• Letters from CAMP Rehoboth
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Advertising Information
    • Where Can I Get Letters?
    • The Write Stuff
  • Events
    • Featured Events
    • SUNFESTIVAL 2022
    • Women's FEST
    • Block Party 2022
  • Programs
    • Arts & Culture
    • Education & Advocacy
    • Health & Wellness
    • Community Building
    • CAMP Facilities
  • About Us
    • Membership
    • Volunteers
    • Board of Directors
    • CAMP Rehoboth Staff
    • Reports and Financials
    • History
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Press
  • Resources
    • Beach Guide Directory
    • LGBTQ Resources
    • LGBTQ Providers
    • LGBTQ Delaware Data
    • Trans & Nonbinary Resources
    • BIPOC LGBTQ Resources
    • LGBTQ Local and National Resources Guide
  • Contact
  • Shop
close× Call Us 302-227-5620
close×

Search form

April 4, 2014 - The Out Field by Dan Woog

Chris Kluwe Does Not Punt on Marriage Equality

When Chris Kluwe began working for same-sex marriage in Minnesota—and then wrote a powerful letter in support of the same issue in Maryland—the reason was simple: It was the right thing to do.

What made his voice particularly important is that he was a professional football player. And although not many athletes are outspoken on issues like LGBT rights, Kluwe found surprising support among his teammates. The stereotype of pro athletes as conservative, insensitive brutes unconcerned with social issues is wrong, the former Minnesota Viking kicker claims.

Kluwe’s first project—for Minnesotans for Marriage Equality, helping defeat a 2012 anti-gay marriage ballot initiative— raised a few eyebrows in the NFL. But it was his strongly worded letter to a Maryland legislator—who had chastised Baltimore Ravens player Brendon Ayanbadejo for his support of same-sex marriage—that went viral and unleashed twin debates over where professional athletes stood on the question, and the broader issue of whether they should weigh in on either side of it.

“Athletes are role models. We have an obligation to speak out,” Kluwe told The OutField recently. He admits that although it has been “unusual lately” for athletes to talk about social issues, that was not always the case. Tommie Smith and John Carlos gave Black Power salutes at a 1968 Olympic medal ceremony. Two years earlier Muhammad Ali had refused induction into the U.S. army, saying “I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong.” He was arrested for draft evasion, and although he never served his five-year jail sentence, he lost several prime years of his boxing career. In 1971, the United States Supreme Court reversed his conviction.

After eight seasons with the Vikings, Kluwe was cut last spring. He believes he was released because of his activism. But he makes a distinction between the team’s coaches and front office, and his teammates.

Sixty percent of the players “supported everything I said” about gay marriage, Kluwe told The OutField. The other 40 percent agreed only in part, or disagreed. However, the punter noted, “all of them were glad I spoke out for Brendon. They recognized he had a right to say whatever he wanted, whether they agreed with him or not.”

The NFL is filled with smart athletes, Kluwe said. However, the league is “so corporatized,” athletes risk losing their jobs if they speak out. With limited years for their careers, not many pros are willing to take that risk.

But Kluwe was. Fortunately, he said, feedback from fans was quite positive. There was some hate mail, but not much.

Perhaps even more important was what he heard from gays and lesbians—not necessarily football fans—and LGBT youth. Many people told Kluwe that his words and actions affected them directly.

That’s been very encouraging, he said. At the same time, it’s also “depressing.” He wonders, “What does that say about our country that something I do, as simple as speaking out, will save lives? What kind of world do we live in where an athlete who speaks out is keeping kids from killing themselves?”

Kluwe is no longer an active player. But he is as active as ever, speaking at schools and to social action groups. He enjoys answering questions about everything from why he speaks out, to his favorite video games. (In addition to his football talents—and playing bass in an alt-rock band—Kluwe was a noted World of Warcraft player, and writes occasional reviews for gaming magazines.) 

Over the past year, Kluwe said he has learned several things. He learned that social issues are indeed very important, and that it is worth risking his career to speak up about them. He learned the depth of importance of same-sex marriage to the LGBT community.

And, he said, he learned that “people who write angry letters don’t know how to spell.” 

Are gay issues important to the NFL? Kluwe is not sure. “It’s a business that probably recognizes it has to change with the  times. They may not know completely how to do it, but they’re getting there.”

So now that he is no longer playing, what’s ahead? Kluwe promised to “keep pushing for marriage equality until all states have it.” He added, “There are plenty of places in this country where people can be fired for being gay.” That is another important issue of fairness for him.

Meanwhile, have he and his wife ever gone to a gay wedding?

He laughed. “I’ve been invited to a few. I haven’t been able to go, though, because of my schedule.”

The invitations come from people Chris Kluwe does not know personally. But they feel they know him. They count him as a friend, and they want him there to celebrate the joy he’s helped them find.

Dan Woog is a journalist, educator, soccer coach, and gay activist. His latest book is “We Kick Balls: True Stories from the Youth Soccer Wars.” Email Dan Woog

‹ April 4, 2014 - Children's Beach House Golf up April 4, 2014 - Beach Times by Fay Jacobs ›

Past Issues

Issues Index

  • February 7, 2014 - Issue Index
  • March 7, 2014 - Issue Index
  • April 4, 2014 - Issue Index
    • April 4, 2014 - Acknowledgments
    • April 4, 2014 - The Way I See It by Steve Elkins
    • April 4, 2014 - Speak Out - Letters to Letters
    • April 4, 2014 - In Brief
    • April 4, 2014 - CAMPmatters by Murray Archibald
    • April 4, 2014 - CAMP Out by Fay Jacobs
    • April 4, 2014 - Amazon Trail by Lee Lynch
    • April 4, 2014 - CAMP Stories by Rich Barnett
    • April 4, 2014 - View Point by Richard J. Rosendall
    • April 4, 2014 - Before the Beach by Bob Yesbek
    • April 4, 2014 - Booked Solid by Terri Schlichenmeyer
    • April 4, 2014 - Thinking Out Loud by Abby Dees
    • April 4, 2014 - Hear Me Out by Chirs Azzapardi
    • April 4, 2014 - Buzz Worthy by Deb Griffin
    • April 4, 2014 - Volunteer Spotlight by Chris Beagle
    • April 4, 2014 - Volunteer Thank You
    • April 4, 2014 - Ask The Doctor by Michael J. Hurd, Ph.D., LCSW
    • April 4, 2014 - CAMPshots Gallery Index
    • April 4, 2014 - CAMP Arts by Doug Yetter
    • April 4, 2014 - CAMP Dates
    • April 4, 2014 - Children's Beach House Golf
    • April 4, 2014 - The Out Field by Dan Woog
    • April 4, 2014 - Beach Times by Fay Jacobs
    • April 4, 2014 - Women's FEST - Ladies 2000
  • May 2, 2014 - Issue Index
  • May 16, 2014 - Issue Index
  • May 30, 2014 - Issue Index
  • June 13, 2014 - Issue Index
  • June 27, 2014 - Issue Index
  • July 11, 2014 - Issue Index
  • July 25, 2014 - Issue Index
  • August 8, 2014 - Issue Index
  • August 22, 2014 - Issue Index
  • September 12, 2014 - Issue Index
  • October 10, 2014 - Issue Index
  • November 14, 2014 - Issue Index

Follow Us

Follow us on Social Media!

RECEIVE WEEKLY EMAIL

Information

  • Letters
  • Events
  • About Us
  • CAMP Center

Support CAMP

  • CAMP Membership
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
Copyright © CAMP Rehoboth, 2023
  • p. 302-227-5620
  • info@camprehoboth.com
  • 37 Baltimore Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971