UFC light-heavyweight fighter “Suga”
Rashad Evans has signed on to a U.S. Supreme Court brief in support
of gay marriage.
Outsports.com reported that Evans
joined NFL players Chris Kluwe and Brendon Ayanbadejo in an amicus
brief urging the Supreme Court to strike down Proposition 8,
California's 2008 voter-approved constitutional amendment which
defines marriage as a heterosexual union.
(Related: Chris
Kluwe, Brendon Ayanbadejo file brief in support of gay marriage.)
“I've never been a homophobe, never
understood what that is all about,” Evans said in a statement given
to Outsports.
“I knew some people who were gay and never cared about their
sexuality. But at the same time, I didn't fully understand the
issues around gay people until my friend [Ayanbadejo] started telling
me about his full public support for gay marriage. We talked about
the issue and I decided it's not enough to not be against a minority,
if you want things to go better for them you have to speak up with
them.”
“I'm a UFC fighter, a macho-type
sport. I am a heterosexual guy in a tough macho sport, which is
exactly the reason I feel a duty to say I support gay marriage and
gay rights.”
“I have nothing to gain personally
from supporting this issue, and that's the point. Society as a whole
is better when there is equality, and I want to live in a country
where everyone has the same rights because we all benefit from that.”
“What people overlook is that is
isn't a sex issue, it's a love issue. There's no justifiable reason
for trying to get in the way of two people who love each other.”
“I have kids. I don't want them
growing up in a society where they, or their friends, could be second
class citizens based on which person they fall in love with or who
they want to be happy with.”