Homosexual activists are upset that Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy will appear next week at a banquet sponsored by an organization that supports the definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
Jim Buzinski, co-founder of OutSports.com, a Web site aimed at the homosexual audience, claims that Indiana Family Institute (IFI) is a political organization.
"He is speaking at the dinner next week in front of group that is very much a political organization," Buzinski said.
IFI President Curt Smith said neither the dinner nor the award is political.
"The purpose of this award is to celebrate those who live out the family ethic that we think is at the heart of a healthy and successful society," Smith said. "There was no five-point quiz where he had to agree with us on a number of public policy questions. In inviting him and then following up with a letter, we didn't discuss public policy."
Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family Action, said gay groups would like to silence anyone they perceive as opposing the gay agenda -- even a celebrated athlete or coach.
It's called "Christophobia."
"Unfortunately, this is becoming a pattern for those that oppose Christianity," he added. "They want to control our speech in the public square, embarrass us and try to belittle us. It really is a form of fascism."
Dungy was not available for interviews, but the Colts organization issued a statement saying that the coach is free to speak to any group he wishes.
"The club does not take positions in political issues in which it is not directly involved," the statement said. "The Colts do not endorse any political or religious position taken by any group that any Colts employee decides to speak or lend his or her name to."
The Rev. J. Peter Gallagher, a chaplain for the Colts, told CitizenLink that Dungy has been up-front all along about who he is -- and Indianapolis is very comfortable with the coach and his beliefs.
"They know him to be a Christian man, who has placed his life in God's hands," Gallagher said. "I don’t think that's really changed. What he was before, he still is. The only thing that's changed is the fact that he's now a Super Bowl-winning coach."
