Guys are uncomfortable when it comes to talking about being around gay men. They can try to say they are not and many would be telling the truth, but for many in the macho-world of professional sports it is not a topic that many want to approach.
This is for two reasons: they don't want to say something insensitive and get pegged as a jerk and total a**hole and they don't want anyone to think that is their lifestyle.
Okay, the first part is true, but it would not be a problem if the speaker was not to some degree homophobic. As for the second--get over yourselves guys. Even if someone does think that who cares? be your own man, and be comfortable with who you are. Anyway...
This has become a hot topic for the NFL this week after a former San Francsico 49ers offensive lineman, Kwame Harris, was arrested on charges he assaulted a former boyfriend at an eating establishment due to some argument involving soy sauce and underwear.
Don't ask. I don't know and I don' want to know.
That led to current defensive back Chris Culliver being asked a question to which he responded:
I don’t do the gay guys man. I don’t do that. No, we don’t
got no gay people on the team, they gotta get up out of here if they do. Can’t
be with that sweet stuff. Nah…can’t be…in the locker room man. Nah.
Oh boy.
Many of his teammates rejected his comments and in time as did he once his agent and everyone that cared about him kicked him in the a** for saying something so stupid in a public forum. He has the right to say what he wants, but there are many things that are better left unsaid (I''m sure someone told him that during his life).
As damaging and hurtful as his comments were to the gay community, they were just words by someone who has likely never met or hung around with a gay person (at least that he's aware of). His words have lived on because of the Super Bowl media hype, but would have still died out and become forgotten by kickoff--were it not for the real damage they caused--the pulling of an anti-bullying video from the 'It Get's Better' movement.
Linebacker Ahmad Brooks and tackle Isaac Sopoaga made the video early during the regular season, but then denied it. After they were shown the video they claimed they were misled as to the purpose of the video and refused to comment further.
Talk about ridiculous!
I don't know how they thought anyone could misconstrue anything about them personally from the video or think anything other than they were stand up guys. Shoot--the worst people could do was say that they were both horrible actors that should have read their cue cards before the camera was turned on.
Instead they have reacted like homophobic neanderthals. As a result of their denial the video has now been pulled and the message that it was trying to send damaged along with it.
It is crazy the power that bullies have these days and the effects that they have had on some people. Having strong men like these football players speak out against it sends a great message--that apparently these guys didn't mean.
And it can all be traced back to Chris Culliver saying something incredibly stupid. Now if he is actually sorry he needs to film another ad to replace the one that was pulled.
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