As we saw on the documentary "Not just a game" sports is a perfect vehicle to construct and perpetuate social norms of what it means to be a man, or a woman. Some of the attributions and expectations for men include not only displays of "manhood" and courage (toughen up) but patriotism and nationalism. But after the disclosure by the Department of Defense of the money spent to "honor the military" to professional sports team, it is reasonable to question this "paid patriotism" adding to the increasing criticism to the "non profit" status of multi-million dollar organizations like the NFL.

The reasons invoked by the Army include recruitment campaigns, while the Army recognized  that they are actually downsizing. Ten years ago during the war in Irak, the Army was recruiting in schools, it was recruiting Hispanics, who make the majority of field combatants (17.5%) and made up to 11% of the dead soldiers, when the percentage of Hispanic soldiers was only 9%. It was in 2002 that President Bush signed a polemic resolution giving path to citizenship giving path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who joined the Army. Many like Jesus Suarez del Solar became citizens after finding death in Irak. This inspired his father to found Proyecto Guerrero Azteca to promote conscience about what it means to join the Army, and to make sure that families of potential soldiers (parents have to authorize before age 18) know their rights and know the risks they face. Some of these families for instance did not even know that the draft was not mandatory

 and made up to 11% of the dead soldiers, more than the percentage of Hispanic soldiers. It was in 2002 that President Bush signed a polemic resolution giving path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who joined the Army. Many like Jesús Alberto Suárez del Solar became citizens after finding death in Irak, which inspired his father to found Proyecto Guerrero Azteca, to create conscience about what it means to join the Army, and to make sure that the families of potential soldiers know their rights and the risks they face. Some of these families for instance did not even know that this was not a draft, and it was not mandatory.

Chauvinism, patriotism and big bucks have very little to do with honoring the lives of our soldiers. it actually promotes brainwashing, imposing dominant ideologies and erasing everything that does not conform with these norms.

It is also a huge amount of money that could be used to build schools, to create jobs and opportunities for the less privileged who become a target when recruiting combatants, as for many joining the Army represents their only possibility of social advancement.

Religious references during these "patriotic" displays should also be challenged. Utilizing federal money to promote religious beliefs is a clear violation of the establishment clause of the First Amendment.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/defense-military-tributes-professional-sports_5639a04ce4b0411d306eda5e

http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/187905/0/muertos/irak/hispanos/

http://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias/2013/03/130327_irak_decimo_aniversario_guerrero_azteca_vp

 A special election on November 3^rd gave Houston voters the opportunity to support Proposition 1:  Houston's Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO) a series of anti-discrimination measures protecting against discrimination not only on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity but race, age, military status, a total of 15 categories in total. Opposition to this ordinance came from conservative Republicans including Governor Greg Abbott, anti-LGBT hate groups and religious groups, in spite that precisely religious organizations would be exempted. They presented the ordinance in very simple, reductionist and incorrect terms: "No men in women's bathrooms" was their slogan. An absolute ignorance and disdain for what it means to be a transgender, and labeling this target group as potential “rapists”. One of this hate groups, the Heritage Foundation, on the words of Ryan T. Anderson, stated that “employers all compete with each other for the best employees. They have incentives to consider only those factors that truly matter for their mission.” What they are basically saying is that we don’t have to provide equal opportunities as there will be other opportunities in the free market. I cannot even think how this would sound to the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement.

The attacks were even more personal, as the Proposition was identified as the last attempt of the “lesbian Mayor” to impose her agenda.

The Proposition finally was finally struck down by Houston voters in spite of the support of national figures like Hillary Clinton, Sally Field, Greg Louganis among others. Huffington Post attributed the defeat to the “factually dishonest message” that “proved to be incredibly effective”, as voters thought they were voting to disallow men entering women’s bathrooms and were unaware of the broader nondiscrimination protections in the measure.

Lance Berkman, a retired Houston Astros star, became a spokesperson of this campaign, stating on a TV sport that he was concerned about the safety of his female family members if HERO passed.  "Proposition 1 would allow troubled men who claim to be women to enter women's bathrooms, showers, and locker rooms”. Transgenders are “troubled men” according to Berkman, so it becomes obvious he is labeling anyone that does not conform to heteronormative values he assumes to be truth, as perverted or abnormal. 

It has been over 40 years that the APA no longer consider homosexuality as a perversion or mental disorder, but some (including Governor Abbott) seem stuck in the past.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/houston-equal-rights-ordinance_5638de92e4b00a4d2e0bee4e