Gay in the Locker Room. Who cares?

Why do America’s professional sports teams have such issues with gay athletes? It’s not like they are any different on the field, but every time someone comes out it devolves into a media circus, with commentators discussing how this impacted play on their team or how much they’ll make. It’s past a little ridiculous. With how out of hand it is, I wouldn’t be surprised if Topps puts sexual orientation on their trading cards pretty soon.

Let’s face it. It’s not like their haven’t been gay athletes in the past. They might not have been open about it, but they’re have been. Kwame Harris with the 49ers, Robbie Rogers with the US Men’s National Soccer Team, and others have all done their best to avoid any discussion of sexuality on the field. Why then, do we make such a big deal out of it? It’s not like the kickoff was a pride parade. They came out to play.

This week, Mizzou Defensive Lineman Michael Sam was one of the first athletes in the NFL to really put come out in the public eye as gay. This isn’t any real news. After all, his entire team at Missouri knew for a year now that Sam was gay and they remarkable improved a losing 2012 season to a 12-2 finish in the SEC. If this is the dreaded effect of having gay players in the locker room, I think UGA needs to re-evaluate its scouting priorities. This highlights the entire supposed issue with openly gay players in professional sports- it’s not the new guard that has an issue with them. If Missouri (not exactly a bastion of progressive thinking) can find a team full of players and coaches who don’t give a damn… the issue must lie somewhere else.

Note that it’s the unnamed professional NFL scouts and coaches who have been giving the “this can only hurt him and his team speech”. It’s because almost nobody under the age of 30 cares anymore. Case in point, a Gallup poll in mid 2013 asked if you:

Would vote to legalize same-sex marriage in all 50 states
18 to 34-year-olds: 69 percent
35 to 54: 52 percent
55 and older: 38 percent

The only people who have issues are the old-hands who have been in the NFL/NBA/WWE since before instant replay. (Funny story, the WWE has openly gay “wrestlers” and the world hasn’t ended) The older officials in the NFL are the same people who have issue with the idea of gay players in a “mans” game. I don’t think having gay players is going to damage the reputation or conduct of the NFL anymore than Aaron Hernandez or Michael Vick already have. Moreover, it paints you as a backwards organization. Nobody likes to talk about the great players of the Negro Leagues anymore because it brings back the disgrace of MLB during the middle 20th century for excluding or ostracizing players. It’d be wise not to make the same mistake twice. Luckily, as the older generation retires, their replacements are going to come from the same generation that cheered on openly gay players and athletes in the Olympics and the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team and I say good riddance. I don’t think anybody buys the argument a gay player in the locker room is going to lead to the end of professional sports anymore.

Reprinted from 5th District State Sen. Curt Thompson's (D-Tucker) blog. Thompson represents parts of unincorporated Duluth, Norcross, Tucker, and Lawrenceville. Also, check the Senator out on Facebook and Twitter.