Putting this in CI because I know it's a sensitive topic.

 

Does anyone else think this is a little over the top?

 

No I am not a homophobe or have any problem with a man/women being gay.

 

But as far as I know the thing gays in America are fighting for is "equality." I don't remember a straight man winning a courage award for telling the world he likes women. If gays want to be equal why is there an award? I don't know a single straight man who is "proud" of it.

 

 

Again, I am not a homophobe, I just think as long as we promote homosexual attraction it will never be the same as heterosexual attraction since the latter is not celebrated.

A quick twitter search revealed that many people think it's a little over the top.

Of all the stories of courage...

A quick twitter search revealed that many people think it's a little over the top.

 

Interesting... I don't have twitter but I am surprised to hear that. I'm expecting tons of backlash for this but this is why I posted: to see if I'm the only one.

I thought it was very cool. To me they weren't celebrating that he was a homosexual, they were celebrating someone who was proud to be who they were no matter the social stigmas. What Michael Sam has done is very brave and risky, and he should be celebrated.

When you are the first openly gay Athlete who is risking a lot, that's pretty trailblazing. I don't count Jason Collins.

I thought it was very cool. To me they weren't celebrating that he was a homosexual, they were celebrating someone who was proud to be who they were no matter the social stigmas. What Michael Sam has done is very brave and risky, and he should be celebrated.

 

Interesting, but if being a homosexual is equal to being a heterosexual, why do no heterosexuals express pride in their lifestyle? I guess the problem is the social stigma.

Interesting, but if being a homosexual is equal to being a heterosexual, why do no heterosexuals express pride in their lifestyle? I guess the problem is the social stigma.

 

It usually isn't too hard to proclaim that you are part of the 90%+ majority. I may be wrong but I don't remember many people being imprisoned, ridiculed or even killed simply because they are straight. Have you ever been a part of even a high school football locker room? If so, how would your locker room have treated someone who said that they were gay? If they were treated the same as heterosexuals across the board then you wouldn't hear gay people asking for equal rights. The fact is they are not treated the same everywhere. For an All-SEC player to step out and proclaim he is gay took a lot of courage. A lot of people would have (at best) reacted like you did. Most would have been worse. I'm not hear to judge gay or straight people. I've been divorced and remarried. From what I've read in the Bible, my sins are no worse nor no less than his are. I'm not proud of the path that I took to get where I'm at, I've made my share of mistakes. I'm just glad that I'm here.

Here is the list of past recipients

 

Arthur Ashe Courage Award - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Duplicate post

It usually isn't too hard to proclaim that you are part of the 90%+ majority. I may be wrong but I don't remember many people being imprisoned, ridiculed or even killed simply because they are straight. Have you ever been a part of even a high school football locker room? If so, how would your locker room have treated someone who said that they were gay? If they were treated the same as heterosexuals across the board then you wouldn't hear gay people asking for equal rights. The fact is they are not treated the same everywhere. For an All-SEC player to step out and proclaim he is gay took a lot of courage. A lot of people would have (at best) reacted like you did. Most would have been worse. I'm not hear to judge gay or straight people. I've been divorced and remarried. From what I've read in the Bible, my sins are no worse nor no less than his are. I'm not proud of the path that I took to get where I'm at, I've made my share of mistakes. I'm just glad that I'm here.

 

I don't think many gay Americans are imprisoned or killed for being gay.

 

I've been in a high school football locker room but not with someone who said he was gay so I cannot answer that question.

 

Not treated the same, you are right. Gays are celebrated and being homosexual is promoted. I'm not being homophobic or hateful. All I'm saying is there is no parade in Cincy to celebrate straight people.

 

I guess my real problem with this entire thing is that his coming out had to take courage. If being homosexual is equivalent to heterosexual, it shouldn't be something that takes courage to proclaim.

 

I'm not belittling that it took courage - I realize that. I understand taking a stand against the majority is difficult. But I guess it goes back to the previous paragraph - it shouldn't have to take courage.

