Perhaps it would be surprising for Stoudemire to know that not all gay men fit a stereotype that makes them easily identifiable…
While the United States remains a country deeply divided on certain issues, discrimination and bigotry should not fall into any of those categories. While everyone is entitled to their beliefs, opinions, and views, singling out any group of people based solely on their sexual orientation just isn’t right. Apparently, former NBA player Amar’e Stoudemire feels it’s appropriate to make remarks that are discriminatory towards people with a same sex preference. As it turns out, this isn’t the first time he’s taken some heat for making inappropriate comments.
Back in 2012, he engaged a fan via his Twitter account and made gay slurs that he later back-pedaled and apologized for. The NBA fined him $50,000. After that incident, he claimed that he was a supporter of civil rights for all people. Recently, Stoudemire gave an interview to an Israeli sports website where he said that he would do what he could to avoid a gay teammate, including showering “across the street” and changing “around the corner.” The interviewer asked Stoudemire if he was joking, to which he replied that there’s always truth to be found in jokes.
What I find odd is that there is very little backlash in the social media world from token social justice warriors regarding Stoudemire’s comments. It’s absolutely disgusting that we are in 2017 and there are people who would not only treat other human beings differently based upon their sexual orientation, but would feel comfortable enough to make public comments to that effect.
Not only has Stoudemire displayed his gross homophobia, he has demonstrated that he does not support civil rights for all people as he claimed. He has perpetuated the backwards argument that all gay men are only looking to hook up and spend their days gazing at straight men. There is still a stigma among professional athletes being gay, one that has slowly began fading in recent years. Stoudemire has not only brought the issue back into the spotlight for discussion, he has simultaneously displayed his bigotry for the world to see. It’s highly unlikely that he has never been in the presence of a gay man while showering or changing, especially in an environment of all males. Perhaps it would be surprising for Stoudemire to know that not all gay men fit a stereotype that makes them easily identifiable.
While it has become socially acceptable for people in the United States to be openly gay, there is still an old-school way of thought when it comes to professions such as law enforcement, military, and sports figures. It’s not as widely accepted within those organizations. For the most part, I believe that tolerance has taken great strides, especially in recent years. However, Amar’e Stoudemire has shown that ignorance towards gay people is still alive and well. Of course, right on cue, Stoudemire released a statement apologizing for comments he claims he made jokingly. He not only continues to show his prejudice against gay people, he also insults the intelligence of the public by trying to downplay his offensive remarks and homophobia. His words were not simply politically incorrect. They were damaging and hateful.
Angelina Newsom is an OpsLens Contributor and U.S. Army Veteran. She has ten years experience in the military, including a deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. She studies Criminal Justice and is still active within the military community.
To contact or book OpsLens contributors on your program or utilize our staff for your story, contact [email protected].
