On the eve of the U.S. Supreme Court hearing arguments on same-sex marriage, Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita has written a beautiful and powerful column for the New York Times on why gay marriage should be legal. Here are two paragraphs I especially like:
My belief is rooted in a childhood nurtured by a Christian message of love, compassion and acceptance. It's grounded in the fact that I was adopted and know there are thousands of children institutionalized in various foster programs, in desperate need of permanent, safe and loving homes, but living in states that refuse to allow unmarried couples, including gays and lesbians, to adopt because they consider them not fit to be parents.
Believe it or not, conversations about issues like gay marriage take place in locker rooms every day. In many respects, the football locker room is a microcosm of society. While there is certainly an element of bravado in our sport, football players are not the meatheads many think we are. For some of my friends who raise personal objections to marriage equality, they still recognize the importance of being accepting. And many of them also recognize that regardless of what they choose to believe or practice at home or at their church, that doesn't give them the right to discriminate. I am encouraged by how I've seen such conversations evolve.
There is much more to the column than those two paragraphs and it stands out as a wonderful affirmation of love, acceptance and humanity. Fujita is a an amazing person and a terrific advocate.