Washington, DC—PFLAG National—the nation's largest grassroots-based non-profit for families, friends, and straight allies of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people—today announced that former National Football League commissioner Paul Tagliabue will present the Straight for Equality in Sports Award to NFL players Brendon Ayanbadejo of the Super Bowl Championship-winning Baltimore Ravens and Chris Kluwe of the Minnesota Vikings, at the organization's fifth annual Straight for Equality Gala in New York City on Thursday, April 4th.
"It is an honor to present the Straight for Equality in Sports Award to Chris Kluwe and Brendon Ayanbadejo. We expect NFL players to be leaders in the community, and they are setting excellent examples," said Tagliabue. "When they speak out in support of marriage equality, they are contributing to a larger dialogue about full inclusion and equality for people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. For PFLAG to be honoring them is particularly appropriate, because one of a parent's greatest fears when their child is GLBT is that opportunities will be closed to their child. As long as professional team sports — and youth sports — are seen as not fully open, it contributes to this fear. Chris and Brendon are having a big impact in changing attitudes and making sports welcoming to all."
Straight for Equality—a national outreach and education project created by PFLAG National— focuses on the next generation of straight allies joining together with GLBT people in the effort to achieve equality for all. Straight for Equality Awards are presented to individuals who are transforming the way that GLBT people are understood and treated, using their talents and platforms in their respective fields to empower others to become engaged and outspoken allies for GLBT equality.
Tagliabue served as NFL commissioner from 1989 until 2006. During those years, he presided over labor-management peace, league expansion, and major growth of both fan interest and revenue in professional football. After his tenure as commissioner, he continued to work behind the scenes, acting as one of the driving forces behind the sexual orientation-inclusive anti-discrimination clause included in the NFL's 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The cause of GLBT equality is intensely personal to Tagliabue, who became commissioner of the National Football League the same year he learned his son was gay. He joined PFLAG soon after and his son, Drew, is the Executive Director of PFLAG NYC.
PFLAG National Executive Director Jody Huckaby was deeply honored to have Tagliabue's participation in the event. "There is no better person to deliver these honors. Mr. Tagliabue is a committed champion to moving equality forward for GLBT people in professional sports, and his personal passion and dedication as a PFLAG parent only deepens that commitment."
Of receiving the award from Tagliabue, Ayanbadejo said, "I am excited and honored to receive an award from Paul Tagliabue. He is the next closest thing to the NFL actually advancing GLBT rights. Hopefully his participation and advancement of equality will be a catalyst to the NFL making a public stance for equality."
Co-honoree Kluwe echoed the sentiment, stating, "I'm both excited and honored to be receiving this award with Brendon, though I know both of us hope for the day when it's no longer considered something extraordinary to do the right thing. Treating other people with empathy is an ideal anyone can, and should, aspire to."
Ayanbadejo and Kluwe are the third and fourth recipients of the Straight for Equality in Sports Award. They join 2010 recipient and fellow Athlete Ally Ambassador Scott Fujita of the Cleveland Browns as well as Athlete Ally founder Hudson Taylor, who won the award in 2011. Both players are now also affiliated with Athlete Ally, a leading organization working to end homophobia in sports.
Said Hudson Taylor, "The progress taking shape in the NFL is directly attributable to the efforts of Paul Tagliabue. The dedicated advocacy of Brendon and Chris is a continuation of those efforts. It is a fitting tribute that former commissioner Tagliabue is recognizing their ongoing effort to make sports a welcoming and respectful space by presenting PFLAG National's Straight for Equality in Sports honors to them."
The Fifth Annual Straight for Equality Awards Gala will be held on Thursday, April 4th in New York City at the Marriott Marquis Times Square. Tickets are available by visiting www.straightforequality.org/2013gala .
Founded in 1972 with the simple act of a mother publicly supporting her gay son, PFLAG is the original family and straight ally organization. Made up of parents, families, friends, and straight allies uniting with LGBT people, PFLAG is committed to advancing equality through its mission of support, education and advocacy. Now in its 40th anniversary year, PFLAG has more than 350 chapters and 200,000 supporters crossing multiple generations of American families in major urban centers, small cities and rural areas in all 50 states. To learn more, please visit www.pflag.org .
