Griner and Baylor: Mark Osler Doesn't Get It

Baylor Lady Bears basketball mega-star, Brittany Griner, identified herself as a lesbian in a Sports Illustrated interview this week. In a piece for the Huffington Post, Mark Osler said that this would create a problem for Baylor:

Griner's brave act creates a fascinating conundrum: Baylor at once discriminates openly against gays and lesbians, and has as its best-known and perhaps most-admired student a remarkable student-athlete who is a lesbian. For her part, Griner seems unashamed of either her sexuality or her school. Therein lies the secret to Baylor's future. It can be both Christian and accepting of gays and lesbians, and now we know what that looks like.

(We'll leave alone his reference to Griner as Baylor's "best-known and perhaps most-admired student," because, you know, football isn't covered as much as it should be.)

Osler goes on to comment on President Ken Starr's role in California's battle over gay marriage, which (to Osler) was incongruous to the memorable scene of Starr making "confetti angels" with Griner following the Lady Bears securing another Big 12 championship.

But here's the thing: In the SI interview, Griner acknowledges that she's been open about her sexual identity for years. And--concurrently, not incongruously--she has consistently reported on how loved and accepted she's been by the Baylor Family. Griner has had to endure horrid comments from the fans of other schools, but not from her Baylor Family.

Osler seems to find an inconsistency between a school that both stands against homosexuality and yet loves homosexuals. And he seems to think that Griner's acceptance at Baylor is a sign that Baylor's opposition to homosexuality is destined to end.

Griner and Baylor just don't seem to be playing by the media script, however. Maybe the real story is that a faith community can remain both faithful to their principles and loving to their neighbors at the same time.

I have no doubt that the Baylor Family--from the administration to the faculty to the student body--has some lively discussions about what should constitute policy on homosexuality, and this story will contribute to that conversation. But I also have no doubt that Osler won't be the last in the media to miss the real story here.

 

Posted with Blogsy