Reverend Kenneth Hutcherson Hates Gays And Himself

The Washington Post, in anticipation of training camp and, um, Pride, (and I am only guessing) began running an open thread this past week on gays in the NFL, and whether one or more player might locate the courage to come out. While I was going to post some of the more inane postings – one, since removed, and I am paraphrasing, spoke sadly of how America’s game – football – need not be corrupted by the effeminate in the same way America’s name had been – but this comment by former NFL linebacker Kenneth Hutcherson, who play very briefly during the nineteen seventies for the Dallas Cowboys and the Seattle Seahawks, made yesterday.

Some background: he left football due to an injury to his knee, but rumors were rampant that he had a serious addiction to prescription painkillers that made him less than a team player. His post-football career has been highlighted by hate, most all of which has been directed towards homosexuals. He is an ordained pastor, at a church just outside Seattle, the Antioch Bible Church, which he helped form. His attacks on gay often take the form of violence or at least the implication that violence is at hand, and yes, you knew it was coming, he contends being gay is a choice – the wrong one of course – and he and his congregation will help you become an “ex-gay,” for a price of course. What is the worst about Ken, you might be asking by now? Well it might be his habit of playing being black in America against being gay, with Ken, who is black, but not now, nor ever gay, suggesting that the struggle for equal rights by gays is a fraud.

To Wednesday then, Ken, when he dashes off a comment to the Post, arguing that football is like the army, you know, the game being a battle, and well, gays would be a distraction, getting in the way and all, what with their incessant showering and their love of the showers. He then goes off on a tangent – much unfocused our Reverend – about gay rights not being an issue of civil rights, and then, as I mentioned above, includes a threat of violence to anyone athlete who dare come out. “I do think some players will come out sooner or later and everyone is going to be surprised about what the results are going to be. I remember when I was with Dallas and this one girl tried out for the team. She wasn’t treated very well.”

I should mention that Kenneth is ill, cancer I believe. I should mention that he – in his actions and with his words – defames and libels both African-Americans and Christians. I should mention that he is a dangerous man, investigated by numerous levels of law enforcement. I should mention that the NFL has had and continues to have issues slightly more damaging to the image it tries to cultivate that gays. I should mention his behavior contributes to a climate of hate and of mistrust, contradicting central tenets of God, Christ, and other more popular figures of love and trust.