Sports Led the Way Against Discrimination – Forbes

Republican leaders in Indiana moved today in an attempt to clarify that their newly passed “Religious Freedom” law does not allow businesses to choose not to serve gay customers. A nationwide furor erupted this week with the threat that all national sporting events held in the state would reconsider relocating. Three states suggested boycotting Indiana in a variety of ways. The controversy demonstrates the powerful impact that sports has in American culture and the amazing speed with which gay rights have been accepted in this country.

Indiana law prohibits state or local government from “substantially burdening” a person’s ability to exercise his or her religion. Fears arose that businesses owned by people whose religious beliefs include disapproval of homosexuality might discriminate against gay customers. Nineteen other states have similar legislation, yet it is unclear whether they have resulted in this type of behavior. Some legal scholars feel that the Indiana bill was not crafted tightly enough to protect against discrimination.

A firestorm of condemnation in various circles showed the centrality of sports as a business and cultural force. The Final Four NCAA Basketball Tournament is being held in Indianapolis and the NCAA seriously considered relocating the tournament and their own national offices. There were suggestions that teams should boycott the tournament. The Indy 500 was also threatened. Indianapolis hosted a well-executed Super Bowl week several years ago and now there is no way it would hosted SB XLIX. Sports led the way in pressuring the state of Indiana to reassess the bill’s impact.

Until the last ten years, the sports field was not highly supported for gay athletes. Virtually no active athletes in any sport admitted they were gay. It seemed an impenetrable fortress of anti-gay attitudes. The drafting of DE Michael Sam by the St. Louis Rams in 2014 showed how rapidly attitudes have shifted. While the press treated Sam’s revelation and progress as a major controversy, there was nary a word of objection from actual players. Sports is a meritocracy and Sam was judged by his ability to sack the quarterback.

There is a generational shift in tolerance. Younger people in this country are much less judgmental about social issues than their parents. The fact that the President of the United States came out in favor of gay marriage sent a powerful message. Indiana businesses feared the economic repercussions that this bill would have, and it was sports that led the way.