But it probably makes sense for the SF team to lead the way and hope other teams do something similar.

What I love is this type of message is that besides reaching troubled LGBT kids, it has the real potential to reach would-be bullies. When the heroes from the “macho” world of pro sports says “don’t be a bully”, maybe it’ll reach a few more.

No more calls, please. We have a winner.

Christians (or any other religion) also have the church, where they can go talk to other Christians about Christianity. For an LGBT teen, confronting ones own sexuality is an instant excommunication (see what I did there) from society as they know it. This message tries to convey that there are people who understand (and sympathize with) what they’re going through and can be found if sought out.

Don’t forget “You’re Christian? There’s something wrong with you that needs to be fixed or you’ll never be normal.”

Religion may not be as much a choice as you seem to think. To be sure, there is a volitional aspect to it, but do consider the question of whether we can control what we think, or how we got to believe as we have. There is a long running, contentious, and current philosophical debate over this, btw.

Also, Sexuality has more choice involved than you are indicating: at the very least, previous choices and predilections (not necessary sexual) can strongly influence the causal nexus which leads to one’s ‘sexuality’. Also, it will vary depending on the case: there are sociological patterns which are associated with one’s sexuality—and sexuality is something of a far greater spectrum than gay straight bi trans etc. In terms of the physical data, the evidence is mixed: there are associations, even strong associations, but certainly not conclusive.

You can make fun of people for their choices, but it’s pretty screwy to make fun of them for things they can’t control.

Exactly why the homophobe contingent often makes the argument that it can be controlled. It’s not based on evidence, it’s based on constructing a defensible position.

While it’s true that sexuality is on a continuum, and people can make choices that affect sexual response in their mind, it’s also pretty clear the gay/straight thing can’t just be willed across the line.

The simple opposition between gay and christian isn’t just false, it shows a total lack of familiarity with what is a rather complicated issue with many different well reasoned positions. Not only that, the issue of sexual identity itself is far from simple, so the person who uses sledgehammer diction on this topic is a fool. You may not agree with my view on the topic (or then again you might—I suspect we’re both somewhat moderate)—but I am sick of this tired opposition.

Also, it should be mentioned that homophobia has a rather strict meaning application, contrary its common usage. Not that you used it wrong here, but the simple identification of those who oppose homosexuality in some manner (I say that vaguely because it requires linguistic gymnastics to say it specifically) with homophobia simply isn’t true (though it is common), and it does the already shitty social dialogue on the topic even further disservice. Again, I’m not saying you used it wrongly here, just making the general point since the topic is at hand.

There are people who are offended at using “Jesus Christ” as an expletive, but they’re usually the same kind of people who are offended by curse words, period.

I suppose if someone was truly offended by that and asked me to stop, I would, but I’ve never heard anyone take offense at the, uh, JC-bomb.

About a year ago, when my daughter was 2, she dropped a toy in her bath and said, “Shit!” I said, “Honey, don’t say that!” And she said, "But you say ‘shit’ and Mommy says ‘shit’ and ‘Jesus!’ "