Floyd Mayweather Beats Manny Pacquiao to the Punch on Gay Marriage

The debate over gay marriage washes over the nation and is forcing people to choose sides, even renowned athletes. 

I have seen far too much tiptoeing around the topic that has now hit the sport of boxing, forcing the sport's biggest names to take sides. 

If Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao never fight in the ring, at least we can measure their stances on a hot-button issue. 

The winner is clearly Money May, but the unfortunate part in all this is that there is actually a debate about gay marriage, and that many fans have lobbed animosity at Mayweather over his stance on the subject. 

Decades from now, the youth will shake their collective heads at our ignorance and bigotry. Oh, this is about Money May and Pac-Man. I almost forgot. 

Manny Pacquiao

Let's begin with one side of the gay marriage issue presented by the artist of pugilism that is beloved the world over, Manny Pacquiao. 

Pacquiao sat down in an interview with the National Conservative Examiner and brought up his issues with President Barack Obama recently showing support for gay marriage. 

The report issues: 

"

Pacquiao's directive for Obama calls societies to fear God and not to promote sin, inclusive of same-sex marriage and cohabitation, notwithstanding what Leviticus 20:13 has been pointing all along: “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.

"

The interview placed Pacquiao in boiling water with some fans, which led to him being banned from The Grove shopping center in Los Angeles earlier this week. 

Referencing a bible verse that imposes the death penalty for such things as homosexuality would get some people understandably riled up. 

Pacquiao has since answered his critics and is cited in the L.A. Times with what he calls a misquoting and misrepresentation of what he was saying. 

"

What I said is a reporter asked me about gay marriage...I am against gay marriage, but I'm not condemning gays. I have family—a cousin—who's gay, and friends too. I'm just against gay marriage. I don't even want to talk about the issue, but I was asked about it, so I gave my opinion.

"

Another athlete sticking to his guns, sort of. 

Floyd Mayweather

He is the perfect bad guy for the sport, seemingly chiseled from WWE heels of old. Rather, he is a real-life superstar with all mounds of cash and the confidence that comes with it. 

His big mouth has put off so many people in the past, including myself. I can't stand his bravado act, but his loud mouth is finally saying the right things now. 

The thing with Mayweather is he isn't one to backtrack on a statement. If you question something he said, he will just say it louder. 

Mayweather tweeted this on Wednesday afternoon:

"

I stand behind President Obama & support gay marriage. I'm an American citizen & I believe people should live their life the way they want.

— Floyd Mayweather (@FloydMayweather) May 16, 2012"

I don't care if he is trying to garner support on the heels of Pacquiao's gaffe. I don't care if he is someone who has rubbed me the wrong way so many times in the past. 

Most of all, and like Mayweather, I don't care what the detractors say. Bravo, Mayweather. I support a union that in 2012 should be a non-issue. 

Debate

Still, the issue of gay marriage and the debate that ensues rages on as if there is some merit to the counter. 

A couple of my most favorite arguments against the thought are preserving the sanctity of marriage. When divorce rates dip to well below 50 percent in this country, I will go ahead and listen to that argument.

By a CDC stat in 2012, U.S. citizens are divorcing at roughly 50 percent of those that are getting married. It seems that we straight folks can't really settle on this sanctity of marriage thing.

Of course, there is the ugly reason that some may be opposed to gay marriage. It's that they just don't like homosexuals or find their lifestyle to be an abomination. 

Sigh. 

These sentiments are nothing new, and we, as a race, have directed them toward women and minorities through the years. 

In time, they will change, as the youth of society see how ridiculous this all really is. It will take some time, but it's inevitable. 

Take nine-year-old Josef Miles, who recently chose to stand lone in his support of gay marriage. Sometimes the youth have a knack for showing us the way. His mantra was simple, "God hates no one."

The times are changing for the better. The President of the United States gets it. I get it. Hell, even Floyd Mayweather Jr. gets it. 

Shame on you if you don't. 

Follow me on Twitter and we can debate. 

Follow @gabezal