Vikings' Kluwe Argues Same Sex Marriage Is A Civil Rights Issue
1,308 views · Published 22 October 2012 · 3:54 · Indexed 20 September 2026
Channel: The Uptake by Bridgemakers · 2012 · News & Politics
Vikings' punter Chris Kluwe took on an empty chair to argue against Minnesota's proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. None of the invited Republican supporters showed up to argue for the amendment. Instead, actors at Minneapolis' Brave New Workshop read quotes from Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, State Representative Mary Franson and Archbishop John Nienstedt. Radio personality Tom Barnard, of KQRS-FM and the Tom Barnard Podcast moderated the debate. "God forbid our children learn some liberal agenda in school because you can make that same argument about 50 years ago with segregation. God forbid our children learn that black children are the same as them," rebutted Kluwe after Barnard read a quote from Minnesota State Representative Mary Franson. A Brave New Workshop actor read Franson's quote."My concerns are that our children, our schools could be taught some liberal agendas because of the marriage amendment. Because in the schools they might be taught that this is normal behavior." Other statements from Michele Bachmann, Archbishop John Nienstedt and Rick Santorum were read during the debate. Chris Kluwe has been outspoken against the marriage amendment. He says his teammates and other NFLers have been supportive of his efforts. "In the locker room I've had quite a few guys come up to me and say, 'Hey we appreciate what you say thanks for standing up for Brendan.' Or some guys have said while we may not support the same-sex marriage part, we do support the first amendment part. And other guys have said we support everything you did," said Kluwe. Kluwe says the NFL is not all machismo. "I think were helping sort of change this image that the NFL is just this stereotypical macho, jock type thing. I mean, there's a lot of very smart players in the NFL. I think it behooves all of us to shatter that stereotype," he explained.
