Pro Sports More Gay-Friendly as Athletes Speak Out NFL punters are only seen on fourth down and heard from less than that. But with Minnesota voters weighing whether to ban gay marriage this fall, Vikings punter Chris Kluwe has emerged as a high-profile gay rights champion - and a symbol of changing attitudes toward homosexuality in the sports world. "I'd like to win some votes against the amendment," Kluwe told The Associated Press. It would permanently change the state constitution. Who are we to say we should decide what our children should do on this subject? If we're not the generation to make gay marriage legal, why should we prevent our children having a say on the matter? Kluwe, a colorful 30-year-old with political science and history degrees from UCLA, is known for his love of video games, for getting a perfect score on the verbal portion of the SAT test and for his liberal political views. He agreed some time ago to speak out against Minnesota's amendment and headlined a long-planned fundraiser against the amendment Friday night. But Kluwe got a massive new audience for his views after he penned a blistering open letter to a Maryland state lawmaker who criticized another NFL player, Brendon Ayanbadejo of the Baltimore Ravens, for supporting gay marriage with the issue also on Maryland's ballot. In this July 28, 2012 photo, Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe is shown at NFL football training camp in Mankato, Minn. NFL punters are only seen on fourth down, and heard from less than that. But with a constitutional gay marriage ban on Minnesota's ballot this fall, Kluwe has emerged as a high-profile gay rights champion _ and a symbol of changing attitudes toward homosexuality in the sports world. (AP Photo/Genevieve Ross) Close Why do you hate the fact that other people want a chance to live their lives and be happy, even though they may believe in something different than you or act different than you? Kluwe wrote to Delegate Emmett C. Burns Jr. The full letter, posted by the sports website Deadspin.com, was laced with profanity and sarcasm. Burns had written to Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti, urging him to restrain Ayanbadejo from speaking publicly on the issue. Kluwe said it was the assault on free speech, not Burns' opposition to gay marriage, that angered him. Burns did not return a phone call from The Associated Press. A Democrat and a Baptist pastor, he told the Baltimore Sun that "upon reflection" Ayanbadejo has the right to express his views. In all, four states are voting on gay marriage this year. Minnesota's vote is on a constitutional ban; in Maryland, as well as Maine and Washington, voters are deciding whether gay marriage should be legal. "I'm just going to continue to voice my First Amendment rights and continue to support the cause," Ayanbadejo said. There's a lot of work to be done. The incident evoked memories of a 1998 controversy involving the NFL and homosexuality, but with the roles reversed. Back then, All-Pro defensive end Reggie White of the Green Bay Packers made national news by criticizing homosexuality and gay activists, first in a speech to Wisconsin state lawmakers and later in a full-page advertisement in USA Today. White died in 2004. Pro athletes and team officials say attitudes have slowly shifted in a sports culture often seen as one of the last bastions of acceptable homophobia. "We call it casual homophobia," said Patrick Burke, a scout for the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers and founder of the You Can Play Project, which aims to increase acceptance for gay athletes. Athletes will use slurs like 'that's so gay' or 'don't be a fag' without thinking about what they're really saying. You might think it's harmless, but for that young athlete in the corner who's closeted, it's a huge deal.