By Todd Craig
Yes, former Denver Broncos quarterback
Tim Tebow has always been known for his devout Christian beliefs, and
as far as I know, he's as straight as a chalk line at a construction
site.
A little history lesson: The third
year quarterback's professional career before last year was defined
mostly by a relatively tame pro-life ad during the 2010 Super Bowl
that he starred in for Colorado Springs' own homo-hating
organization, Focus on the Family.
But all that changed last season when
he led the Denver Broncos on a miraculous six-game winning streak
last year, and it seemed as if Tebow-mania had captivated the entire
nation. The Broncos, a mediocre team at best in 2011, had risen from
the dead and an 0-4 start thanks to the pluck and verve of the
devout, young, and hunky quarterback who was as quick with a prayer
as he was with an opportune touchdown at the end of the game.
I'll admit, as a Broncos fan, I loved
watching my team win again, but as a gay man I was having serious
reservations. Tebow's play seemed to elevate that of his teammates.
And more than once, I found myself thinking that I'd love that Tebow
kid more if he just kept his religious beliefs to himself. Why did
he have to make such a public spectacle of his beliefs? After all,
how is any self-respecting gay man going to root for a guy who's the
poster boy for Focus on the Family?
Somewhere about that time, I was at the
gym, putting in my miles on the treadmill and staring at the various TV screens in front of me. Fox News had a panel
discussion asking if Tebow was the victim of discrimination because
of his religion. The talking heads argued about the freedom of
religion. The general consensus, unsurprisingly, was that Tebow was
judged more harshly because of his religious views, and that Tebow
was the victim of society that looked down upon him because of his
outward expression of his love of Jesus.
What if his outward expressions of love
were romantic ones for another man?
Let's say that after each touchdown
instead of prayer, he pointed to his boyfriend in the stands and blew
him a kiss. What if after his interview he thanked his husband for
his love and support instead of Jesus? What if instead of delivering
Easter sermons Tim Tebow rode a float in a gay pride parade or spoke
to the revelers at the White Party?
I'm going to say with some certainty
that the talking heads on Fox might be singing a different tune about
Tebow – just as I would.
If the above scenario proved true, we
gays would be reveling in our new-found football hero. We'd buy his
jerseys just as we buy Gaga's CDs. We'd tune in for Tebow Time just
as we tune in for awards shows hosted by Neil Patrick Harris. We'd
buy magazines with him on the cover and pine after him just as we do
for Ricky Martin. And when the religious groups would protest, we'd
always have his back because, after all, love is love, and he should be
able to express his love in any way he wants.
Much the same way the talking heads on
Fox News just had just done on the TV in front of me.
So, as Tebow departs our little corner
of the universe to go take his unique brand of ball and Bible to the
burroughs of New York, I'm left asking myself what it all meant. For
the Broncos, I'd say it means an upgrade in their QB position with
the arrival of Peyton Manning, a former Colt star (No, not that
kind of Colt star!). For
Tebow's faithful, well, I'm sure they'll stand by their man.
In the end, maybe the lesson to be
learned from Tebow-mania is not that public expressions of love for
Jesus can be polarizing, but rather that all demonstrations of love,
in whatever form they take, have the beauty and power to inspire
thought and understanding. As we in the LGBT community look to the
future of our quest for acceptance and legal rights, we must remember
that love is not just what we're fighting for, but it is also our
most powerful weapon.
