CONTACTAbout UsCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2025 Equal Entertainment LLC.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
Tony Dungy is a deeply religious man who puts his faith first in his life, even above family and football. So his support of a proposed gay-marriage ban likely surprised few.
What was surprising is that the Indianapolis Colts' quiet coach shared his position publicly, sparking discussion about the impact of the Super Bowl winner's comments.
Dungy caused a stir Tuesday when he accepted the "Friend of Family" award from the conservative Indiana Family Institute.
The coach told the audience he supported the group's efforts to amend the Indiana constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman.
"I appreciate the stance they're taking, and I embrace that stance," Dungy told the crowd of about 700 people.
Dungy said his comments should not be considered gay-bashing.
"We're not trying to downgrade anyone else. But we're trying to promote the family--family values the Lord's way," Dungy said.
Colts president Bill Polian was at National Football League meetings in Phoenix on Thursday and was unavailable for comment.
"Coach Dungy's feelings on the importance of marriage and family are well-known to the overwhelming majority of American sports fans," said Myra Borshoff Cook, a spokeswoman for Colts owner Jim Irsay. "He, of course, is free to speak to any group he wishes. The club does not take positions in political issues in which it is not directly involved."
Supporters of the proposed ban hailed the endorsement.
"That was a double for us," said Curt Smith, president of the institute, which is associated with but independent of James Dobson's Focus on the Family group.
Smith said he was unaware that Dungy, who received the award because of his pro-family ethic and not for his views on public policy, would address the issue.
The resolution's sponsor, state senator Brandt Hershman, a Republican from Monticello, said Dungy's endorsement made the proposal more credible.
"I certainly appreciate him being able to step forward and speak out strongly in his beliefs," Hershman said. "I don't think that anybody should criticize him for exercising his First Amendment right to speak as a private citizen in support of some deeply held beliefs."
Some in the gay community disagreed. Bil Browning, who runs bilerico.com, a blog that focuses on gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender issues, wrote: "When the head coach publicly states that part of the Colts' fan base should be second-class citizens, you can't expect those same fans to support the team."
Dan Funk, executive director of the Interfaith Coalition on Non-Discrimination, a network of 21 congregations, invited Dungy to meet with LGBT people.
"All types of families from across Indiana are Colts fans," he said. "We would like coach Dungy to meet with our families so he can better understand the negative impact (the resolution) will have on countless Hoosier families."
Dungy is not the first public figure to draw fire for antigay comments. Former NBA star Tim Hardaway apologized twice after responding to a question about his reaction to a gay teammate by saying "I hate gay people." Actor Isaiah Washington of the hit television show Grey's Anatomy sought counseling after calling another cast member a "f****t." Author-columnist Ann Coulter was chastised for repeating the slur when referring to Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards during a speech to a conservative group.
The NFL sought to distance itself from the matter.
"Coach Dungy is speaking for himself and expressing his views, which he is fully entitled to do," league officials said in a statement. "No doubt there are people in our league that have a different view. We respect the right of employees to have and express their views and don't regulate the political or religious views of team or league employees."
David Morton, principal of the Indianapolis-based sports marketing group Sunrise Sports Group, doesn't believe Dungy will suffer any lasting backlash from his comments.
"Tony's position on this or any other political issue should be as one person's opinion and one person's opinion only," Morton said. "It's not as Tony Dungy, head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. It's not the Indianapolis Colts, because I doubt if he asked Bill Polian or [Colts owner] Jim Irsay or anyone else what they thought.
"He's never tried to take advantage of his position on the pulpit," Morton said. "He spoke from the heart, and honestly, and I don't think you can ask anyone to do anything else." (Michael Marot, AP)
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
31 Period Films of Lesbians and Bi Women in Love That Will Take You Back
December 09 2024 1:00 PM
18 of the most batsh*t things N.C. Republican governor candidate Mark Robinson has said
October 30 2024 11:06 AM
True
These 15 major companies caved to the far right and stopped DEI programs
January 24 2025 1:11 PM
True
Latest Stories
Pedro Pascal says transphobe J.K. Rowling is 'heinous loser'
April 25 2025 6:29 PM
Fox News anchor appears to use antigay slur in rant about Pete Buttigieg
April 25 2025 3:56 PM
Houston's Black Queer AF Week promises music, visibility, hope, and joy
April 25 2025 1:18 PM
George Santos sentenced to prison
April 25 2025 12:06 PM
People in states with abortion bans are twice as likely to die during pregnancy
April 25 2025 10:32 AM
Hidden Sapphic gems: Discover these 20 overlooked lesbian movies
April 25 2025 10:24 AM
Visions of Solidarity: Lesbian writers on how we save the world from fascism
April 25 2025 7:49 AM
Makeup, lights, camera, and action! Pete Hegseth stars in ‘Defenseless Secretary’
April 25 2025 6:00 AM
University of Louisville caves to anti-LGBTQ+ forces twice this week
April 24 2025 6:45 PM
Must-see LGBTQ+ films every straight ally should watch
April 24 2025 4:37 PM
Defense Department reinstates gender-affirming care for trans troops
April 24 2025 4:25 PM
Meta Oversight Board rules anti-transgender videos don't violate hate speech rules
April 24 2025 12:42 PM
BREAKING: Trump Justice Department asks Supreme Court to reinstate trans military ban blocked by courts
April 24 2025 12:01 PM
True
What LGBTQ+ audiences should see at the TCM Classic Film Festival
April 24 2025 7:42 AM