Ravens LB Brendon Ayanbadejo: "Being Gay is No Big Deal"

 

 

More on Baltimore Ravens LB Brendon Ayanbadejo who is emerging as one of the most articulate supporters of gay rights in pro sports. BA tells the Washington Blade that growing up in progressive Santa Cruz, Calif., made it easy for him to become an ally  and write the Huffington Post pro-marriage equality op-ed that declared "we will look back in 10, 20, 30 years and be amazed that gays and lesbians did not have the same rights as everyone else."

 

 

"It’s a liberal town, and when you grow up there you might have a gay or lesbian teacher or a classmate who is openly gay," he said. "It’s not a big deal there, and I grew up with it around me all the time, so I never thought it was a big deal."

Ayanbadejo told the Blade that when the piece was published, he forwarded it to several friends and associates, but didn’t get much reaction. Ayanbadejo said that it wasn’t until months after he wrote the April opinion piece that people began to take notice. "Equality Maryland sent a letter to the Ravens media department, and they passed the letter on to me and asked if I wanted to attend their [open house] event," Ayanbadejo said regarding his appearance at last month’s reception. "It was in inner-city Baltimore, so I said, ‘For sure. I’m interested in making a difference.' "

Ayanbadejo says fellow athletes are becoming more tolerant: "There are a lot of words thrown around out there that aren’t politically correct. But it’s a lot less than when I first started playing and everything is changing for the better."

 

 

One example: New Orleans Saints LB Scott Fujita supports Ayanbadejo in an interview at The Nation. "I hope he's right in his prediction, and I hope it doesn't take that long. People could look at this issue without blinders... I wish they would realize that it's not a religion issue. It's not a government issue. It's not even a gay/straight issue or a question of your manhood. It's a human issue."

Footballer Will Demps has also come out strongly for gay marriage, as have basketball greats Charles Barkley and Magic Johnson. Wish there were more guys like this on our team.

Ravens Player Interested in Making a Difference [Wash Blade]
Can the NFL Tackle Homophobia [Nation]

Brendon Ayanbadejo Coverage on R20:
 Brendon Ayanbadejo Models Nipple Rings on the Field
 Ravens LB Brendon Ayanbadejo Supports Marriage Equality
 WaPo on Brendon Ayanbadejo's Support for Gay Marriage

Comments

[FQ]

WOW! That body is bangin'

Sexy, great body, athlete, progressive and pro gay.

Be still my beating heart!

[Derrick from Philly]

This is great. One athlete speaks out against anti-gay hatred and then a few more begin to show that courage. I'm grateful to men like Mr Ayanbedejo(Lord, I have to keep scrolling up and down the page to see the spelling of his name), Will Demps, and juicy Charles Barkley, and Scott Fujita. It does take courage to speak out against the expected and usual homophobia in professional sports.

Oh, and Rod, you did have to find a photograph showing Mr Ayanbedejo's physique from the side view, didn't you? And here I am suffering from my mid-week withdrawal. Oh, well, I'll have to deal with it. With his juicy self. That's not disrespectful, is it?...oh, I don't care...He's Juicy!

[nathans]

I feel all warm and Fuzzy all over...

[chris c]

His willingness to publicly articulate that being gay is as normal and natural as being hetero is impressive.

[CC]

Great pic!! I love these men for being the pillars that they are in showing others that this really is a human issue. Your (hetero-men) manhood was never in danger, if you are secure in your self.

On a side note: most of these men who are speaking out are hella phyne!!

[TheRevKev]

I am so proud of this brother and these others (Barkley, et al.) who are standing up in this issue. One of the main reasons I find it so refreshing is that they are also breaking the stereotype of athlete as immovable Neanderthal, who can't see other people or opinions. Many athletes (Tiki Barber for example) are now really consider LIFE BEYOND THE FIELD and they can't all be sports commentators. Will Demp could easily model or act and Dhani Jones is clearly prepping himself for brilliant things after the body says ENOUGH.

They are prepared or preparing to live in the real world and the real world has issues that they have to be able to articulate. I remember that brother that was featured here who want to go into fashion! That's just smart and open to the world.

Yes, its wonderful that these brothers are so physically gorgeous, but their strong sense of self and self-worth is making them BEAUTIFUL to me!

More light on people who lift and support up and let's leave the idiots IN THE DARK!!!!

Thanks Rod...and Brendon...and Charles...and Will...and Dhani...and athletes who are strong enough, nay MAN ENOUGH to say HEY WHATEVER'S CLEVER! DOESN'T SCARE ME! I AM A MAN! So are we and we stand man-to-man to say THANKS FOR THE LOVE!

[Ravenback]

This is the type of black man I like hearing from. Not these dumb-headed rappers and so-called men of God.

[ReggieH]

I hope this encourages other members of the NFL to make supportive statements. I know for a fact that there are other Ravens who have gay friends they grew up with, but they have not been as vocal in their support as Brendon -- come on guys, step up!

[David]

I remember this guy has a black planet page several years ago (I am thinking somewhere between 2000-2002. This was hen he was in college, however on his page he mentioned that he was not gay, and that he did not want gay men coming onto him via is black planet page (a roung paraphase). I am not trying to imply that he was being homophobic, and if he was I guess he has matured somewhat since then.