Chris Kluwe is Liberal, Not a Democrat

Photo by Tony Nelson via OC Weekly

Out's November cover boy and Minnesota Vikings kicker Chris Kluwe became the unlikely face of marriage equality when he published a letter to a Maryland legislator on Deadspin in support of gay marriage. Witty, passionate, and honest, the letter went viral and Kluwe secured his status as straight ally-cum-gay icon.

Minnesotans for Equality is selling shirts with Kluwe's letter's most colorful quotes, such as the now-legendary "lustful cockmonster" as well as "beautifully unique sparklepony." The campaign and Kluwe's charity, Kick for a Cure, which benefits children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, each receive an equal cut of the proceeds.

The equality group is also trying to set up a debate between Kluwe and any willing Republican, but none have volunteered thus far.

Probably because Republicans know they'll get skewered by the Viking. However, Kluwe acknowledges in this week's OC Weekly that the political system favors money over mettle:

Though Kluwe is now the spokesman for a liberal cause, he doesn't consider himself a Democrat. He favors neither Barack Obama nor Mitt Romney, and he describes the presidential race as a contest to kiss the ass of the most billionaire donors, rather than the battle of ideas it purports to be.

If Kluwe had to label himself, he'd say libertarian, but that doesn't quite sum it up either. "My ideal world is one in which we don't need a government because people treat one another the way they want to be treated," Kluwe says. "But until we fix human nature, that's probably not going to happen."

Read the full profile written by Andy Mannix on OC Weekly's website.