Time was, celebrities rumored to be gay would issue a statement vehemently denying any queer tendencies and then quickly add, “not that there would be anything wrong with that!” Well, we may be fast approaching a time when those same celebrities may responding with something more like, “No, but I’m so flattered you’d assume that,” what with GQ naming Raven Brendon Ayanbadejo (as well as Viking Chris Kluwe) an “honorary gay” for his vocal, uncompromising support of gay marriage this past year.

Ayanbadejo’s pro-gay rights views got plenty of press after he incited the ire of Del. Emmett C. Burns, who sent a letter to Ravens management urging the team to silence the vocal player on the issue. Viking Chris Kluwe then sent the story into “viral” territory when he came to Ayanbadejo’s defense with a feisty, and very off-color response to Burns.

The whole brouhaha did more to highlight the NFL’s growing acceptance of same-sex marriage (Ravens center Matt Birk notwithstanding) than anything else. Del. Burns, awkwardly tried to remove his foot from his mouth, but it was too late.

Read GQ‘s interview with Kluwe and Ayanbadejo here.