To football player Roddy White, the difference between winning and losing is as stark as the difference between being straight or gay.
In response to a fan’s question (“You would rather lead the league in stats than win a Super Bowl???”) Atlanta Falcons wide receiver tweeted back in kind a “masterful” rhetorical question: “Would u rather be gay or straight come on u know that answer.”
Would you rather use punctuation marks or not? Come on, you know that answer.
Instead of apologizing quickly to defuse the situation, OutSports notes that Roddy is digging himself a deeper hole by squealing about “freedom of speech.” He tweeted in response to outrage: “Freedom of speech. I don’t care how much money I make. I should be held to my own standards and not the standards of others opinion.#period.”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
#WereHoldingYouAccountable, not trying to silence you, bro. And as an influential, moneymaking black fellow, we’d ask you to think twice about the power of what you say.
This is the only apology Roddy has issued thus far: “Ok people I apologize for saying the word gay I know it’s a sensitive subject and a [sic] athlete of my stature should not use it.” (And yes, the photo at right is Roddy’s actual Twitter profile pic, lolz.)
The worst part about this whole kerfuffle is that White didn’t get called out by any of his bros for his not-cool words, as you can see below. In order to deal with language like this, we need Roddy’s peers to come out and tell him: This is not about fans or haters, this is about being respectful of LGBT people. People who have not chosen their sexuality, but were born this way. And enjoy the happy accident that they were. I personally wouldn’t trade my life as a gay man for anything in the world, though there were some hard times in middle and high school.
It’s time for Roddy’s teammates and athletic colleagues to wise up and tell him: Change your speech. Meet some gay people. You might just find that you like them. And to all the football players hiding in the closet, come out. We’ll welcome you.
Polyboy
Freedom of speech is not freedom from consequences. Man up.
xx
This man’s pussy value-system is blinding him. Next.
James
I don’t see what he said as homophobic,hell if I had a choice I would choose to be str8 to.
The Real Mike in Asheville
@James: Really? Are you sure you’re gay?
pedro
Umm…Let’s get real, I would rather be straight…If there was a pill, I would freaking take it. Does that me I’m self-loathing? Absolutely not, it just means I understand the way the world works, and that my life would be much easier if I were straight…Not that my life isn’t good, because it is, but it would be better if I was straight.
MEJ
Would u rather be black or white come on u know that answer.
Evan Mulvihill
@MEJ: Usually I’d delete that, but this is a strange case. I’m going to allow it.
owen
I remember thinking that I would rather be straight once when I was younger and not as happy with myself, not as sure in my own personhood… But to see to people still say that now, I just want you to know that it gets better, you may not see it as self loathing but it is. There is nothing better than being the man you are meant to be, no matter gay or straight.
Matt
For all of you who would actually PREFER to change such a core part of your identity, I apologize on behalf of society. I’m a proud gay man and have been through some REALLY tough times growing up in Small Town, Texas, but those times have made me a stronger, more loving, and more open-minded individual. If I had not had those experiences with intolerance, distrust, and homophobia, I would have turned out to be a COMPLETELY different person. I like to think that I changed a few minds and opened a few hearts along the way. I in no way think society is correct in its treatment of our community, but I LOVE every part of the person I have become. I hope one day that ALL LGBT individuals will feel as comfortable in their skin as their heterosexual counterparts (supposedly) do today.
Spike
@MEJ: Bingo, I thought the same thing. The analogy is no less ignorant and offensive yet totally appropriate given the original statement.
Joe T
@Spike: I, too, thought the same thing this morning and tweeted that same question to Roddy. He blocked me.
Alexi3
I agree completely with Spike about what MEJ had to say. Now, would my life have been easier if I had been born straight; perhaps, but not in any meaningful way. I suspect it would make things easier in the way that money makes some things easier but having money doesn’t answer any of the big questions or exempt you from tragedy or (cliched or not) buy you happiness. I never agonized over the fact that I’m gay. What has kept me awake at night are the existential questions about why are we here?; what if anything does it all mean? You know little things like that and whether straight or gay I would want to be the kind of person who asks those kinds of questions.
Mike
Ahh, every day I thank Twitter for giving such an easy, sans gatekeeper publishing platform to the barely literate. And I’m sure publicists and PR handlers say a double thanks.
GreatGatsby2011
If I had a choice, I’d choose to remain gay. I’m pretty sure becoming straight would put a strain on my relationship with my husband. So I don’t quite follow this man’s analogy. Unless he actually thinks that every person on the planet, given the choice, would choose to be straight. Which is just silly and self-centered.
