NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin Offers Support to Marriage Equality, Gays in Pro Sports
NFL Hall of Famer and former Dallas Cowboy Michael Irvin appears on one cover of OUT's new 'straight ally' sports issue (rugby icon and anti-bullying champion Ben Cohen appears on another. See, AFTER THE JUMP), and offers his support of marriage equality inside:
"I don’t see how any African-American with any inkling of history can say that you don’t have the right to live your life how you want to live your life," says Irvin. "When we start talking about equality and everybody being treated equally, I don’t want to know an African-American who will say everybody doesn’t deserve equality.”
Irvin discusses finding out his brother Vaughn was gay when he saw him walking down the street near their home in women's clothes. He attributes some of his bad behavior during his years as a Cowboy to his resistance to that:
“Maybe some of the issues I’ve had with so many women—just bringing women around so everybody can see—maybe that’s residual of the fear I had that, if my brother is wearing ladies’ clothes, am I going to be doing that? Is it genetic? I’m certainly not making excuses for my bad decisions. But I had to dive inside of me to find out why I was making these decisions, and that came up.”
Irvin also discusses the lack of openly gay athletes in pro sports:
“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....If anyone comes out in those top four major sports, I will absolutely support him. 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% support."
Check out the cover with Ben Cohen, AFTER THE JUMP...
Read Irvin's full story here.
"Remember two years ago when David Hester showed his two mountains of chocolate glory on TV screens across this country? Now, that was a treat."
That's DEVIN Hester, sweetie.
and yes, it was the Eagles. Mighty juicy boot-ay
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ol9hAYBCuGc
Posted by: Chitown Kev | Jul 12, 2011 7:43:02 PM
@GregV
He may still be gaining an understanding of who exactly we are. Hell, we are still trying to figure out who we are. The fact remains that one of the most hypermacho icons in years has stepped up for us - unequivocally. For that I have no complaints. I don't question the motivation and I don't quibble with the syntax he used to explain it. This was not a backhanded support. It was a full on challenge to professional sports and the African American community to step up and treat us equally.
For that he gets the benefit of the doubt on some of the clumsy language. I can live with that.
Posted by: JDSwell | Jul 12, 2011 7:45:57 PM
Oh, King Drive the only reason I even brought that up is because I was NEVER a Michael Irvin or a Dallas Cowboy fan in the era that he played other than Emment Smith.
Having said that, you might be able to find one comment of mine in the blogosphere about Ben Cohen. MIGHT.
Yeah, I know I shouldn't feed trolls and as of this point, the cupboard is bare.
Posted by: Chitown Kev | Jul 12, 2011 7:52:51 PM
It was a full on challenge to professional sports and the African American community to step up and treat us equally.
Posted by: JDSwell | Jul 12, 2011 7:45:57 PM
JDSwell, What about Caucasians to step up and treat us equally? When will some folks STOP with the generalization bull?
And where is Allbeefpatty in regards to this???? *crickets*
Posted by: Chris Dachocolatebearcub | Jul 12, 2011 8:45:23 PM
Been a Redskins fan all of my life. I hated MI when he played. I love him now. What a terrific statement of his beliefs. Thank you for the support Michael! Thank you very much.
Posted by: Seven | Jul 12, 2011 9:19:16 PM
@ King Drive:
Sugah honey please. You have it all wrong. It's not the white bears that Miss Chitown Kev loves. It's WHITE MEN period. With an emphasis on "tradey" whiteboys like at BrokeStraightGuys and Randy Blue.
Or at least that what Miss Kev said several times at JMG .. when he said that not all black men were tops, he liked to bottom for white men, and "hated" thugporn.
If you're gonna come, come correct sugah!
Posted by: Sugah | Jul 13, 2011 3:17:22 PM
Sorry, JR. The comment was from Jackson.
Posted by: fritzrth | Jul 14, 2011 7:42:54 AM
SUGAH, FORREAL, SHADE TEA, or RYAN CANTY( whatever you're calling yourself now):
CHI TOWN KEV is a gentleman and he responds to you as such...but I AINT. I'm a yella' queen who will tell your black geetchie azz to go f.ck your mother. And I'll do it in front of these white bitches.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Jul 14, 2011 8:57:54 AM