49ers Cornerback Says Gay Players Are Not Welcome On His Team

[William769]

Just one day after several current players on the SF 49ers responded favorably to the discovery that their former teammate Kwame Harris is gay, the Niners cornerback Chris Culliver made it clear he would not welcome any gay player on his team or in the NFL.

According to Yahoo Sports:

Shock jock Artie Lange revealed he had interviewed Culliver at media day Tuesday and aired a segment on his show that night, where the player insisted that any gay players would not be welcome on the team.

"I don't do the gay guys man," said Culliver, whose Niners play the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. "I don't do that. No, we don't got no gay people on the team, they gotta get up out of here if they do.

"Can't be with that sweet stuff. Nah…can't be…in the locker room man. Nah."

http://www.gay.net/sports/2013/01/30/49ers-cornerback-says-gay-players-are-not-welcome-his-team

Hey Culliver maybe San Francisco should say we don't want you. You fucking bigot!

[Fantastic Anarchist]

1. Ignorance. Go Ravens!

Culliver will be reprimanded by the NFL, and rightfully so.

[redstatebluegirl]

2. The use of the English language by these guys

is amazing....are we surprised they are not very educated or enlightened.

[orwell]

3. I shows a great grasp of local culture...

...to insult gay people in San Francisco.

Smooth.

Hey Chris, don't order any food around the Castro District, (which has some amazing places to eat)...

[bluestateguy]

4. Perhaps such attitudes are acceptable in the Carolinas where he is from

(Although they should not be acceptable ANYWHERE)

But to say such a thing as a player for a San Francisco team?

That would be like a player for the Pittsburgh Steelers saying that coal workers and steel workers are all uneducated simps and rednecks.

[alp227]

10. Culliver actually grew up in the Research Triangle (a more enlightened region, think NC's Bay Area)

specifically Garner, a town southeast of Raleigh (the state capital/home of NC State University) and part of Wake County, a county that voted AGAINST Amendment 1 (NC's version of Prop 8, to enshrine "marriage is between one man and one woman ONLY" in the state constutition) and in a blue congressional district. But then he went to the University of South Carolina, and we all know which Carolina is worse.

Maybe he got his homophobia hanging out with too many like minded people in the locker rooms in HS and college, even though he's not from Red State Land.

[Fearless]

5. He may want to have a talk with his coach.

At least one half of the Harbowl would welcome a gay player on his team — the San Francisco half.

"Personally, there’s no discrimination in my heart,” said 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh, according to OutSports.

http://www.advocate.com/sports/2013/01/24/49ers-coach-says-hed-welcome-gay-player

[JackBeck]

6. UPDATE: Response from 49ers management, Chris Culliver apology and statement from Athlete Ally

UPDATE: 49ers management has issued an apology.

"The San Francisco 49ers reject the comments that were made yesterday, and have addressed the matter with Chris. There is no place for discrimination within our organization at any level. We have and always will proudly support the LGBT community."

UPDATE II: Culliver has apologized too.

"The derogatory comments I made yesterday were a reflection of thoughts in my head, but they are not how I feel. It has taken me seeing them in print to realize that they are hurtful and ugly. Those discriminating feelings are truly not in my heart. Further, I apologize to those who I have hurt and offended, and I pledge to learn and grow from this experience."

UPDATE III: Hudson Taylor's Athlete Ally has issued a statement.

"Chris Culliver’s comments are disrespectful, discriminatory and dangerous, particularly for the young people who look up to him. His words underscore the importance of the Athlete Ally movement and the key role that professional athletes play in shaping an athletic climate that affirms and includes gay and lesbian players. Culliver’s views are as marginal as they are misguided. We’re seeing more and more NFL players take a stand against homophobia in sports through our organization and we know that support at this level is only going to grow. Athlete Ally’s NFL Ambassadors Brendon Ayanbadejo of the AFC Champion Baltimore Ravens, Chris Kluwe of the Minnesota Vikings and Scott Fujita of the Cleveland Browns connect our organization and the NFL, help promote the mission to end homophobia in sports by speaking out to their teams, leagues and fan bases, and encourage their colleagues to join in the effort. It’s clear by their involvement and the incredible support they are receiving from NFL fans across the country that discrimination is on the fringe and has absolutely no place in sports.”

http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2013/01/49ers-star-not-down-with-gays.html#disqus_thread

[William769]

7. Thanks for the update.

[Occulus]

8. They should have thrown him off the team

As far as I'm concerned, the 49ers accept hompophobes as part of their organization, and tolerate it, as long as this fucking bigot plays for them.

NO apology is acceptable. Period.

[LostinRed]

9. I agree

If it had been a racist rant, he would be out. Plus I don't get his apology: "The derogatory comments I made yesterday were a reflection of thoughts in my head, but they are not how I feel." Doesn't make sense.

[alp227]

11. That's a bigot's typical CYA apology strictly for PR purposes,

think Rush Limbaugh's fauxpology to Sandra Fluke after three days of stalker-like obsession with Fluke's contraceptive use.

[William769]

14. Thats how I see it.

To me the apology is meaningless.

Some things are said in haste, that was not.

I would bet money the only reason he has apologized is because he was forced to (his meaning was quite clear the first time).

[bluestateguy]

12. He made the apology that he had to make

Probably written by an agent or a staffer or an intern.

But we know what he really believes.

[MNBrewer]

16. "Thoughts in my head, but not how I feel"???

They're EXACTLY how you feel.

[Marrah_G]

13. Cheering for the Ravens anyway

But now even more reason to cheer against the niners

[pauldemmd195j]

15. Ignorant bigot

People like him give his fellow players a very bad name.