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Obama Appoints Tony Dungy to Faith Based Advisory Council

The Obama Administration's expansion of faith-based initiatives and its impact on the gay and lesbian community returns to the news. The President has invited Former Indianapolis Colts Coach Tony Dungy to the advisory board—the first black coach to win a Super Bowl and known for his social conservative views against gays. US News & World Report broke the story:

"The White House has invited recently retired NFL Coach Tony Dungy, whose outspoken Christian faith fueled his 2007 support for a gay marriage ban and has won accolades from evangelical leaders, to join its Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. The invitation is likely to draw praise from conservative evangelical groups and criticism from liberals and gay rights activists.

"The White House press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Officials with the Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships would not confirm the invitation to Dungy, but his publicist said rumors of the invitation in Washington were true. "I can confirm that Tony was contacted by the advisory council and asked to join," said Todd Starowitz, a publicist at Dungy's book publisher, in an E-mail message this morning. "He has yet to make a decision if he will accept the offer."

Dungy is a darling of the evangelical crowd and very friendly with James Dobson, rabidly anti-gay founder of the Focus on the Family. The coach created a huge controversy in 2007 by endorsing an Indiana ballot initiative to ban gay marriage and fundraising for the Focus on the Family-affiliated group that funded the initiative. "I feel like telling people when they look at this issue of same-sex marriage I'm not on anybody's side," Dungy said at the banquet sponsored by the Indiana Family Institute. "I'm on the Lord's side."

Gay activists raise concerns. GLAAD notes it is "unclear exactly what role Dungy will play in the advisory council" and is concerned "he can work objectively and effectively with LGBT nonprofits and LGBT community organizations."

Cyd Ziegler at Outsports is also unimpressed: "Unfortunately, people keep giving Dungy a pass on his hateful anti-gay positions. President George Bush previously included Dungy on his Council on Service and Civic Participation. It’s another reminder that our equal treatment and rights are still playing third fiddle to politics and the rights of chickens."

Ziegler makes a very good point. There are many apologists for Dungy's anti-gay views—and unfortunately many are in the black and black gay communities. (Read comments here, here and here.) But I'm not sure what influence Dungy will have. Why not adopt a wait-and-see attitude until Obama names the entire advisory council. Let's also keep in mind the President named Fred Davie, a black gay man, to sit on the board with Tony Dungy. That should mean something.

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Dungy Sits Down with Anti-Gay Dr. James Dobson [R20]
Why Is Dungy Endorsing Anti-Gay Fundamentalists? [R20]
Obama Calls for Expansion of Faith Based Initiatives [R20]
Obama Will Expand and Rename Faith-Based Office [R20]

"Ex-Gay" Donnie McClurkin to Perform at Super Bowl and Honor Coach Tony Dungy

This will be a busy week for the infamously "ex-gay"—or perhaps merely re-closeted?—Grammy Award winning gospel singer and evangelist Donnie McClurkin. The controversial entertainer dominated headlines in the early primary cycle by campaigning for President Barack Obama. Now comes word the anti-gay evangelist will be featured in the official Super Bowl line up in a celebration to honor Super Bowl-winning Coach Tony Dungy—the first black coach to win a Super Bowl—also known for his social conservative views against gays.

The10th Anniversary Super Bowl Gospel Celebration will be held Friday. Melanie Few, the concert's founder and producer, says they are "excited and honored" McClurkin is appearing, adding "his performances are highly anticipated and beloved by the players and fans alike."

At Donnie McClurkin's recent "highly anticipated" performance in Barbados, the Pentecostal evangelist and Gospel singer compared gays to "drug dealers, prostitutes and gang members." How about that for Christian "love"?

The headliners at the Super Bowl concert include the most prominent gay-bashers in black gospel music. In addition to the allegedly "ex-gay" Rev. Donnie McClurkin—because there are some questions about that ridiculous claim—the line up includes popular gospel duo Mary Mary, who have compared gays to murderers and murderers, and, Rev. Hezekiah Walker. Walker, a Pentecostal minister like McClurkin, heads a Brooklyn mega-church well-known for its anti-gay views and was the subject of a gay rumor and whispering campaign that has become urban legend.

Tony Dungy is a living legend who deserves the recognition. But let's hope McClurkin's performance and gospel at the Super Bowl Gospel Concert will have more "love" and less talk about his dubious "conversion" from the "gay lifestyle." The concert will not be as large a platform as the game itself. But tens of thousands of fans will be watching and it will send the wrong message, especially in the homophobic world of professional football.