Jonathon
I would never choose to be straight. I am grateful that God made me to be a gay man. This is who I am, and who I am supposed to be.
Besides, as Aunt Edie says in “Female Trouble”, “The world of the heterosexual is a sick and boring life.”
Shannon1981
Queerty, you were right to use the word fool. For the record, Roddy, despite the hardships, I’d always remain gay. I shudder to think what a brainwashed bigot I’d be if I were straight, considering my background.
David Ehrenstein
I would rather be dead than be straight.
Seriously
@pedro: If you would take a pill to become straight then yes, you are self-loathing. Otherwise you wouldn’t take the damn pill, idiot.
James
@The Real Mike in Asheville: Yeah I’m gay.I aspect it because I know I can’t change it.The gay community is not a picnic
Mk_Ultra_Again
When I was younger I maybe would have agreed. But it was not from internal feelings. It was from external pressure (things like what White has said). Now that I’m grown up, I would never change to straight. I would be a completely different person. It would be like killing the person I am now.
And for what?
To gain the acceptance of people like White?
I have way more respect for myself, and way more optimism in the changing world.
It’s better for LGBT than it was 20, 10, even 5 years ago.
And it’s going to get even better in 20, 10, even 5 years.
Phobes are fighting a losing war.
James
@MEJ: White people lives are easier,but if I had a choice I would choose to still be black if only because I know where I fit with black people.
Daniel
Who is Roddy White? No, seriously who is this person? I wasn’t offended by the comments that were tweeted. Actually, it kind of seems like he’s fishing for a hookup. It’s the kind of comment one could use to “test” the waters of another man. I’m not saying he was indeed fishing, and I’m not saying it couldn’t be considered offensive to some.
Auntie Mame
@James: Then choose it.
Auntie Mame
@pedro: Then choose it.
Auntie Mame
@MEJ: Asian
Auntie Mame
@Mike: Handlers is a good word. I worked as an academic tutor for an Athletic Department. Many of these athletes are the dumbest people I’ve ever met. Frankly, I’m surprised most of them can operate a smartphone and don’t routinely break theirs by drooling on it.
Auntie Mame
@James: Perhaps the gay community you hang out with is not a picnic but the gay people I know are a picnic, the picnic basket, and all the trimmings. You may need to assess the people and places you allow into your life.
James
@Auntie Mame: I wish I could choose it,but we all know that I can’t.
JakeRyLo
What he said was stupid but he’s more of a douche because of the way he handled it. ” I built this platform i dont have to respect all people”.
Ogre Magi
He is probably a Christian, most likely a protestant evangelical
HarlemGuy
This is interesting. In his own dumb jock way, he’s actually making a point. Seriously, who would choose to be gay? It’s a tough road and life is simply so much harder. I know some of the knee-jerk race people are asking the question about choosing race as a way to be snarky, but it’s a valid question as well.
Would I *choose* to be gay AND Black? I don’t know. It’s being a minority within a minority and this life is not easy. BUT I wouldn’t be me if I weren’t all of these things.
My life would be exponentially easier if I were straight and black or gay and white (or a straight white able bodied male, the easiest life there is), but my dual identities shape a unique worldview that I like to have.
Macmantoo
Personally I think everyone should tweet him and ask him the question whether he wants to black or white. I think if he got enough tweets about it he might realized he made a mega mistake. Freedom of speech, yeah, but it also mean conseqences too.
Jacob
@Macmantoo: Nope, he’s too full of himself. Someone actually asked him that and he said “black being white is to easy”. If you pretend there is a comma after ‘black’ it makes SLIGHTLY more sense.
David Ehrenstein
Michael Jackson CHOSE to be a white woman.
kuy
Funny thing is, what he’s saying is not too different from what some gay men say. When gay people say it’s not a choice, it always struck me as admitting that if it were a choice, you would have never chosen to be gay, because being gay means suffering torment at the hands of straight people. So what this guy said may sound mean to gay people, it sure as hell is what a lot of straight people and some gay men think.
