Former UFC champion Rashad Evans speaks out in favor of gay marriage

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans has taken a public stand in support of gay marriage.

According to a report from OutSports, Evans is the latest professional athlete to sign a brief started by NFL players Chris Kluwe and Brendon Ayanbadejo that urges the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn any and all bans on same-sex marriage.

Evans (17-3-1), who is a 33-year-old American mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, wants to live in a country where equality is widespread to all avenues of life and felt supporting the brief was a step in the right direction.

Evans talked to OutSports and passionately explained exactly why he felt the need to speak out in favor of gay marriage.

Here's what "Suga" had to say:

"I've never been a homophobe, never understood what that is all about. I knew some people who were gay and never cared about their sexuality. But at the same time, I didn't fully understand the issues around gay people until my friend BA started telling me about his full public support for gay marriage. We talked about the issue and I decided its not enough to not be against a minority, if you want things to go better for them you have to speak up with them.

"I'm a UFC fighter, a macho-type sport. I am a heterosexual guy in a tough macho sport, which is exactly the reason I feel a duty to say I support gay marriage and gay rights.

"I have nothing to gain personally from supporting this issue, and that's the point. Society as a whole is better when there is equality, and I want to live in a country where everyone has the same rights because we all benefit from that.

"What people overlook is that is isn't a sex issue, its a love issue. There's no justifiable reason for trying to get in the way of two people who love each other.

"I have kids. I don't want them growing up in a society where they, or their friends, could be second class citizens based on which person they fall in love with or who they want to be happy with."

Regardless of it you love or hate The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season 2 winner, he makes a number of impactful statements in his explanation of why he supports gay marriage and with such coherent, level-headed comments, Evans is proving why he is a great representative for the sport.

According to the report, Ayanbadejo says NFLPA head Dominique Foxworth and Patrick Nero, George Washington University athletic director, will also sign the brief, which can be read right here.