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WATCH: NOM Says Antigay ESPN Analyst 'More Courageous' Than Jason Collins

WATCH: NOM Says Antigay ESPN Analyst 'More Courageous' Than Jason Collins

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ESPN analyst Chris Broussard said NBA center Jason Collins is "walking in open rebellion to God" by revealing he is gay.

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After ESPN sports analyst Chris Broussard said newly out gay NBA center Jason Collins was "walking in open rebellion to God," the network apologized for the remarks, but the antigay National Organization for Marriage is applauding the analyst's stance.

On Monday's episode of Outside The Lines, Broussard rejected gay sports commentator LZ Granderson's assertion that Collins identifies as Christian and gay.

"If you're openly living in unrepentant sin," said Broussard," whatever it may be, not just homosexuality; adultery, fornication, premarital sex between heterosexuals, whatever it may be -- I believe that's walking in open rebellion to God and Jesus Christ, so I would not characterize that person as a Christian, because I don't think the Bible would characterize them as a a Christian."

ESPN's Vice President of Communications issued an apology for Broussard's antigay comments on Tuesday. "We regret that a respectful discussion of personal viewpoints became a distraction," ESPN's John Krulewitz told CBS News. Krulewitz told CBS that the network is "fully committed to diversity," and welcomed Collins' announcement.

Despite the fact that Collins' Monday announcement makes him the first openly gay male athlete currently playing a major team sport, a spokeswoman for NOM said it was ESPN anchor Broussard who was truly the courageous one.

Jennifer Roback-Morse, president of NOM's antigay, anti-equality Ruth Institute, told Lutheran Public Radio on Tuesday that Collins decision to come out required no courage, because President Obama congratulated the NBA veteran.

"I think [Broussard] required more courage than the basketball player did," said Roback-Morse in the interview, posted by Equality Matters. "I mean, it requires no courage at all today to say 'I'm gay.' It's my understanding [Collins] got a phone call from the president congratulating him on his courage. Well, how much courage can it take if the president's going to pick up the phone and give you a personal phone call, you know? But in the meantime, this fellow who says, you know, 'I'm a Christian, and I believe that sex belongs in marriage and it belongs in man-woman marriage,' to say that, now that will bring the whole wrath of the society down upon your head. So that's the guy that really required the courage and I give him a lot of credit for it."

Watch Broussard's comments and listen to Roback-Morse's response below.

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Sunnivie Brydum

Sunnivie is the managing editor of The Advocate, and an award-winning journalist whose passion is covering the politics of equality and elevating the unheard stories of our community. Originally from Colorado, she and her spouse now live in Los Angeles, along with their three fur-children: dogs Luna and Cassie Doodle, and "Meow Button" Tilly.
Sunnivie is the managing editor of The Advocate, and an award-winning journalist whose passion is covering the politics of equality and elevating the unheard stories of our community. Originally from Colorado, she and her spouse now live in Los Angeles, along with their three fur-children: dogs Luna and Cassie Doodle, and "Meow Button" Tilly.