Earlier today, ESPN The Magazine writer Chris Broussard went on air to talk about NBA player Jason Collins‘ announcing that he’s gay and he made a fool of himself by talking about how he’s a Christian and therefore against it:

“Personally I don’t believe that you can live an openly homosexual lifestyle or an openly premarital sex between heterosexuals… If you’re openly living that type of lifestyle, the Bible says you know them by their fruits, it says that’s a sin. If you’re openly living in unrepentant sin, whatever it may be, not just homosexuality, adultery, fornication, premarital sex between heterosexuals, whatever it may be. I think that’s walking in open rebellion to God and to Jesus Christ. I would not characterize that person as a Christian because I don’t think the Bible would characterize them as a Christian.”

Broussard was obviously talking about the part of the Bible that says: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life… unless they’re homo.”

(Despite the crazy talk, I love the last line in that video from LZ Granderson)

The statement from Broussard wasn’t surprising given that he said something identical a few years ago when former NBA player John Amaechi came out (despite writing that “the NBA is ready for an openly gay player”), but it’s still amazing he’d say such a thing in this day and age:

I’m a born-again, Bible-believing Christian (no, I’m not a member of the Religious Right). And I’m against homosexuality (I believe it’s a sin) and same-sex marriage. … Millions of Christians who follow the Bible — and Muslims who follow the Koran and Jews who follow the Torah, as well as many nonreligious Americans — believe homosexuality is wrong. That doesn’t mean they’re unenlightened. That just means their moral code doesn’t fluctuate based on society’s ever-changing standards. As long as we’re not being violent toward one another, as long as we can be civil, everything should be fine. We don’t have to agree.

First of all, don’t lump us in with Muslims and Christians. That’s like saying many non-religious Americans are Republicans. It’s true… but it’s really missing the point. When it comes to acceptance of homosexuality, the more you go to church, the less you accept it.

Second, I’m glad Broussard said this. Most of the anti-gay responses following today’s news came from conservative Christian already known for their bigotry. Broussard wasn’t in the same camp. Sure, he can have his opinion. Sure, he shouldn’t be fired over it. But his reputation has been ruined many times over thanks to his comments. Next time someone mentions his name, they’re going to link it with being Christian and being anti-gay. And we’re all better off when people link religion with irrational beliefs.

You have to wonder, though, why Broussard went into this particular industry if he’s opposed to people who have pre-marital sex and commit adultery… has he ever *met* professional athletes?



