Another famous NFL player was just busted for promoting an anti-LGBTQ+ group.
On Sunday, Washington Commanders cornerback Kendall Fuller, who’s also a team captain, will be showing his support for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. As part of the NFL’s My Cause, My Cleats initiative, his playing shoes will feature the FAC logo.
Each season, the NFL allows players and coaches to support non-profit causes that align with their beliefs. The Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which pledges to “reach every coach and every athlete with the transforming power of Jesus Christ,” is unapologetically homophobic.
The organization prohibits LGBTQ+ people from holding leadership positions, along with anybody who even supports same-sex marriage. FAC chapter leaders are required to follow the group’s statement on faith and sexual purity.
“The Bible teaches that the appropriate place for sexual expression is in the context of a marriage relationship” between “one man and one woman,” the statement says.
In addition, the FAC refers to gender identity as being assigned at birth.
When Outsports asked Fuller and the Commanders about his support for the FAC, they both declined comment.
For the second time since 2019, no NFL players are promoting LGBTQ+-specific causes. Three NFL players — Carl Nassib, Johnny Stanton and Preston Williams — have previously selected LGBTQ+ organizations for My Cause, My Cleats.
Stanton, a former fullback for the Cleveland Browns, is a longstanding ally.
“I don’t want people to feel like they can’t be their genuine selves like they can’t live truly with who they are and have to hide that from the people who they’re closest with,” he said in a 2022 interview. “I’m extremely close to my teammates. I can’t imagine not being myself around them.”
“Focus on the Family is committed to upholding God’s design for the expression of human sexuality: a husband and wife in a marriage relationship,” it reads. “We also hold to the scriptural truth that a relationship with God through Jesus Christ brings transformation and power over sin. We reach out with compassion and respect to individuals, families, and churches affected by homosexuality.”
The group also supports the discredited and harmful practice of conversion therapy.
kirk cousins supports an anti-LGBTQ group that openly advocates for conversion therapy and rebanning gay marriage https://t.co/KixzDy4DOp
When I was younger my family attended a church where this group, Focus On The Family, was a big influence. They are a horrible group that thinks women should just stay at home and parents should "punished" with beatings. https://t.co/eXIySwTp81
In the past, Cousins has spoken tepidly about playing with an out gay teammate. When asked about the hypothetical scenario, he said “nobody’s perfect.”
Yikes.
Fuller hasn’t publicly commented on LGBTQ+ issues, and his support of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes doesn’t necessarily mean he’s homophobic. But the group makes little effort to hide its anti-gay stances.
Ignorance isn’t an excuse here.
The Commanders take on the Miami Dolphins Sunday. We’ll see if Fuller is asked about his cleat selection then.
The Minnesota Vikings QB has previously indicated he wouldn’t embrace an out gay teammate.
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Disappointing, both about this player and about the lack of any out gay NFL players or allies promoting pro-LGBTQ groups this year.
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is pretty widespread, and is active at the college level too; most pro athletes who belong to FCA have tended to be lowkey about it, though. They also have a history of proselytizing high school kids and excluding Mormons, which is saying something.
Just so people know, some of the top young quarterbacks in the NFL received the FCA’s Bobby Bowden Award for college stars: Tua Tagovailoa, Deshaun Watson, Trevor Lawrence, and Malik Willis, to name a few. For those who know about Deshaun Watson’s various alleged problems involving women, the award looks not only hypocritical but a complete and perverse joke.
Someone should do an expose or documentary for one of the streaming platforms about this and other insidious fundamentalist Christian organizations. These organizations, like cults, identify emerging celebrity athletes and woo them with attention and protection from other influences. The objective is to attach themselves to the fame and fortune of these emerging star athletes. I’d speculate that the athletes in some cases don’t share the extreme views of these organizations.
Maybe if athletes’ affiliations with extremist organizations became more widely known, the athletes’ prospects for endorsement deals would be diminished. In any case, exposure, as in this article, is the best way to combat extremism and discourage affiliation with such insidious organizations.
“In addition, the FAC refers to gender identity as being assigned at birth.” Gender is not “assigned” it is a biological fact.
Again, everyone is not required to like you. Just because a group believes in traditional Christian “values”, doesn’t mean they’re “anti-gay”.
It’s much like how, if you support full equality, the rightwing nuts call you a “libtard”. Our own contingent of haters prefer to call all Christians “insidious” and “extremists”.
Are these the same people who kill thousands of children calling three-year olds “terrorists” deserving of death? We need to understand that this type of cumulative association is the foundation of bigotry. Are you listening Fahd?
