The Overwhelming Issue in Sports

Over 60 years ago, a young African-American athlete from Pasadena embarked on a journey that, at the time, was thought of as impossible. In the midst of racial segregation, the idea of blacks and whites playing sports together was as realistic as snow in hell, until a standout All-American from UCLA broke the color barrier in 1947.

Danger loomed. Ridicule. Death threats. But he knew what he stood for wasn’t just his dream, but that of every African-American. He paved the way for athletes of color to live in a world that gave them opportunity to play the sports they love without segregation. We know this story today as the most heroic moment in sports history. That hero’s name was Jackie Robinson.

1947 seems long ago. While racism is still alive in some parts of the country, it is shared throughout that segregation is a violation of human rights. However, the idea of discrimination based on uncontrollable circumstances still looms heavily in the world of sports.

Many teams are still hesitant on the acceptance of gay athletes in particular. Why hasn’t this issue been solved?

It’s been close to two years since Jason Collins, the first active gay athlete, released his story to Sports Illustrated that publicly announced his sexual orientation, and a year since Michael Sam announced to the world that he’d be the first openly gay player in the NFL. Yet, many athletes still hold the opinion that they don’t want to play with anyone who is gay. Their reasons are typically the same, which usually isn’t reason at all.

In 2013, NFL player Chris Culliver openly discriminated against gay athletes when he was asked a question regarding whether or not he knew of gay players on his team. He said, “We don’t got no gay people on the team, they gotta get up out of here if they do…. Can’t be with that sweet stuff. Nah…can’t be…in the locker room, man. Nah.”

And just last week, New York Mets player David Murphy openly stated that he disagreed with the lifestyle choice of Billy Bean, a former player who came out in 1999. Whether or not being gay is a choice of lifestyle or birth-given is irrelevant, and the fact that Murphy and Culliver don’t present themselves as ambassadors for equality is the overwhelming issue today in sports — one we are so familiar with.

It’s unreal to think that today, in 2015, the idea of equality is still so far from reality. It’s disgusting to hear that what we’ve been taught since elementary — the story of Jackie Robinson — hasn’t been used as a model for athletes collectively to accept those of another sexual orientation, and as long as the problem persists, many gay kids will be denied the human right to escape reality through sports.

To those who continue to stand up and fight for equality: you are living testament of Jackie’s journey.