"Why I Support the National Equality March": NFL's Scott Fujita Speaks Out for Gay Rights
Scott Fujita is a star linebacker for the unbeaten New Orleans Saints. He is also a 2001 graduate from the University of California at Berkeley with a BA in political science. In addition to playing for the Saints, he is also is someone proudly raising his family in post-Katrina New Orleans. In the following interview, Scott speaks out about why he is supporting the October 11th National Equality March for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender rights in Washington DC.
Dave Zirin: Scott, you made the decision to lend your name and endorse the National Equality March. Why did you choose to do that?
Scott Fujita: I think for me it was a cause that I truly believe in. By in large in this country the issue of gay rights and equality should be past the point of debate. Really, there should be no debate anymore. For me, in my small platform as a professional football player, I understand that my time in the spotlight is probably limited. The more times you have to lend your name to a cause you believe in, you should do that.
DZ: You've said to me in previous discussions that one of the reasons why this issue really resonates with you is because of the issue of adoption, and who gets to adopt children in the United States. Can you speak about that?
SF: A year ago or two years ago, I remember reading about an initiative that was proposed in the state of Arkansas. It was some kind of measure that was aimed at preventing adoptions by single parents. Now, the way I read that and the way that I translated that language was that only heterosexual, married couples could adopt children. As an adopted child that really bothered me. I asked myself, what that is really saying is that the concern with one's sexual orientation or one's sexual preference outweighs what's really important, and that's finding safe homes for children, for our children. It's also saying that we'd rather have kids bounce around from foster home to foster home throughout the course of their childhood, than end up in a permanent home, where the parent, whether that person's single or not, gay or straight. Either way, it doesn't matter. It's a home that's going to be provided for a kid who desperately needs a home. As an adopted child, that measure really bothered me. It just boggles my mind because good, loving homes for any child are the most important thing.
DZ: Now Scott, what makes your stance newsworthy is that people don't really think of the National Football League as a gay friendly place. How present is homophobia in the locker room on a day in and day out basis?
SF: You know people do call it homophobia, and even that term alone is interesting to me. Because I don't even know how they call it homophobia, because that's a fear of the same. It's more heterophobia. It's a fear of something different from yourself. Is there still some of that in the locker room? Absolutely. People tell me, hey, that's pretty courageous. You come out in favor of gay rights. I don't think it's that courageous. I think I have an opinion, that I wish was shared by everybody, but I honestly believe that it's shared by more [football players] than we know because a lot of people just won't speak out about it. I'm hoping that what [Baltimore Ravens linebacker] Brendon [Ayanbadejo] did, and things like what I'm doing, speaking out a little bit, hopefully more people will step up and acknowledge the fact that hey, its ok to talk about this. Just because I'm in favor of gay rights doesn't mean that I'm gay or doesn't mean I'm some kind of "sissy" or something. That's the language that you hear in locker rooms. I know these guys well. I know for the most part, guys are a lot more tolerant than they get credit for but they're not comfortable yet speaking out about it. It's going to come in time. By in large, it's an opinion that's shared by more people than are realized. I just wish it was shared by everybody.
DZ: Do you have any concerns that teammates, fans, people will say Scott Fujita may be married and have kids, but maybe on the down low he might really be gay? Do you have concern that teammates, bloggers, the press will talk that kind of smack about you either behind your back or to your face?
SF: No, I have no concern about that whatsoever. I know who I am. My wife knows who I am. I don't care one way or the other Dave. I imagine that when some of this gets out guys in the locker room might give me a hard time, and they always give me a hard time. They call me the Pinko Communist Fag from Berkeley. I'm used to it. I can take it all.
DZ: You made an interesting comment to me off air about the utter illogic of people who claim to promote God and Jesus but stand four square against any kind of national equality. Can you speak about that please?
SF: I completely respect everyone's choice of religion. Just because I'm not a very religious guy doesn't make me right or wrong, or them right or wrong. Everybody has a right to believe in whatever they want. But, I don't like when people use God or Jesus Christ in this whole debate, if you could even call it a debate. Jesus Christ to me, is probably the most compassionate and revolutionary thinker of all time. Look at his teachings. Look at what he preached. He would not endorse any type of inequality, this type of inhumanity. He would not be on board with that. So please, spare me that argument and saying that hey, the Bible says that it ain't right, or hey, Jesus Christ wouldn't buy into this kind of thing. Don't give me that. That's not even an argument.
DZ: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
SF: I'm excited about this. You know what Brandon did was great. What he wrote in the Huffington Post was very well said. I'm glad he did it. I know people are applauding him right now for being so courageous. It's courageous to a certain extent, but it's just an opinion. I wish more people shared the opinion that he and I have. Like I said, I think more people do than we realize. I just wish more people would be as open as we have been about it. I always describe myself as a pretty open minded and tolerant guy. But the one thing I am most intolerant of is intolerance. That's the one thing, you want to get under my skin, to start talking about some intolerant stuff, and I'm quick to talk about it.
DZ: Oh, if that's the case, then we should just expect you guys to beat the Redskins forty two to nothing when you're in town. The Redskins name will get you all riled up and you'll have 20 tackles right?
SF: (Laughs) Now you're trying to get me in trouble.
[Dave Zirin is the author of "A People's History of Sports in the United States" (The New Press) Receive his column every week by emailing dave@edgeofsports.com. Contact him at edgeofsports@gmail.com.]
Follow Dave Zirin on Twitter: www.twitter.com/edgeofsports
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Scott Fujita - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Scott Fujita and his suprising life and appearance - ESPN The Magazine
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Fujita has been one of my favorite Saints players since he joined the team in 06. That tackle he had on Brian Westbrook on 3rd and goal in the playoffs saved us the game. I have to say I'm really proud of him. As a conservative I feel like the issue of gay rights should be a bipartisan one, but I think too many people on my side of the isle appy their religous views to their political ones. Anyway good stuff Scott.
