A “gay”-themed sports website is reporting that the New England Patriots, the NFL"s defending Super Bowl champs, will sponsor a homosexual flag football tournament called the “Gay Bowl” this October in Boston.
OutSports.com reported that the Patriots office had confirmed that the team will sponsor “Gay Bowl 2017,” and that earlier this year team owner Bob Craft had appeared at the homosexual group"s annual awards banquet, during which at least one self-identified homosexual high school athlete was honored with a scholarship.
“The Gay Bowl was created in 2002 as an annual national championship tournament for LGBT flag football teams,” reported OutSports. “About 40 teams are expected to compete in several divisions, including a women’s division, from across North America. The San Diego Bolts are the five-time defending champion.”
The National Gay Flag Football League (NGFFL) said that the point of the “Gay Bowl” is to “foster and augment the self-respect of all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender [LGBT] persons and to promote respect and understanding from the larger community.”
Boston last hosted the tournament in 2003, with former Patriots player Andre Tippet on hand to officiate the “Gay Bowl” ceremonial coin toss.
OutSports noted that the New England Patriots “have been one of the most LGBT-inclusive NFL teams, signing an amicus brief several years ago in support of same-sex marriage.”
The Washington Post added that the NFL has been diligent in its efforts to position itself as the nation"s premier homosexual-friendly sports entity. “Reversing the reputation the league earned last year when it refused to move the owners’ meeting from North Carolina despite the state’s bathroom law that many saw as anti-LGBT, the league began the year by inviting Lady Gaga, an icon in the LGBT community, to perform at the Super Bowl,” reported the Post. “The league followed up her performance with a warning to Texas in February about a proposed bill that would restrict people from using select restrooms that correspond to their gender identity.”
In February NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy declared that “the NFL embraces inclusiveness. We want all fans to feel welcomed at our events, and NFL policies prohibit discrimination based on age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or any other improper standard.”
Among the conservative and Christian leaders to express their disappointment at the move by the Patriots was evangelist Franklin Graham, who said that while the Super Bowl champs “have the right to do whatever they want ... I’m disappointed that a great team from such a wonderful area of the country would promote a sinful lifestyle like this. Shame on them. Let the Patriots know that you don’t support this move.”
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