If Qatar tries to bid on the Winter Games, my understanding is that it would be backed by its Free Labour party.

Excellent piece Barry. Although, I'd like to offer my thoughts on a particular line: Coming out is now a stage-managed media event, scripted and choreographed in a way that ensures America receives only the most telegenic version of what at bottom is still a deeply personal act.

Excellent, well-researched piece. Although I agree with the criticisms of Athlete Ally, as a gay man who came out in 1973 I am pleasantly astonished that we have a problem of a straight man grandstanding and wanting attention in a quest to make life easier for gay athletes. I can remember when NO straight men would…

Not many people know how awful this kid's life has been. I just reread an article about his harrowing childhood and that just made me sob. He grew up in an incredibly racist town in Texas with little familial adult supervision, at least on a consistent basis, in his life. His little sister drowned when she was 2. His…

Yeah, I haven't seen you that emotional since that damn hobbit stabbed you in the knee.

This is a story about her being shot by a police officer after waiving a revolver around. Save your outrage for the numerous cases where police shoot unarmed citizens. I'm having a hard time feeling sorry for this crazy old lady.

Did you really expect anything else?
They also support small government, but they want it in every bedroom in the land and in every uterus.

Secession in itself wouldn't be treason - is the "waging war against the United States" that's defined as treasonous in the Constitution.

Sherman didn't go far enough. Every one of those Confederate Generals should have been imprisoned for life for taking up arms against the lawful government.

Visit any Civil War battlefield, last time I checked there's memorials to the Confederate solider too. Should we tear those down while we're at it?

"Fighting for independence" why? So that no one would take away their slaves.

I'm a Southerner and my family has lived in the same rural area for over 200 years. If there is a symbol to show the pride of being Southern, the confederate flag isn't one of them. Plain and simple. You want to show pride? Feed people who aren't from the South BBQ, have them listen to bluegrass, blues, or country,…

You have a choice. Free Market says you can get a job somewhere else.

Enjoy.

Ahh, "context." Because doing any of these things would be fine as long as other people in other locker rooms are doing them.

So let me get this straight - a league of adult men aren't ready to play with an openly-gay player, yet a group of college kids were not only able to do so, but also kept his orientation a secret and voted him team MVP?

It's a pigment of their imagination.

Here's what that denial lacked : "I didn't say those things".

I think some of these comments are fairly conclusive proof that there is institutional homophobia amongst the NFL fandom if not in fact in the NFL itself. Which would explain a lot about why the NFL behaves as if there *is* institutionalized homophobia within its organization. Anything to beef up ticket sales.

I started following him on twitter the first time he spoke about equality. I think he is a fantastic human being and I give him much respect for sticking to what he believes is right. I also believe he was fired for his speaking out and yrs his coaches are cowards. We need more people like Chris Kluwe.