We all remember how the momentous recent coming out of basketball star Jason Collins rocked the nation, as he bravely became the first out gay man in a major professional sport in the nation. Even the president congratulated him on what he did. However, no matter what this milestone has done in the fight to take down the homophobic environment that is so prevalent in professional sports, other stories show that we still have a long way to go.
One such example is outspoken gay rights activist Chris Kluwe, who has been released from the Minnesota Vikings amid rumors that his vocal nature on the matter of LGBT rights could have been the reason for his termination. Another similar release is that of Brendon Ayanbadejo, formerly of the Baltimore Ravens, who is also outspoken on the LGBT rights issue, and is now out of a job as well. ?Perhaps the saddest, and is certainly the one that prompted me to write this article, is the recent scandal that Russell “Hollywood” Simpson opened up exclusively to the site Baller Alert??with regards to his alleged relationship with former Arizona Cardinals player Kerry Rhodes. ?That particular case especially hits home, because it brings to light just how rampant the homophobia in the professional sports arena is by forcing a man to do the unthinkable: deny his lover.
Despite damning photos released to the media, Kerry Rhodes still denies being gay, and denies his relationship with Hollywood. Further, he says he is “taking steps” to make sure Hollywood stops talking. Now, here in the year 2013, a person’s sexual orientation should be a non issue, but it is anything but. The fact that outspoken LGBT rights proponents are being forced out of the pro sports leagues in droves, and those who wish to keep their jobs are crawling deeper and deeper into their closets speaks volumes as to just how far there is to go in this fight. Hell, if the Manti Te’o situation that exploded earlier this year is any indication, it is possible that the very suspicion of homosexuality or connection to anything gay at all could cost one a career before it even starts, affecting draft statuses at the NFL Combine, the famed recruiting camp ?for NFL hopefuls. ?In fact, Nick Kasa, a hopeful at the Combine in Indianapolis this year, said that there were even questions regarding sexual orientation during interviews with team managers. Kasa said in a radio interview, according to ESPN:
[Teams] ask you like, ‘Do you have a girlfriend?’ ‘Are you married?’ ‘Do you like girls?’ ?”Those kinds of things, and you know it was just kind of weird. But they would ask you with a straight face, and it’s a pretty weird experience altogether.
Apparently, though, actually asking about that sort of thing is a supposed violation of the policies of the National Football League. In a statement, league officials said:
It is league policy to neither consider nor inquire about sexual orientation in the hiring process. In addition, there are specific protections in our collective bargaining agreement with the players that prohibit discrimination against any player, including on the basis of sexual orientation. We will look into the report on the questioning of Nick Kasa at the scouting combine. Any team or employee that inquires about impermissible subjects or makes an employment decision based on such factors is subject to league discipline.
Now, they can say this all they want, but I think by now we all know that there is a big difference between official policies and what actually occurs, and that is a damn shame. The even greater shame, though, is that great people and players like Chris Kluwe and Brendon Ayanbadejo are now jobless just because they did the right thing and stood up for human rights, and that people like Kerry Rhodes are forced to lie, create strife, and end romantic relationships out of fear of becoming unemployable. This, ladies and gentlemen, is why we must make the locker rooms in professional sports across the board and around the world a safe place for LGBT athletes to be themselves. Anything less is completely unacceptable. ?Thank you to those of you who have made such huge sacrifice to pave the way to do what is right.
Edited and published by CB
