First openly gay professional bowler speaks out about why marriage matters

This week, Scott Norton, a professional bowler who made headlines earlier this year when ESPN aired footage of him kissing his partner after winning the 2012 PBA Chameleon Championship in Las Vegas, spoke with OutSports about why marriage matters and the importance of visibility in sports. 

Scott and his partner, Craig Woodward, celebrated Scott's victory in that championship round in November, and when ESPN aired the footage several months later, the celebratory kiss was declared the first professionally-shot footage of an openly gay athlete kissing his husband after a win. 

This week, in a new video with OutSports, Scott and Craig shared their thoughts about visibility for openly gay athletes in professional sports, and why their marriage hangs in the balance. They promised their commitment to each other on October 22, 2011 in Laguna Beach, California - but because of Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment restricting marriage in CA to different-sex couples, their relationship is not respected as a marriage. 

Scott said: 

Marriage equality is hugely important - and it will mean a lot when we get to call each other married. But we call each other that now. And we feel that we're married now. We want the recognition from the state and the federal government - and I don't wish to place no emphasis on that, because it's hugely important, not just for us but for the community as a whole - and I consider us married as we are now. We had a ceremony and declared our love for each other in front of all of our family and friends. And we have a monogamous, committed relationship where we have open, honest communication. And we love each other dearly. If that's not a marriage, I really don't know what is. 

Watch the video from OutSports HERE: