NFL: Celebrating our differences

 Dale Hansen, from Dallas, sharing his thoughts on Michael Sam being the first openly gay player in the NFL.
Dale has twice been named Sportscaster of the Year by the Associated Press and with thoughtful commentary like this, it's easy to see why.

SPORT IS FOR EVERYONE, NO MATTER WHAT TEAM YOU PLAY FOR

XXL, a Norwegian sports and outdoor clothing retailer across Scandinavia, created an ad to coincide with the Sochi Games that sends a message in support of the LGBT community: sport is for everyone, no matter what team you play for.

MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS LAUNCH ANTI-DISCRIMINATION PSA

DAVID LETTERMAN HAD HOPED FOR MASS SOCHI BOYCOTTS OVER RUSSIA'S ANTI-GAY LAWS

Rachel Maddow joined David Letterman last night to discuss the Christie scandal and the Sochi Olympics. Letterman asked Rachel about the anti-gay laws and  what should be done.

Said Letterman:
"I was hoping that everybody would pull out and everybody would say 'This is not right. This is medieval times. We're not going.' ... Vladimir Putin said they would not be targeted. Which to me was like, 'Oh.....thanks'."

Soccer Fans Take a Stand for LGBT Nigerians

Soccer fans and LGBT supporters in Cape Town, South Africa, made a statement against Nigeria's recently passed antigay law when the South African team Bafana Bafana took on Nigeria's Super Eagles national football team in Cape Town on Sunday. 

A "small but visible" contingent of demonstrators waved rainbow flags, and carried progay signs during the sold-out game in South Africa's Cape Town Stadium Sunday, reports Mamba Online. 

"People were scattered all around the stadium,” demonstrator Alistair Mackay told MambaOnline. “We saw rainbow flags and even a rainbow umbrella…. While there weren’t enough of us to make a big impact in the stadium, we got into the news, which was perfect and what we wanted."

NEW YORK GIANTS PLAYER VICTOR CRUZ GIVES ASSIST TO GAY BULLIED TEEN

’God is Gay’

A video of a slam poetry performance titled "God is Gay" by a student from the University of North Carolina has gone viral, Time magazine reports. 

The controversial poem was performed by Elliot Darrow, 20, who identifies as a straight male but is an "out Christian." Darrow says he got the idea for the poem two years ago when he wondered if God is gay.

"I personally believe that God is not a sexual being, but at the same time, to make a statement, what if He were, was all in an attempt to show people that even God, who we all see as infallible, still has human traits, such as sexuality, or loves people of a specific gender or identity," Darrow told the publication.

He then looked over the Bible in order to see how Christians should view the LGBT community.

"I’ve seen so many people, in my mind, misuse the Bible to preach not necessarily hatred, but just ignorance toward people who are of other preferences," he told Time magazine. "I want to show that regardless of how someone identifies, God wants to love them, and God does love them. The best way I’ve found to do that is to use the Bible, to use teachings that I have been taught."

First Lady Of Zambia Stuns The Continent By Calling For An End To Homophobia

Homosexuality is a crime in Zambia. In fact, right now, two men are facing 14 years in prison for “having carnal knowledge against the order of nature”, and another is on trial for discussing gay people and HIV on TV.  The country’s tabloids have recently taken to outing suspected gay men, who then face harassment in their neighborhoods. In Zambia, even speaking of being gay can be dangerous.

A few months ago, Edgar Lungu, Zambian’s Home Affairs Minister made this memorable pronouncement:

‘Those advocating gay rights should go to hell, that is not an issue we will tolerate.  There will be no such discussion on gay rights. That issue is foreign to this country.’

In Zambia, like in Russia, the level of homophobia has been moving in the wrong direction. At least until now.

This week, an extraordinary thing happened; an event so unexpected LGBT activists all over Africa are calling it “a miracle.” At a reception hosted by UNAIDS in Lasaka, Zambia’s capitol, First Lady Christine Kaseba-Sata called for an end to discrimination against sexual minorities.

“Silence around issues of men who have sex with men should be stopped,” said Dr. Kaseba-Sata. “And no one should be discriminated against on the basis of their sexual orientation.”

All Africa called the First Lady’s remarks “astonishing”, “remarkable”, and a “game changer”. But the First Lady didn’t stop at announcing her own support. She told the audience that in matters of public health issues, (like HIV) the gay community has the support of her husband, President Michael Sata.

First Lady Christine Kaseba-Sata’s pronouncement may carry more weight that the average political wife, as she is a medical doctor, specializing in obstetrics and gynaecology. Before she became first lady in 2011, Dr. Kaseba-Sata practiced at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka for more than 25 years.

SAN ANTONIO HIGH SCHOOL ELECTS TWO QUEENS TO HOMECOMING COURT

In an historic moment for C.C. Winn High School in San Antonio, TX the student body defied tradition and elected two girls to the Royal Court for homecoming this year. Though Jennifer Mijares and Eileen Hernandez are not a couple, they are allies and members of the school's Gay Straight Alliance, running on the platform of promoting equality among the student body.

They received immense support from the student body, claiming that every one negative response was met with ten positive. They even had the support of the staff, with Principal Jesus Diaz-Wever stating “that it is important for all persons to be respected and treated with dignity and the students at C.C. Winn High School certainly understand that all persons are equal.”

The true test of support arguably came at halftime during the homecoming game on Friday, October 18th. When Jennifer Mijares and Eileen Hernandez were announced as homecoming queens to all in attendance, the 1,500 fans in the stands cheered.

HOMOPHOBIA IS A SIN

As part of a weekend honoring LGBT young people at the Washington National Cathedral, Rev. Gary Hall (pictured right) spoke out against homophobia and heterosexism, denouncing both as 'sin.' The Huffington Post reports:

"We must now have the courage to take the final step and call homophobia and heterosexism what they are. They are sin. Homophobia is a sin. Heterosexism is a sin. Shaming people for whom they love is a sin," said Dean Hall. He continued, "Only when all our churches say that clearly and boldly and courageously will our LGBT youth be free to grow up in a culture that totally embraces them fully as they are."

He criticized the role that some churches have in advancing oppression of LGBT youth, saying, "It's more than tragic - in fact it's shameful - that faith communities, especially Christian ones, continue to be complicit in putting out children at risk and abetting the attitudes that oppress them, thereby encouraging the aggressors who would subject our children to pain, humiliation, and violence.

Straight Man Gets Emotional Over Gay Brother's Struggles After Wedding

In this emotional video, David Stevens, a straight man, discusses what happened after he posted pictures of his gay brother's wedding on Facebook. After telling the reader about the beautiful and loving relationship between his brother and his partner, Stevens shares a Facebook message he received following their decision to tie the knot. The message reads:

Hey David, I am removing you from my friends list. Sorry man, that latest post is way over the top. Homosexuals joining in holy matrimony? I don't think so. The holy bible speaks out against homosexuality and speaks highly of holy matrimony between a man and a woman. It's nothing more than a slap in the face to those who choose God's word for homosexual s to join in a holy marriage. I'm only defriending you so I don't have to look at your anti-God stuff anymore -- nothing personal.

Jake Gyllenhaal addresses rumors that he's gay

On an episode of Inside the Actors Studio set to air at 8 pm on September 19, Jake Gyllenhaal addresses rumors that he's gay, and says he misses Heath Ledger every day.

 Bravo writes:

"Heath and I knew each other for years before that because we had both auditioned for Moulin Rouge together," Gyllenhaal says. After experiencing Ledger's brash, loose sense of humor in person, "I remember thinking, 'I like this guy.' He's just like, super lovable," Gyllenhaal recalls. He later admits Ledger's death hit him extremely hard: "It felt like losing a family member, and it still does to this day."

 Gyllenhaal also addresses the gay rumors that came following Brokeback, but he says he wasn't rattled. (That portion of the interview will be featured in the full episode.) In fact, "It's a huge compliment," he says. And as for what turns him on, Jake says his tastes are simple: "Tits and ass."

'IT'S VERY UNCOOL TO BE IN THE CLOSET NOWADAYS'

Actor Gilles Marini is asked if he would ever lie to help a famous gay friend stay closeted. 

Says Marini: "We're in 2013. I think it's very uncool to be in the closet nowadays. I never was a witness in any wedding in my life, and the first time I was a witness in a wedding in my life was for my dear friends Philippe and David--same-sex couple--and I think it was fantastic. Don't stay in the closet. You'll only hurt your heart and, down the line, probably your family. They need to know the truth about what you like and what you want in life."

US track star wins silver medal in Russia, dedicates win to LGBT friends back home

American runner Nick Symmonds is a well-known LGBT ally who had vowed not to get political during the World Track and Field Championships in Moscow.

But after winning the silver medal in the 800 meters Tuesday (13 August), the 29-year-old could not stop himself and dedicated his medal to his LGBT friends back home.

'As much as I can speak out about it, I believe that all humans deserve equality as however God made them,' Symmonds told Russia's R-Sport.

He added: 'Whether you're gay, straight, black, white, we all deserve the same rights. If there's anything I can do to champion the cause and further it, I will, shy of getting arrested.'

Symmonds comments could be a test of Russia's anti-gay propaganda law which criminalizes public expression of support for 'nontraditional' relationships. Foreign citizens are subject to fines of up to 100,000 rubles, up to 15 days in prison, and deportation and denial of re-entry into Russia.

'I respect Russians' ability to govern their people,' said Symmonds. 'I disagree with their laws. I do have respect for this nation. I disagree with their rules.'

P!NK Says She Is Proud to be Called A Lesbian

P!nk scoffed at followers on social media who called her a "lesbian" after she danced with a rainbow flag and draped it around her neck at a concert in Melbourne, Australia over the weekend.

Harry Styles Responds as Westboro Baptist Church Pickets One Direction Concert

Harry Styles was unfazed by members of the Westboro Baptist Church picketing outside One Direction's Missouri concert Friday night. Instead of reacting harshly to the group's messages of hate, he used the moment to speak out on behalf of equal rights.

Last month, the Westboro Baptist Church first threatened to protest One Direction's Kansas City, Mo., concert on July 19. They called the five bandmates "perverted" representations of the "sin-chasing, fag-enabling, God-hating, Christ-rejecting" United Kingdom.

If You Can Play - great message from Cal Athletics

What 'My Bible Says' Isn't Reason To Oppose Gay Marriage

'What To Do If Your Friend Comes Out To You'