Whatever
It take a helluva lot more courage to be gay than to be straight in a hetero-centric society. We should applaud ourselves. Disrespectful, narcissistic stooges like Roddy White will never understand nor appreciate that fact. His asinine remarks reflect more negatively on him, and his churlish character, than on the GLBT community.
xulfi
okkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk i am just so dissapointed as 2 how sum gay men would choose 2 be straight cause they had a rily difficult life in high sckool……………bohohohoho
i am a teenager n obviously high school…………..i am out n i am huge drama queen n ur typical gay guy………………and i would never ever choose wish 2 be not gay…………………………………………i luv myself n think highly of myself cause i am gay
Cam
“”“Freedom of speech. I don’t care how much money I make. I should be held to my own standards and not the standards of others opinion””
_________________________
Could the PLEASE start teaching civics and history correctly in school again?
Freedom of speech means you can’t get arrested for speaking out against the govt. It doesn’t mean that nobody can call you an idiot when you say something stupid.
As for him being held to his own standards.
1. Should Jeffrey Dahmer not have been arrested because by HIS standards he wasn’t doing anything wrong?
This guy needs to go back to 3rd grade.
Tackle
Those who are wondering whether he would choose to Black or White, need to come up with a better question. Like 99.9% of Blacks in America, I’m sure he would choose to be Black.
Most Blacks do NOT want to be White. What most Blacks do want is equality, fairness and a society free of societal and institutional racism.
While there may be societal advantages to being White, there are no “biological” advantages of being White.
And I don’t think as someone stated above, “that it’s eaiser being White” I would say an easy life is relative to many factors. Mainly the color of green. (Money). I don’t think that anyone would believe that every single White person has a better/eaiser life than every Black person.
And with regards to taking a pill to be straight. Depends on the time frame. For many GLBT people, ( since I don’t know of ANYONE who did cartwheels, and gave praise to god almighty that they were either GLBT), Yes in the beginning before we walked down the road of being happy homosexuals, “many” would have taken a pill to be straight.
Cam
@Tackle:
The point of their comments was this.
Even though society makes it harder to be black, you claim many would still chose to be black.
And yet you claim the opposit about gays. Sounds like you have your own issues.
IzzyLuna
Bach at’cha Mr. White. “would you rather be black or white? I think you know the answer.” What sense does that make and how offensive does that make you?
Trey
I marvel at the humor of those who so quickly and conveniently play their ‘freedom of speech’ card, when it’s most likely they couldn’t state which amendment it is, let alone anything else about the constitution. #notfoolinganyone
Alex
Meanwhile in the NHL they recently released a PSA called “You Can Play.” Which basically says no matter your sexuality all that matters on the court is if you can play and have a team spirit. It saddens me he rather focus on a persons sexuality and not talent. Wheaties boxes have no heros on them these days. Congrats dirt bag you aliented a young gay kid with hopes of being a football player one day. People look up to you especially kids gay or straight. Your supposed to tell them they can do anything they work hard for.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXoTRTAw6Dc
Auntie Mame
@James: You always have a choice.
Auntie Mame
@Tackle: Not me. Straight people are cray cray.
Eric
@Evan Mulvihill:
When Mitt Romney, or Rick Santorum, or Newt Gingrich, or half the Republican party openly attacks gays, that’s just the republicans. It’s not viewed as the entire white race attacking gays.
But oh no, some football player made a homophobic comment. Cue the racist retorts attacking every single black person on earth.
I wonder, why don’t we see black gays making racist comments against all whites when white homophobes attempt to overturn marriage rights?
White people are to blame for most of the homophobia in this country. Plain and simple. If you guys want to play that game of making out some ridiculous football player as representing the entire black race, the the republican party represents the entire white race as well. And you white people have a lot of work to do on your end.
Some football player, ridiculous.
Tackle
@Cam: Your issue is that you did NOT read my post well. I stated plainly, and it’s clear that I was referring to GLBT people in the BEGINNING stages of their own acceptence of their sexuality. So I’m not making the opposit claim about self accepting GLBT people.
@Auntie Mame: I wouldn’t NOW either. But in the beginning, when I was not so comfortable, it would have been a different story.
Pat Duffy
Back in the 80’s I did a lecture at a local PFLAG group when I was asked this question by one of the parents. I said “No way!”. I told them there were only two pluses to Heterosexuality and I didn’t care about having either:
Societal Approval
Children
Otherwise, being Gay was better than being Het…..all I had to do is look at my siblings;>!
Blah, bla..huh?
I like how people like this get to speak for all straight people, it’s very revealing about the nature of heterodom. It’s just a bunker mentality of misery and spite, your mediocrity will be total, your insights negligible, but at least you’re straight! Plus, he said he’s an “athlete (sic) of stature”. LMAO… Fetch! Go get da ball! Good boy!