http://www.thenation.com/doc/20091012/zirin
Team sports is one of the places left in the modern workforce where homophobia is largely accepted. I applaud Ayanbadejo and Fujita for standng up for what they believe in.
This certainly is not a "football only problem". How can this be changed when players are raised in these macho environments? What would be the repercussions of an active player coming out? I know we have had a few athletes come out after their careers had passed (Tualo, Ameche, etc.)
While I think the article has a clear bias for toward Christian athletic organizations and their sphere of influence, it looks to play a part.
Cultural issues also effect this mindset. Athletes from Latin American nations are likely to have a different mindset than an athlete from Canada, etc.
Maybe this issue has been discussed to death, but I thought the link/article was worthy of discussion...