The issue of same-sex marriage is becoming as hot of a topic as the referees’ poor calls in the world of the NFL.
Both Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo and Vikings punter Chris Kluwe voiced their support for marriage equality, and now, those on the other side of the debate are speaking. Ravens center (and former Viking) Matt Birk made a video for the Minnesota Catholic Conference and took to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune to pen his opposition stance in an op-ed piece.
Ravens center Matt Birk speaking out against marriage equality.
Admittedly, the self-proclaimed Christian attempted to frame his argument in a reasonable manner, respecting the other side with statements such as, “Don’t we all have family members and friends whom we love who have same-sex attraction? Attempting to silence those who may disagree with you is always un-American, but especially when it is through name-calling, it has no place in respectful conversation.”
However, the card he plays, like so many other conservatives, is that this is about children and the institution of marriage. “Same-sex unions may not affect my marriage specifically, but it will affect my children—the next generation. Ideas have consequences, and laws shape culture,” he writes. “Marriage redefinition will affect the broader well-being of children and the welfare of society. As a Christian and a citizen, I am compelled to care about both.”
Unfortunately for him, his argument lacks facts (as seen in the countless studies done of children thriving in LGBT homes), and the obvious fact of the matter is marriage has already has been redefined, countless times, throughout history (otherwise, women would still be wedded for land, men would have multiple wives and there would be no such thing as interracial marriage). Oh, and there’s that whole separation-of-church-and-state thing. As Kluwe points out in his most recent retaliation open letter , this one directly addressed to the Ravens center:
“The only impact same-sex marriage will have on your children is if one of them turns out to be gay and cannot get married. What will you do (and I ask this honestly) if one or more of your kids ends up being gay? Will you love them any less? What will your actions speak to them, 15 years from now, when they ask you why they can’t enjoy the same relationship that you and your wife have now? And if your response is ‘We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it’, well, for a lot of people that bridge is here right now. They’re trying to cross it, but the way is barred, and I will do my best to tear those barricades down any way I can because I believe that we are infringing on the free will of other human beings by denying them their basic right to live free of oppression.”
Watch Birk’s video here:
