HRC SENDS LETTER TO NFL, NHL, MLB REGARDING PERSONALIZED JERSEYS

NEWS from the Human Rights Campaign
1640 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20036-3278
E-mail: hrc [at] hrc.org
http://www.hrc.org
_________________________________

For Immediate Release
Thursday, March 3, 2005

Contact: Steven Fisher
Phone: (202) 216-1547
Cell: (202) 431-7608

Contact: Mark Shields
Phone: (202) 216-1564
Cell: (202) 716-1637

HRC SENDS LETTER TO NFL, NHL, MLB REGARDING PERSONALIZED JERSEYS

"Apparently, you can be a 'heterosexual' in the MLB, NFL and NHL. But
you can't be a 'lesbian.'" said HRC's Winnie Stachelberg.

WASHINGTON - The Human Rights Campaign sent the following letter today
to commissioners of the National Football League, the National Hockey
Association and Major League Baseball regarding the online sale of the
leagues' personalized jerseys and the rejection of certain words deemed
"inappropriate, derogatory, or profane."

March 3, 2005


Gary Bettman
NHL Commissioner
1251 Avenue of the Americas, 47th Floor
New York, NY 10020
Fax: 212-789-2020

Paul Tagliabue
NFL Commissioner
280 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Fax: 212-681-7575

Bud Selig
MLB Commissioner
C/O Richard Levin
245 Park Avenue, Public Relations, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10167
Fax: 212-931-5654

Dear Commissioners Paul Tagliabue, Bud Selig and Gary Bettman,

We're sports fans. Like you, we love the squeak of shoes on a
basketball
court, the smell of clay in the infield, the sound of the whistle at
kickoff and the way players' skates slice through the ice.

Like most kids, we grew up wanting to be part of the team, dreaming of
a
jersey of our own. That's why it's with some disillusionment that we
write you today regarding the online sale of your leagues' personalized
jerseys and the rejection of certain words deemed "inappropriate,
derogatory, or profane."

Your software is allowing some words to be printed on jerseys but not
other words they deem unsuitable. So we did our own search to see what
your leagues might consider dirty words.

Apparently, you can be a "heterosexual" in the MLB, NFL and NHL. But
you
can't be a "lesbian."

We share your concern that no sports fan sees their favorite team's
jersey plastered with profanity. We're writing today to respectfully
remind you that "lesbian" is not a dirty word.

According to a news report, a spokesperson for the NFL said these
jerseys weren't designed for political statements and that's why the
word "lesbian" would be inappropriate. A fan's sexual orientation isn't
his or her political statement, it's their identity. Much like a name
or
a nickname, it's part of who they are. (Also, a quick check showed you
can be a "Republican" or "Democrat" in all of the leagues.)

We recognize that it would be nearly impossible for your leagues to
police every word allowed on jerseys. That's why we're urging you to
come up with a short list of truly obscene words and ditch the words
that your software blocks that simply refer to a fan's identity. There
are serious controversies plaguing professional sports these days, and
the word "lesbian" shouldn't be one of them.

The thing about sports fans is that we come from all walks of life. For
an hour or more, we sit side-by-side. And, forgetting our differences
and the challenges that face our families, neighborhoods and country,
we
join together for a common purpose - to root like mad for our team.

We leave the game euphoric or disheartened, but we leave united. Let's
be sure that that harmony extends to all sports fans, including those
of
us who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender.

Sincerely,

Winnie Stachelberg
Human Rights Campaign Vice President of Foundation,
writing on behalf of more than 600,000 members, many of whom are proud
sports fans

The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian, gay,
bisexual
and transgender political organization with members throughout the
country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and
educates the public to ensure that LGBT Americans can be open, honest
and safe at home, at work and in the community.

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