San Antonio Spurs star Manu Ginobli, a native of Argentina, supports his country’s adoption this week of gay marriage, the first country in South America to allow gays to marry.
The NBA star told an Argentine newspaper (this is from an online translation):
With regard to the law of marriage between same sex, NBA player was in favor: “I am all for marriage. I think we all have the same rights. Although in reality with regard to adoption do not feel able to give an opinion. “
His reference to adoption was in regards to the gay marriage bill also giving gay couples the right to adopt. I was sent this link from Andrés Duque of the blog Blabbeando, who goes into great detail about the marriage law.
Update: Duque got the video and translated Ginobli’s full remarks:
Reporter: You’ve been told, pardon me, about the polarization of the country and, in addition, yesterday there were two protests in the country which have divided society – and different personalities have expressed what they think about gay marriage, yes or no. Do we have your opinion?
Ginobli: I am in favor of gay marriage – eh – specially of the rights – eh – needed by people who are equal before the law – eh – and it doesn’t affect the rest of society… it doesn’t, if they are gays … yes? let them be and do whatever they want, I am in favor, and it seems to me…
Reporter: What about adoption?
Ginobli: Adoption is much more delicate,I don’t feel I have the qualifications, I don’t know which studies have been done, if there is any background. I know that, I believe – I don’t know, as an outside observer, without knowledge of what scientific data there is out there – that for a baby it should be better to be with two dads than to be in an orphanage.
Duque also referenced a popular Argentine soap opera that had a storyline about two soccer players in love. The episode aired this spring. “It’s the first time the soap viewers realized the character of ‘Flaco’ liked men (he’d been introduced as a married man with children),” Duque told me. “There was also an incredibly erotic scene of the first time they had sex but that was pulled from YouTube.” A clip of one of the actors discussing his character’s coming out was aired this week as the Argentine Senate debated the gay marriage bill.
Here is a kissing scene that apparently had people talking:
You can more scenes from the soap opera on Duque’s blog. Here is a great quote from one of the actors about portraying a masculine gay man in a homophobic sport while showing some femininity: “You have to be very manly to accept masculine femininity.”
It was not long ago that Argentina was a repressive military dictatorship. Now we have NBA players supporting gay marriage and a soap opera with a gay storyline. Argentina is now ahead of the U.S. in its rights for LGBT couples. The world is changing.
on Jul 16th, 2010 at 3:27 PM
Whoa, hold on. This article should not be titled “Manu Ginobli supports gay marriage” – that’s misleading. This article should be called “Ginobli part of a culture slowly coming around.” (Granted, Argentina is legally more evolved than we are, but still.) Adding that part where he voices skepticism about gays being able to adopt – that just reclassifies his opinion about gay rights in general.
on Jul 16th, 2010 at 3:44 PM
He did not give an opinion on adoption, which is not the same as him voicing skepticism. Maybe he is one of those rare people who doesn’t feel a need to have an opinion on everything but his comments did support gay marriage. If he clarifies, we will follow up.
on Jul 16th, 2010 at 11:22 PM
What? Argentina allows gay marriage now! LOL I need to keep up on this stuff.
Well that’s cool, he supports marriage but sounds like he’s on the fence about adoption. 
peace
on Jul 17th, 2010 at 7:16 AM
I searched for the exact quote about adoption in the original Spanish:
http://www.elsolonline.com/noticias/view/23456/manu-sobre-matrimonio-homosexual—todos-tenemos-los-mismos-derechos-
What he said was “Estoy totalmente a favor del matrimonio. Pienso que todos tenemos los mismos derechos. Aunque en realidad con respecto a la adopción no me siento capacitado para dar una opinión”.
His support for gay marriage is emphatic. With respect to adoption he seems to be saying that he is not “qualified” to give an opinion.
It is not clear whether he is stating a position on gay adoption or on his qualification to interpret the law that has been passed.
My understanding is that most reports confirm that the law does in fact allow for gay adoptions. But there is some question about whether that will remain so. It is still a “contentious” issue as this Argentine article explains:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ggNEy9v9ezRFUdIc5O41uxCc0JjQ
Same sex couples can “adoptar juntos” or “adopt jointly”. Whether this will be entirely “equipara” or equate the rights of same sex couples with those in traditional marriages may have to await court challenges and interpretations.
Perhaps Ginobili is just ahead of us in understanding the subtleties.
on Jul 17th, 2010 at 9:27 AM
I got the same interpretation as you, Sportinlife. Manu is cool. It’s actually refreshing when people don’t comment on thngs they don’t fully understand….Now we need to hear the other Spurs’ players comment on Manu’s position, just to stir the pot a bit. I bet Tim Duncan would support gay marriage…
on Jul 17th, 2010 at 3:05 PM
I still think you guys are giving Manu too much benefit of the doubt. Saying that you admire him for dodging an answer on whether a loving gay couple is “qualified” to love and raise a baby – and implying that one must be some kind of expert to voice support/protest on that topic – that’s like saying none of us should comment on a woman’s right to choose because we are not all doctors. It’s like saying most of us should not offer an opinion on slavery, because most of us are not politicians or economists. And it’s bullshit. Manu Ginobli saying he’s not “able to give an opinion” about gays having equal parental/adoption rights is nothing short of an inherent snub to gay couples who have been fighting to adopt kids for years.
on Jul 18th, 2010 at 12:09 AM
The entire storyline of Manuel and Lalo from “Botineras” is on YouTube. The sex scene episode was NOT pulled. It is still there and it is VERY hot and very explicit.
on Jul 18th, 2010 at 1:10 AM
Seeing countries that are heavily Roman Catholic (Argentina, Spain, Portugal, etc.) support gay marriage is a fantastic sign. Kudos to them for not listening to the anti-gay bigotry regularly spewed by the Vatican.
on Jul 18th, 2010 at 3:53 AM
@TampaZeke: “The entire storyline of Manuel and Lalo from “Botineras” is on YouTube. The sex scene episode was NOT pulled. It is still there and it is VERY hot and very explicit.”
Yes, it is here on this post and it is hot:
http://outsports.com/jocktalkblog/2010/07/16/gay-soccer-storyline-on-argentine-soap-opera/
on Jul 18th, 2010 at 7:19 PM
In light of the Lebron James ego trip explosion, this article could be re-titled: NBA Jock is NOT an Asshole.
It would have the same man-bites-dog quality to it.
on Jul 20th, 2010 at 3:26 PM
@Dave: Manu’s exact quote on adoption:
“I know that, I believe – (I don’t know, as an outside observer, without knowledge of what scientific data there is out there) – that for a baby it should be better to be with two dads than to be in an orphanage.
Doesnt sound like someone snubbing potential gay adopters does it? Infact it sounds more like a statement of support no?