three years later, I read a book that changed my views totally. The book was called Invisible Life by E. Lynn Harris. The book featured a story about a man who realized in college that he was gay and his inner struggle to come out of the closet. The more I read the book the more that I realized that these characters sought the same thing that I sought...love. They wanted it from other men...I wanted it from women. There were parts of the book that were initially difficult to read (the love scenes) but that got easier with time. I learned from that book that people are people. We all like different things. I could care less what somebody does behind closed doors. Their personal choice doesn't define who they are. People are people. Gay...straight. It doesn't matter. 

Of course, not everybody feels this way. Just a few weeks ago, Chris Culliver, a member of the NFL's San Francisco 49ers made some homophobic comments while being interviewed on a radio show in the days leading up to the Super Bowl. Culliver was asked if he’s been approached by homosexuals.

“Nah, I don’t do the gay guys, man … I don’t do that,” said Culliver.

He was then asked if there were any homosexual players were on the 49ers.

“No, we don’t got no gay people on the team,” said Culliver. “They gotta get up out of here if they do.”

The radio host asked Culliver to reiterate his thoughts, to which the player said, “It’s true.” He added he wouldn’t welcome a gay teammate – no matter how talented.

“Can’t be with that sweet stuff,” continued Culliver. “Nah… can’t be… in the locker room man. Nah.”

He later apologized and will have to undergo sensitivity training as mandated by the San Francisco. 

He's delusional if he doesn't think that he doesn't have a gay teammate. The numbers suggest that there is. 

Maybe I should give him my copy of Invisible Life to him

And maybe some of you...

no homo

One of the things that I've always loved about this blog...it's mine! And I can talk about whatever I wanna talk about.

There are 2 subjects that I never talk about...politics and religion. It's not that I can't...I just don't.

Until today.

Unless you've been hiding under a rock for the past week, we've all heard the story about the embattled pastor, Bishop Eddie Long, of the Newbirth Missionary Baptist Church in metro Atlanta. He's the pastor who is being sued by four different men. The lawsuits accuse Long of using his power and influence within the 25,000 member church to lure young male church members into sexual relationships. The suits allege that the relationships, which began when the men were in their teens, lasted over many months. Long took the young men -- all of them teens at the time -- on trips, including to Kenya, according to the suits. Long allegedly paid for their hotel rooms, and gave the young men gifts, including a car, cash and jewelry -- all in exchange for sexual favors such as massaging, masturbation and oral sex. These accusations are even more controversial because Eddie Long, who is married, has preached passionately against homosexuality over the years. Long said that he won't "be tried in the court of public opinion but in a court of law." Well, I'm sure he'd lose in the court of public opinion. Preacher + young men = homosexuality. You can't convince most people otherwise.

I don't know Eddie Long. I've only been to his "megachurch" once. I left the church that day very impressed. I've tried to withhold judgement on this story. I've read all of the lawsuits and I've heard Long give his perspective. They each have their sides of the truth but the REAL truth is somewhere in the middle. I do believe that where there is smoke...there is fire. And there is some smoke here. Long never said he "didn't do it". These young men could have conjured up these stories. Who knows? Nevertheless, it does not look good. I guess we'll all find out in due time.

One of the things that I found interesting is the conversations that were spawned. Some "church folk" scoffed at the notion that you could not have homosexuality in the pulpit. Of course you can! Homosexuality is a part of society just like drugs/sex/alcohol. Eddie Long, like other pastors, is a man. He puts on his pants one leg at a time. He laces his Jordan's one foot at a time. Every man (and woman for that matter) sins. How do we sin? According to the Bible, we all sin in our thoughts, words, and deeds. No man is above that. For all that I know, my pastor could be looking at Ms Parker and her phat booty during the service.

Lastly, pastors like Long denounce homosexuality. Why is it that the church...of ALL places...will alienate gays and lesbians? Is that fair? You may not agree with a person's lifestyle but they should be able to worship without being picked on. Personally, I don't understand why a man would want another man. That's not my style. However, that's their choice. And the church...especially the black church where people should know the feelings of discrimination...should be the last place where people should turn a cold shoulder.

Do yourself a favor...trust GOD. Don't put your trust in man.