UFC Fighter Supports Marriage Equality

Pro Football Players Chris Kluwe of the Minnesota Vikings, and Brendon Ayanbadejo of the Baltimore Ravens signed a brief to the Supreme court last month supporting marriage equality for gays and lesbians.  This week, Outsports reports that a UFC fighter,  “Suga” Rashad Evans has signed on as well.  This is big news.

The UFC is an ultra- macho organization that has been sited as homophobic in the past.  That seems to be changing.  In January, UFC President, who had previously been criticized for using anti gay slurs, said “If you’re an athlete in the UFC and you are gay, I could care less. You will not be treated any different.”  Also, Liz Caramouche, a female rising star in the  UFC, came out as a lesbian last year.

And now Evans has added his support.  The light-heavyweight fighter told Outsports:

“I’ve never been a homophobe, never understood what that is all about. I knew some people who were gay and never cared about their sexuality. But at the same time, I didn’t fully understand the issues around gay people until my friend BA started telling me about his full public support for gay marriage. We talked about the issue and I decided its not enough to not be against a minority, if you want things to go better for them you have to speak up with them.

I’m a UFC fighter, a macho-type sport. I am a heterosexual guy in a tough macho sport, which is exactly the reason I feel a duty to say I support gay marriage and gay rights.

“I have nothing to gain personally from supporting this issue, and that’s the point. Society as a whole is better when there is equality, and I want to live in a country where everyone has the same rights because we all benefit from that.

“What people overlook is that is isn’t a sex issue, its a love issue. There’s no justifiable reason for trying to get in the way of two people who love each other.

“I have kids. I don’t want them growing up in a society where they, or their friends, could be second class citizens based on which person they fall in love with or who they want to be happy with.”

It seems macho-type athletes aren’t as concerned as they once were about supporting gay rights.  Let’s hope this amazing support from these men spurs others to step forward.

Read the full article here.