 

 

Regarding the sins part of the paragraph, you and I cannot judge if any sins are "worse" than others. It is not our place and we do not have authority to "compare" sins.

I'm not sure Sam belongs on that list.

I don't think many gay Americans are imprisoned or killed for being gay.

 

I've been in a high school football locker room but not with someone who said he was gay so I cannot answer that question.

 

Not treated the same, you are right. Gays are celebrated and being homosexual is promoted. I'm not being homophobic or hateful. All I'm saying is there is no parade in Cincy to celebrate straight people.

 

I guess my real problem with this entire thing is that his coming out had to take courage. If being homosexual is equivalent to heterosexual, it shouldn't be something that takes courage to proclaim.

 

I'm not belittling that it took courage - I realize that. I understand taking a stand against the majority is difficult. But I guess it goes back to the previous paragraph - it shouldn't have to take courage.

 

 

Regarding the sins part of the paragraph, you and I cannot judge if any sins are "worse" than others. It is not our place and we do not have authority to "compare" sins.

 

So you can't understand why it took courage and then saying that you understand that it took courage in the same post. That tells me all I need to know about you.

 

They aren't saying that being homosexual is to be celebrated. They're saying that they are homosexual, and that they are not ashamed of being born that way. They don't celebrated, they'd rather be treated like everyone else. They only celebrate their "pride" and have parades to demonstrate that they are people too and they want to be treated equally. When everyone decides to do that and quit judging, firing, beating, killing and mocking gay people and just let them live like everyone else you'll see the end of the parades.

 

I think I said that you and I aren't to judge anyone's sins. I just said what I read in my Bible studies--that no sin is greater than any other. Do you have any original thoughts or do they all come from the persecuted Christian sites?

I'm not sure Sam belongs on that list.

 

So how is he different from Billie Jean King, Robin Roberts and Mark Bingham? They were all previous gay winners of the award. You can throw Pat Summit in there as well although she hasn't ever come out.

So you can't understand why it took courage and then saying that you understand that it took courage in the same post. That tells me all I need to know about you.

 

They aren't saying that being homosexual is to be celebrated. They're saying that they are homosexual, and that they are not ashamed of being born that way. They don't celebrated, they'd rather be treated like everyone else. They only celebrate their "pride" and have parades to demonstrate that they are people too and they want to be treated equally. When everyone decides to do that and quit judging, firing, beating, killing and mocking gay people and just let them live like everyone else you'll see the end of the parades.

 

I think I said that you and I aren't to judge anyone's sins. I just said what I read in my Bible studies--that no sin is greater than any other. Do you have any original thoughts or do they all come from the persecuted Christian sites?

 

I apologize if my last post wasn't clear.

 

What I meant (in my 4th and 5th paragraphs) was IF homosexuality is equal to heterosexuality then it SHOUDLN'T require proclamation (since heterosexualty does not require proclamation). I then went a step further (since my hypothetical 'IF' clause is incorrect; and apparently in today's culture homosexuality does require public proclamation) in paragraph 5 and said I do realize that it did take courage for Sam and that it what is wrong with the culture - that is the problem - that our culture discriminates against gays in multiple ways.

 

I agree - we as a culture (I'm just generalizing, not calling anyone out) need to stop "judging, firing, beating, killing and mocking gay people."

What I am saying is that I do not know if a parade is the best way to establish the equality as it may just further anger the people who mistreat gays and may not be the most effective way.

 

I myself am not smart enough to know what we should do in order to change the culture to be less judgemental. But I think that proudly sharing one is a homosexual is not the correct way to establish equality (since heterosexuals, the group which they wish to be equal, does not proudly share that they were born that way). As I said, I am only human and do not have an effective solution at this point in my life.

 

However, all I was saying that IMHO in order to establish "equality," we should not promote/celebrate one lifestyle over something it is supposed to be equal too.

 

I apologize as I misread the last paragraph, sir. Honest mistake.