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Colts' Coach Tony Dungy Talks Football, Gay Players and the Bible

Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy, who was the first black coach to win a Super Bowl, has been often linked to anti-gay and social conservative groups that oppose gay rights, such as Focus on the Family and its rabidly anti-gay founder James Dobson. Via Jocktalk, the Outsports blog, is news of Dungy's recent profile on HBO’s “Costas Now ” where Bob Costas questioned Tony Dungy on his religious views:

Costas: What if you had a player who was openly gay? Would that be alright with you?

Dungy: I’m sure I would talk to him about my views on it, what I think the Bible says about it. I would hope that I would give him the same respect as every other player, treat him exactly the same way I treat the other 52 guys, and show him the kind of love that I think the Bible says we are to show everyone.

Costas: And if he’s a good football player, he’s on the Colts.

Dungy: He would be, yes.

Regarding that last question. Outsports editor Jim Buzinski noted that "Dungy paused before answering the question and seemed uncomfortable when replying."

Tony Dungy is a fantastic coach and an his strong faith has undeniably helped him both on- and off-the-field. He has previously stated that his team prayer sessions are not mandatory and he does not proselytize to players. Apparently, the coach draws the line at players who might happen to be gay and feels the need to quote biblical passages.

Some Background ...
Bush Appoints Dungy to Presidential Panel [R20]
Dungy Sits Down with Anti-Gay Dr. James Dobson [R20]
Why Is Dungy Endorsing Anti-Gay Fundamentalists? [R20]

Bush Appoints Colts' Coach Tony Dungy to Presidential Panel

In its latest effort to brand Administration policies with high profile athletes, President Bush has appointed Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy to the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation. "The appointment has a term of two years with a time commitment of two in-person meetings per year and quarterly phone conversations with assigned committees."

Tony Dungy—who recently became the first black coach to win a Super Bowl—is a darling of right-wing, social conservatives. In July, the coach sat down for a three-part interview with Dr. James Dobson, the rabidly anti-gay founder of the Focus on the Family. Last spring, Dungy was criticized for appearing at fund-raiser for a conservative Christian group that opposed gay rights and same-sex marriage

Some Background ...
Dungy Sits Down with Anti-Gay Dr. James Dobson [R20]
Why Is Dungy Endorsing Anti-Gay Fundamentalists? [R20]

Coach Tony Dungy Sits Down with Anti-Gay Dr. James Dobson

Last spring, Indianapolis Colts Coach Tony Dungy—who had recently become the first black coach to win a Super Bowl—was criticized for appearing at fundraiser for a conservative Christian group that opposed gay rights and same-sex marriage.

During the off-season, Dungy's appearances with the Christian right-wing are attracting less attention. Recently the coach sat down for a three-part interview with Dr. James Dobson, the rabidly anti-gay founder of the Focus on the Family. "I've always listened to your show," the coach tells the right-wing demagogue, explaining that he has listened since the 1980s.

Dobson was so impressed with Dungy's devotion to the Focus on the Family that he promised to "set [him] up with an iPod and all of our shows."

Right-wing Christian love: The gift that keeps on giving.

Tony Dungy: A Man of Quiet Strength 1 [FoF]
Dobson Officially Renounces Harry Potter [Christian Post]

Some Background ...

Why Is Dungy Endorsing Anti-Gay Fundamentalists? [R20]

Why Is Tony Dungy Endorsing Anti-Gay Fundamentalists?

Indianapolis Colts Coach Tony Dungy—who recently became the first black coach to win a Super Bowl—is being criticized for his decision to appear at an upcoming fund raiser for a conservative Christian group that is well known for opposing gay rights and same-sex marriage.

On March 20, the Indiana Family Institute will honor Dungy with its "Friend of the Family" award. The $75-per-person event is expected to draw nearly up to 700 people and raise more than $50,000. The IFI—affiliated with the fundamentalist, rabidly anti-gay Focus on the Family—is the leading supporter of a proposed state constitutional amendment to restrict marriage between one man and one woman. According to Outsports, "Dungy has a long, vocal history as a devout Christian. He has often made religious comments in his remarks to the media."

The Colts front office issued a statement saying it was unaware of the institute's agenda, although the IFI website prominently displays photos of President George Bush, Coach Dungy, and, reports its anti-gay crusades.

Cyd Zeigler at Outsports says its misleading for the Super Bowl-winning coach to pretend the he is not aware of the Indiana Family Institute's homophobic agenda. "When you start helping groups like this raise money, it becomes problematic to me. Be very clear about this: Tony Dungy is raising money for this organization. He is the face of the event."

The Indiana Family Institute also works with the same "ex-gay" defenders who recently suggested blacks were "better off" under slavery than living in Africa.

Groups Question Appearance [WLS-TV]

Dungy Raising Money for Anti-Gay Organization [Outsports]

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