Chris Broussard ESPN Talk On Conservative Christian Values Clarified By Sports Station

Chris Broussard ESPN talk about his conservative Christian views on homosexuality was clarified by the sports network Tuesday after his comments has been the subject of great debate and derision by numerous sports commentators, particularly openly gay sports bloggers and writers.

During an “Outside the Lines” appearance where the topic was Jason Collins, who earlier in the week came out and said he was gay, Chris Broussard on ESPN was asked by the host about the readiness of the NBA to deal with an openly homosexual player.

Broussard said, “The climate in society is very set for this thing to happen. … A lot of people feel like if you come out and say you don’t agree with homosexuality, you are viewed as a bigot, you are viewed as intolerant. So I think the climate is right for somebody to come out and say they are gay.”

On the panel with Broussard on ESPN was one of the network’s openly gay senior writer LZ Granderson, who later said that the issue required more conversation for it to progress. Chris Broussard agreed and opined, “I’d like to second what LZ said. I’m a Christian. I don’t agree with homosexuality. I think it’s a sin, as I think all sex outside of marriage between a man and a woman is.”

He then said that he and Granderson, despite their conflicting views of homosexuality, have nevertheless socialized together in public situations and without animosity.

Broussard said on the show, “I don’t criticize him, he doesn’t criticize me and call me a bigot, call me ignorant, call me intolerant."

He added that in the same light, other conservative Christians in the NBA want similar tolerance for their views, Broussard said.

His statement was lambasted by leftist bloggers and gay rights activists, characterizing his views as extreme.

Breitbart, reported Yahoo! Sports’ Kelly Dwyer as saying, “The last thing [gay youths] need is to see someone like Chris Broussard, who ESPN (and by extension, the NBA) trusts as both its voice both at games and in-studio, to be referring to them as sinners who are in ‘open rebellion to God."

Another blogger said that it was not clear why Mr. Broussard’s opinion was necessary or even relevant, according to Breitbart.

ESPN, avoiding further conversations on the topic and backlash from gay activists and leftist bloggers issued a statement to clarify Broussard’s position.

In a statement, ESPN said, “We regret that a respectful discussion of personal viewpoints became a distraction from today’s news, ESPN is fully committed to diversity and welcomes Jason Collins‘ announcement.”

Tags
world news
celebrities
Join the Discussion

Latest Photo Gallery

Real Time Analytics