I wish I could just LOL at ignorance all the live-long day (as I often do in response to some of the more insane comments posted on this site), but alas, it’s close-minded shit like this that makes this world a little sadder and harder to live in if you’re anything other than a straight white man. You see, Evander Holyfield is over in the UK right now doing Celebrity Big Brother, and he had a conversation with one of his fellow housemates during which he made some rather unsavoury comments about gay people, claiming that being gay is a choice and comparing it to being handicapped. LAWD almighty.
Here’s his comments:
“If you were born and your leg was turned this way – what would you do? You go to the doctor and get it fixed back, right?”
“All I’m trying to tell you, you know how handicap people are born… You can’t say because they are born that way you can’t move that. It is a choice… Come on, how can you not say you ain’t gay unless you’re sleeping with the opposite sex?”
Oh, dear. The girl he was talking to kept telling him to stop the conversation as she felt it was inappropriate and didn’t agree, but Evander kept on. He was later reprimanded by Big Brother and, as you can see, the news has made it all the way to the States. I watched this live as the episode aired and was like, here we go again… but I dunno. I suppose I’m not really surprised that a 50-year-old male athlete would be homophobic. That’s, of course, a generalisation on my part, but I don’t know that anyone would have heard that and been like, “This is a shocker! WOWZER Evander Holyfield thinks being gay is wrong!”
However, comparing gay people to being born handicapped is just a whole other level of insanity. And yes, Republicans and Conservatives, he’s certainly “entitled to his opinion” (‘Murica!), but it doesn’t mean it’s not sickening to consider that a public figure – or anyone, for that matter – legit feels like being gay is the same thing as being born with a PHYSICAL HANDICAP that NEEDS TO BE FIXED. Frankly, I wouldn’t be “fixed back” even if you paid me, particularly because I’m repulsed by the idea of being with a man with ideals like that.
Thankfully, Evander’s son Ewin shares his same ignorant views and used them to defend his dad to TMZ:
My dad is the most loving and caring person you will ever meet. He treats everyone like a human being … even if they are homosexual.”
In fact, Ewin says he has a gay uncle … and Evander treated him like a brother.
Ewin adds, “My dad feels that being gay is a choice … and naturally that’s how things work. You cannot procreate and make a baby with two women, or two men. But at the same time, my dad is not going to judge someone for their sexual orientation.”
LOL, why assume everyone wants to “make a baby”? I sure as hell don’t. Also, the choice thing always cracks me up. Straight people, do you wake up in the morning and think, “Well, I’m feeling like today I’m attracted to the opposite sex, so I think I’ll go with ‘straight’ today!”? I mean, give me a fuckin’ break. This shit makes my mind melt.
One last thought: If you ever want to refute claims that you’re racist, homophobic or any number of other things, always use an example of how you’ve “got a best friend that’s black/gay/etc”. That’ll definitely prove your point!
Thank goodness I take so much stock in what dumbasses think. The man can’t form a sentence let alone intelligent thought.
I think Holyfield is speaking from experience. He was born mentally handicapped. He can’t just get that fixed like a broken leg…now, can he?
Let us also keep in mind that this man has taken hundreds of blows to the head by other heavyweight boxing champs. He would probably believe you if you told him the Easter Bunny was real.
The King of the Idiots has spoken.
Once again if u touch the Scared Cow Being Gay. U get Attacked! R we not allowed 2 have a opinion ! Must we all go along with this in order 2 b heard! If we feel it’s wrong , why try to Bully & berate us 4 our own thoughts!
Oh I 4got 2 add. Why does he have 2 b called ignorant, & punch drunk. Not everyone thinks that being Gay is wonderful , or right. Or 2 b Celebrated! Let us disagree without being Trashed, or called every name in the book by U. When did it become a crime to have your own thoughts. & voice them. Gay people do we get bomb-barded daily with your opinion . Oh but God Forbid I have one! Please allow people to not agree with you without being Attacked!
It does feel that any opinion other than being fully supportive of homosexuality in every way is not allowed in modern society. I think what Evander Hollyfield was trying to say is that homosexuality is an often naturally occuring phenomenon but you have a choice in how you deal with it. The comparison to being handicapped is obviously offensive to many people but comparing it to a mental disorder might have made the argument a bit clearer. If you have a mental disorder you can see a psychiatrist for help but if someone claims to be able to “cure” homosexuality they are outlawed from even speaking publicly about their methods, research or evidence. Our opinions are being dictated to us. We are told that if you are a man who feels like you’re a woman, don’t go to a psychiatrist go to a surgeon. Change the physical instead of dealing with the mental and emotional. Who decided this? And to all the people calling Holyfield punch drunk or whatever, you don’t sound any better.