Chris Kluwe on Gays and Homophobia in the NFL: VIDEO

Vikings punter Chris Kluwe spoke with The Dan Patrick Show this morning about the recent reports that NFL recruiters were asking potential draftees about their sexual orientation.

Kluwe explained why he thinks teams are doing that, why it's wrong, and whether or not, given what's happened in the past few days, if a player might be more or less likely to come out of the closet.

Patrick also asks Kluwe how much homophobia there is in the locker room.

"It's there casually in some respects. I don't know that I've ever seen any outright hatred of gay people in the locker room like someone just frothing at the mouth. I think a lot of it has to do with how guys are brought up, the unthinking assumptions they make from their backgrounds. For a lot of guys once they're educated, once they actually get a chance to talk about the issue they see how dumb that is. People are people. It doesn't matter what your sexuality is."

Watch, AFTER  THE JUMP...

NFL Players Brendon Ayanbadejo and Chris Kluwe File SCOTUS Brief Urging Court to Strike Down Prop 8

Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo and Vikings punter Chris Kluwe, two staunch straight allies in the fight for marriage equality, are among those who have filed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to strike down Proposition 8.

Say the players in their brief:

“When we advance the idea that some people should be treated differently because of who they are, demeaned in public as lesser beings, not worthy of the same rights and benefits as others despite their actions as good citizens and neighbors, then we deny them equal protection under the laws. America has walked this path before, and courageous people and the Court brought us to the right result. We urge the Court to repeat those actions here.”

Chris Kluwe Talks with Thomas Roberts About Chris Culliver, the 49ers, and Gay Rights Advocacy: VIDEO

MSNBC's Thomas Roberts spoke with Vikings punter Chris Kluwe today about recent events in pro football - namely, the Chris Culliver incident and the 49ers 'It Gets Better' video debacle. Also, whether activism and pro sports belong together, and what he thinks will happen in his home state of Minnesota with marriage equality.

It all goes down, AFTER THE JUMP...

Vikings Punter Chris Kluwe Talks About His Marriage Equality Advocacy on Ellen: VIDEO

Vikings punter and marriage equality advocate Chris Kluwe stopped by to see Ellen DeGeneres today to talk about his letter in defense of Brendon Ayanbadejo, and why there aren't any out players in the NFL.

Ellen then put him in the Hall of Fame and took him outside to put his punting skills to the test.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Vikings Punter and Gay Rights Advocate Chris Kluwe Talks with Stephen Colbert: VIDEO

Stephen Colbert did a hilarious interview with Vikings punter and marriage equality advocate Chris Kluwe last night and his use of the term "lustful cockmonster" to describe a Maryland lawmaker.

"Why would you support gay marriage? You are in the most hyper-masculine sport in the world. Okay? Football players are about a thousand miles from gay. Men in tight pants patting each other on the butt. Nothing gay about that. Get that butt out of my face. Get it out of there!"

They also talk about World of Warcraft and troll-on-elf marriage.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

150 Game Changing Wins that Made 2012 the Gayest Year Ever

A remarkably short four decades ago, the Stonewall Revolt of 1969 opened the flood gates for LGBT rights. The closet, so sturdy for so long, started being swept away in a rush of pride. Still, LGBT Americans lived in a culture of "tolerance," a popular euphemism for enduring.

There have been momentous years since then — both Barney Frank's 1987 coming out and the 2003 Supreme Court ruling overturning anti-sodomy laws come to mind — but when we look back in twenty years time or ten or even five, 2012 will be remembered as quantum leap for LGBT rights in the United States of America. It's the year that equality went from being a far-off dream to becoming an inevitable, immutable and irreversible reality. Even Newt Gingrich agrees!

This was the year of equality, the year the American dream came into sharper focus and the nation crossed from begrudgingly tolerating gays, and sometimes even acknowledging their relationships, to demanding our inclusion in the greater American family. Coming out is for the large part no longer a big deal, which is a big deal in and of itself.

There have never been as many out and proud elected officials; never before has Wall Street embraced us with such force; never before have so many conservatives admitted they need to shift gears on marriage equality and embrace change. This was a year of "never before" and "never again."

AFTER THE JUMP, 150 reasons why 2012 was a year of permanence for LGBT Americans, a year that the next wave of rights began its swoop across the purple mountain majesty and above the fruited plain.

And for more of our 2012 Year in Review, be sure to read "I'm Gay: 50 Most Powerful Comings Outs of 2012" HERE.