Nice Griner Op-Ed in the NY Times

[Sargassoc]

. . . Perhaps to remind some folks that the battle is not yet over. Nobody's kid ought to have to undergo this treatment in school (or at all). LINK

 

[Suebird10fan]

Outstanding essay. Collins' piece in SI was good but I liked this a lot more. Kudos to both of them though.

 

[msf22b]

Heartwarming, wonderful piece.
They taught that kid how to write!

 

[meyers7]

Very nicely done.

 

[Icebear]

Wonderfully well written and expressed.

 

[FairView]

Nice piece.
Regarding the bacon reference, any chance ETT can recruit BG to post in the what doesn't go with bacon thread here?

 

[alexrgct]

On the one hand, it's less difficult in some respects to be a gay female athlete because it's not considered unusual, and certainly Griner is going to make good money over the course of her professional career. On the other hand, a number of the attributes that have made her a big-time WBB player also have been a subject of ridicule and abuse. It's gratifying to see her come into her own as both a basketball player and a visible spokesperson for important social issues.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

Excellent piece.

 

[wire chief]

Heart-warming

 

[EricLA]

Really well written and a great read. Not sure that it will "change" any minds, and it was hard to read about the abuse she had to endure (and still does). Even on the UCONN men's board, people referred to her as a "dude", and it was disgusting to read. She had a tough road, but I do believe in general, the worst is behind her. I love the "It Gets Better" project. The bullying is awful and needs to stop, but it is important to let those kids know that it DOES get better and give them hope that there will come a time where they can live as who they are without any fear.

 

[jplotinus]

Kudos to Brittney Griner for a thoughtful, well written article. I was impressed.

There was a recent lightening rod thread on recruiting, on programs that rely on "don't ask don't tell" &c. A connection between that thread and this one consists in questioning what kind of support will BG receive from Baylor? She certainly represented Baylor extremely well and did a lot for that institution. Yet, as a religious-based college--Baptist, no less--it is understood that homosexuality is not embraced as acceptable, let alone as a variety of normal human sexuality.

What will Baylor do?

 

[easttexastrash]

I have to be honest. The reaction of some of the Baylor fans disappoints me greatly and makes me sad.

I don't think Baylor will do anything as a university due to the fact that it is a private, Baptist school that is most likely not going to take on this issue since homosexuality flies in the face of what most fans believe it. This next snippet is a little long but reveals a lot about what a difference it is to be gay at Baylor. It was posted in the WBB section of Baylorfans.com. And quite frankly, this type of sentiment, which is not uncommon, makes me question my support for Baylor.

Brittney Griner's choices

"I have watched Brittney Griner play for Baylor for four years. I was glad to see her play at a good Christian university. I felt confident that she would do well in basketball, her studies and her spiritual growth.​

She excelled in all but one apparently. Somewhere, at sometime, she decided to engage in homosexuality, and now feels the need to tell the whole world. I don't think the world is interested in what should be one's personal private business. Baylor is the largest Southern Baptist school in the nation, yet Britteny did not get the spiritual help she needed to overcome the sin of homosexuality, which the Bible is clearly against in both the Old and New testament. From Sodom to the Apostle Paul's book of Romans chapter one. ​

​

I know some will say I am full of hate, which is not true. As a Christian, I believe what the Bible says, and hate no one. Brittney, like any adult can make whatever choice she wants, but has believed the lie that the homosexual lobby has spread about being who you are. It is simply a case of needing to accept Christ in your life and turning away from sin. If she is a Christian, I hope she can see that such a lifestyle, will do nothing but put a barrier between her and her relationship with Christ. I hope Baylor fans who are Christians pray for her."​

 

[EricLA]

I have to be honest. The reaction of some of the Baylor fans disappoints me greatly and makes me sad.

I don't think Baylor will do anything as a university due to the fact that it is a private, Baptist school that is most likely not going to take on this issue since homosexuality flies in the face of what most fans believe it. This next snippet is a little long but reveals a lot about what a difference it is to be gay at Baylor. It was posted in the WBB section of Baylorfans.com. And quite frankly, this type of sentiment, which is not uncommon, makes me question my support for Baylor.

There will always be narrow minded individuals who feel the way that person does. Obviously we disagree (with them), and certainly would have any number of replies to that person. However, the fact is there are many people in this country who feel the same way, or even more strongly, about it. If it gives them purpose to pray for our souls, more power to them! I'm completely comfortable, however, with my place in the universe!

 

[katiecrum1992]

Awesome article! Always been a Griner fan, but now even more so.
Coming out to myself was hard enough, can't imagine it at a regular standpoint. Definitely not as a celebrity.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

There will always be narrow minded individuals who feel the way that person does. Obviously we disagree (with them), and certainly would have any number of replies to that person. However, the fact is there are many people in this country who feel the same way, or even more strongly, about it. If it gives them purpose to pray for our souls, more power to them! I'm completely comfortable, however, with my place in the universe!

For anyone interested, CNN had an interesting article referring to the issues surrounding some Christian groups opposition to homosexuality on-line over the weekend, on their religion blog. About the line between those who "hate the sin" and make the leap to "hating the sinner". Not a good topic for this board, but worth the read for those interested.

 

[alexrgct]

Using the Bible to justify bigotry is cowardice. There are many different interpretations of the Bible, and if you've chosen an interpretation that judges a specific identity as categorically and intractably sinful, that's your conscious decision. Own it and own up to it, I say.

One of the things that has caused significant changes in the attitudes of people throughout the country regarding homosexuality has been that more and more people have felt comfortable coming out, which has caused straight people to realize just how many people they know, and possibly even love, are gay. It's especially effective when it involves family members, in my experience. I would hope that, for many folks associated with the Baylor community, BG would be considered a member of their family, both when she's bringing a second NC to Baylor (and the team who brought the first to Waco also had gay players, BTW), and when she's coming out and preaching peace, tolerance, and respect. I consider her message far more in keeping with the teachings of Christ than the post ETT quoted.

Sadly, change tends to be evolutionary more than revolutionary. Given that, the changes in attitudes towards homosexuality have been significant, extraordinary really, since the Stonewall riots. This does not mean that everyone is on the trolley. It does mean that I have faith we'll get there eventually.

From a cradle-to-the grave homo-friendly heterosexual. Ragingly so on both counts!!!

-Alex