NFL player Chris Kluwe references the Bible in defence of equal marriage

In a recent interview, NFL player Chris Kluwe turned to the Bible to explain why he supports equal marriage, and discussed how important he thinks it is to do so.

The Minnesota Vikings player, Mr Kluwe, posed topless for the cover of Out Magazine, and was interviewed about his support for equal marriage:

“It’s all about the Golden Rule. Treat others as you want to be treated. It’s that simple. It’s something that needs to be spoken about, and it’s something I can do while fulfilling my job as a football player.”

He said that when he was growing up, he did use homophobic slurs, but that he had now realised how harmful the use of such words can be:

“Unfortunately, as kids, sometimes you don’t understand what your words can mean because you’re not emotionally mature enough,” he said “As you grow up and start learning about the world you realize, Hey, some of this stuff is hurtful.”

Mr Kluwe has also responded to Matt Birk, a fellow NFL player who recorded a video opposing the amendment for equal marriage. In his response, Mr Kluwe said: “If you want us to understand why same-sex marriage is bad for kids, you need to provide some sort of substantial evidence”.

Fellow Baltimore Ravens player, Brendon Ayanbadejo, who supports equal marriage tweeted in defence of Mr Birk, saying:

“I don’t think he’s homophobic,” he tweeted “Matt Birk is an amazing father, teammate, man! Even if he & I disagree on marriage equality we agree on 95% of other issues.”

“He’s doing what he thinks is right,” Ayanbadejo said. He also confirmed that Mr Birk had told him ahead of speaking out against equal marriage rights that he was going to do so.

He also tweeted: “Birk=Harvard grad and nfl humanitarian of the year. home schools his kids. Trust me he’s a great intelligent being. Religion based opinion.”

At the beginning of September, Chris Kluwe, of the Minnesota Vikings, penned a letter to Delegate Emmett C Burns Jr, who had written to the Baltimore Ravens’ owner, Steven Disciotti, asking him to stop Brendon Ayanbadejo from speaking out in favour of marriage equality.

Chris Kluwe is supporting Minnesotans for Equality, an LGBT advocacy group that is urging voters to reject the state’s ballot initiative that could make it even harder to introduce equal marriage by banning it in Minnesota’s constitution.

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