ATHLETE SPEAKS OUT; KOPAY URGES ACCEPTANCE IN QUARTERBACK CLUB ADDRESS.Byline: Donna Huffaker Staff Writer An uncharacteristic un·char·ac·ter·is·tic adj. Unusual or atypical: an uncharacteristic display of anger. un hush fell over the members of the Glendale YMCA YMCA in full Young Men's Christian Association Nonsectarian, nonpolitical Christian lay movement that aims to develop high standards of Christian character among its members. Quarterback Club on Tuesday. After bantering about local schools' weekend win and losses, the football-supporters group wound down and listened attentively as former NFL NFL abbr. National Football League NFL (US) n abbr (= National Football League) → Fußball-Nationalliga running back Dave Kopay urged everyone to accept athletes for who they are, regardless of their sexual orientation sexual orientation n. The direction of one's sexual interest toward members of the same, opposite, or both sexes, especially a direction seen to be dictated by physiologic rather than sociologic forces. . Kopay, a 10-year-veteran who played for San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden , Detroit, Washington, New Orleans New Orleans (ôr`lēənz –lənz, ôrlēnz`), city (2006 pop. 187,525), coextensive with Orleans parish, SE La., between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain, 107 mi (172 km) by water from the river mouth; founded and Green Bay, was the first athlete in a major American team sport to acknowledge publicly that he was gay. His 1977 book, ``The Dave Kopay Story,'' depicted the injustices and difficulties of being a gay athlete. On Tuesday, Kopay flipped through the yellowed pages of his original copy and reminded his audience that gay men are not just designers and hair dressers - they're also athletes and Olympic champions, he said. Kopay, who is 57, last played in 1972. Although Kopay's message was a unique one compared to the club's other weekly speakers, the very point of guest speakers is to address all aspects of the sport, said club President Sam Nicholson. ``Dave was a great player with an informative message. Society is full of changes and people should be aware of those changes. Prejudice is a terrible thing,'' he said. The Quarterback Club was founded in Glendale in 1942 and raises money for local high school and college scholarships. During football season, the club meets once a week for lunch at the YWCA YWCA abbr. Young Women's Christian Association YWCA n abbr (= Young Women's Christian Association) → Asociación f de Jóvenes Cristianas YWCA . Anyone who likes football can join, he said. The club features speakers each week who are affiliated with football in some capacity, such as past and present players and athletic directors, player agents and coaches. Anyone interested in joining can call (818) 240-4130. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Former pro football star Dave Kopay speaks to the YMCA Quarterback Club on Tuesday. David Sprague/Staff Photographer |
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