It Should Work Both Ways

He was ostracized for his beliefs surrounding same sex marriage. So much so, his company decided to no longer employ him.

He fought critics, and tried taking his message to the media, so he could be better understood.

No, I'm not talking about Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson, although I certainly could be. This is about Chris Kluwe.

He's a former punter with the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League.

In September of 2012 Kluwe made comments in an open letter about same sex marriage, supporting the rights of same sex couples to get married. You may have remembered seeing something about it, because it went viral.

After making the comments, Kluwe says the special teams co-ordinator of the Vikes - Mike Priefer - began using homophobic language during meetings, something the kicker says didn't happen prior. During one meeting, Kluwe says his immediate boss said something about "gathering up all the gays on an island and nuke it til it glows." At the same time, he'd been questioned by the head coach as to whether he was going to still support gay marriage openly. Kluwe replied he was.

Then, after the 2012-13 season, Kluwe was cut by the Vikings. It's something that does happen often in the NFL, but the timing was curious. Kluwe's leg was as dependable as ever, he was kicking inline with his career average.

Now, Kluwe believes his beliefs are what led to his dismissal.

Whether or not that's the case, it's hard not to see the irony in this.

Over the past few weeks, Phil Robertson was turfed off his family's television show, for religious beliefs he espoused in an interview, only for A&E to backtrack on its decision, after speaking with the Duck Dynasty family and 'special advocacy' groups.

My question is, where are these groups now? They argued Phil should be able to say what he believes, because of freedom of religion, and free speech. Kluwe, did nothing more than that - speaking his mind on a religious issue, and not backing down when asked to do so.

These special interest groups that hammered A&E into allowing Phil back into the fold, should be rallying outside the gates of Malls of America Field in Minnesota.

But they won't.

For most of them, freedom of religion only applies to their close-minded view.