Geaux Saints
I'm a liberal and I would like to join you in support of gay rights. Thanks for sharing.
Scott's impressive, his opinions are well-stated and his team is accomplished: undefeated.
Great article!
what an awesome guy, he made some really thoughtful points. "heterophobia" - he is correct on that.
Mr. Fujita! This is coming from a long time Saints fan. I watch Saints games at my best friend's house, and every time you make a tackle, we yell, "AH, Fujita!" But that's irrelevant. My buddy's a staunch conservative heterosexual, but his brother is gay, which I think makes him more understanding of lifestyles different from his own. It seems to me that when people have real life experiences with people who are different from their way of life, they become more tolerant.
I also agree that expressing your views, while not mainstream in the NFL, is hardly courageous. It's like the "hero" who saves the child from a burning building. When the hero says, "I did what anybody else would do in the same situation," it makes everyone wonder what they would do. But this building never stops burning, and anyone can step into the fire. I know you can take the heat, Mr. Fujita. Now stomp out those Giants in the Dome!
WWJD? Love the sinner, hate the sin.
Yawn...grow up.
Love the Christian, hate the unwarranted, uninvited classification.
Intolerance is the sin, buddy.
And Jesus would agree with me and not you.
He'd tell you to stop calling homosexuality a sin, and he'd do it while noting you're probably wearing poly cotton blend sometime this week. (For those who love to read Leviticus selectively.)
Also, God hates football, because the ball is the skin of a dead pig, but then, this stuff's already been mentioned. I swear, when the far right re-writes the bible, Leviticus is going to take up a half-page.
Jesus would repeat: Love one another, be compassionate, feed the hungry, give to the poor, heal the sick, follow me.
While I'm not a football fan, Scott and the Saints have my support! Will be rooting for the Saints to make it to the Superbowl!
Awesome!! Thank you!
I've been a Saints fan since their inception in 1967 and I've never been prouder of a player. Thanks Scott for having the courage and the decency to speak up on such an important issue. Unconditional love is what these children need, not more fear-mongering and coercive, religion-based guilt therapy, and whether that love comes from a straight or gay parent is immaterial. Enjoy the bye-week Scott, you and your team have earned a break. Who Dat? Go Saints!
Im just going to make a short opinion because, to be honest, the argument against homosexual marriage is so beyond stupid its exhausting to talk about. Heterosexuals are so against homosexual marraige because it "violates the sanctity of marriage" but seem to look past the fact that 1 in 2 heterosexual marriages end in divorce. That statistic alone throws out the sancity of marriage argument since it doesnt seem to matter all that much to begin with right? Second, they say it is immoral. Again looking beyond the seemingly immoral action of divorce there are so many things that are subjectively moral/immoral that it is silly to shove anything down our throats through preach. What you call immoral I say moral and vice versa. Third, does it really...REALLY...affect you in any way? I mean if you are happily married and a gay couple live next door does it really change anything if they were married or not? They will continue to live next to you together no matter what. Get over it.
Thats what this is about I think: insecure heterosexuals being uncomfortable and too insecure to deal with the inevitable "ick" that is homosexuality. What are you trying to prove? That youre a macho man against gays? Yawn.
You talk about the "inevetable ick factor of homosexuality". Maybe so for so many people.
The truth is that most people are "icked" about anyone different than themselves. Homosexuals are icked about straigthts, blacks are icked about whites, whites are icked about blacks, old is icked about young, young is icked about old, thin is icked about fat etc etc etc.
We live in a world of universal ickness and we all just have to learn to live with it. It doesn't just affect straights icked about gays. It's everywhere all the time. Most people don't like to be too close to those that are diferent to themselves. I'm icked everytime I go to the supermarket.
agreed
Or not. Most NON-JUDGMENTAL PEOPLE such as I are not "icked" by people simply for being different than I am. I may not personally enjoy some of the things they enjoy, but it does not mean I get "icked" by them as people and wish any ill upon them or discriminate against them.
I am in no way icked by "straights". Most of my friends are straight.
really? most people don't ick me at all.
Somewhere there was a lonely gay teen who was feeling suicidal, read this and maybe, just maybe, decided to live. People say that all the time but it is absolutely true. Someone did read this and it did cause them to think twice about killing themselves.
I had an uncle who was gay and basically killed himself through drugs because he felt the world hated him and no one cared abou thim.
Thank you Scott. Speaking out always makes a difference. Always.
See Dave Zirin's Profile
Just emailed with Scott. He's very gratified by the comments here.
Im the biggest Saints fan! Its so encouraging to know there are intelligent, open-minded NFL players like Fujita. Saints 4-0 baby!
As a native New Orleanian, I have followed the Saints since they played in Tulane Stadium.
My husband and I got into the games with our student IDs and $1.00. Yes, we are very old.
This may be our year to go to the Superbowl.
With players like Scott Fujita, who exemplify talent, insight and compassion, we are already winners.
Love him! It's great to know that an NFL Player is speaking out about gay rights. Michael Irvin recently visited a gay football team offering them pointers...great signs that people are becoming more open to the community. Thanks for the information Dave!
The guy is articulate and talks rationally. Let's hope he doesn't get traded to the Rams!
Rush is trying to buy an ownership interest in the Rams.
Can we please banned all shell fish!! It's in the Bible!
This is wonderful. If more people came out for equality across the board, maybe the nasty rhetoric that we have been inandated with would go away. We have to get passed this people.
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