FK em I say. we are not affected by homosexuality anymore then they are AFFECTED by hetrosexuality. Im sick of them assuming we HAVE TO RESPECT them for their religious beliefs and not judge them based on it. Well, im in my late 60s now having fought the good fight to gain our already guaranteed civil rights constantly under attack by these small minded faux christians and their assumptions about how they deserve respect for being religious. NIO it does not work that way. RESPECT is given when it is received and they have NEVER respected any aspect of our very existence so I say FK EM ALL and their religion too as it is the religion of HATE. Try to prove me wrong and I will math your every argument with an example of their barbarism
I’ll reserve my caring for someone’s opinion that’s achieved more then knowing how to throw a ball for a living. No offense to others not so bigoted.
Also to those that say his affiliation to these group doesn’t mean anything. I’ve known these people through family and many were nice on the outside and highly religious but complete bigots. Who you’re affiliated with is exactly who you are.
He’s not going to say shit though because that would end his very lucrative endorsements now and in the future.
Hypocrites, when someone wants to show pride in what they believe in that doesn’t match your agenda, you all get but hurt and try to cancel them. You expect others to support you but when others want to share what they believe in you just show hate. Call me whatever you want but i couldn’t care less. Never insult a brother in Christ because those who support him will fight back.
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Kangol2
Disappointing, both about this player and about the lack of any out gay NFL players or allies promoting pro-LGBTQ groups this year.
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is pretty widespread, and is active at the college level too; most pro athletes who belong to FCA have tended to be lowkey about it, though. They also have a history of proselytizing high school kids and excluding Mormons, which is saying something.
Just so people know, some of the top young quarterbacks in the NFL received the FCA’s Bobby Bowden Award for college stars: Tua Tagovailoa, Deshaun Watson, Trevor Lawrence, and Malik Willis, to name a few. For those who know about Deshaun Watson’s various alleged problems involving women, the award looks not only hypocritical but a complete and perverse joke.
abfab
It’s amazing how much you know about sports and lots of other things. THANK YOU KANGOL2!
I love that word ”fellowship”. It’s anything but.
Fahd
Someone should do an expose or documentary for one of the streaming platforms about this and other insidious fundamentalist Christian organizations. These organizations, like cults, identify emerging celebrity athletes and woo them with attention and protection from other influences. The objective is to attach themselves to the fame and fortune of these emerging star athletes. I’d speculate that the athletes in some cases don’t share the extreme views of these organizations.
Maybe if athletes’ affiliations with extremist organizations became more widely known, the athletes’ prospects for endorsement deals would be diminished. In any case, exposure, as in this article, is the best way to combat extremism and discourage affiliation with such insidious organizations.
abfab
A very good point, Fahd, There are many docus. Start here:
Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple
ShaverC
“In addition, the FAC refers to gender identity as being assigned at birth.” Gender is not “assigned” it is a biological fact.
Again, everyone is not required to like you. Just because a group believes in traditional Christian “values”, doesn’t mean they’re “anti-gay”.
Ronbo
It’s much like how, if you support full equality, the rightwing nuts call you a “libtard”. Our own contingent of haters prefer to call all Christians “insidious” and “extremists”.
Are these the same people who kill thousands of children calling three-year olds “terrorists” deserving of death? We need to understand that this type of cumulative association is the foundation of bigotry. Are you listening Fahd?
barryaksarben
FK em I say. we are not affected by homosexuality anymore then they are AFFECTED by hetrosexuality. Im sick of them assuming we HAVE TO RESPECT them for their religious beliefs and not judge them based on it. Well, im in my late 60s now having fought the good fight to gain our already guaranteed civil rights constantly under attack by these small minded faux christians and their assumptions about how they deserve respect for being religious. NIO it does not work that way. RESPECT is given when it is received and they have NEVER respected any aspect of our very existence so I say FK EM ALL and their religion too as it is the religion of HATE. Try to prove me wrong and I will math your every argument with an example of their barbarism
frapachino
I don’t care what athletes believe in.
James
Get lost, loser. Nazi trash.
abfab
He already is.
Chrisk
I’ll reserve my caring for someone’s opinion that’s achieved more then knowing how to throw a ball for a living. No offense to others not so bigoted.
Also to those that say his affiliation to these group doesn’t mean anything. I’ve known these people through family and many were nice on the outside and highly religious but complete bigots. Who you’re affiliated with is exactly who you are.
He’s not going to say shit though because that would end his very lucrative endorsements now and in the future.
barryaksarben
we are not affected by homosexuality anymore than they are affected by heterosexuality. fKN DUMB Asses
Christtheking
Hypocrites, when someone wants to show pride in what they believe in that doesn’t match your agenda, you all get but hurt and try to cancel them. You expect others to support you but when others want to share what they believe in you just show hate. Call me whatever you want but i couldn’t care less. Never insult a brother in Christ because those who support him will fight back.
abfab
Pride in being a bigot and a homophobe? Cancelled!
Demanding that we NEVER INSULT A BROTHER won’t work.
Share your beliefs, just don’t be a toxic asshole about it.
ps…Christ would cancel you, tough guy,