No self-respecting gym would allow an aerobics class that incorporates pigging out on Krispy Kreme between sets of push-ups, so it makes perfect sense that pride, another deadly sin, would also be banned from the hallowed halls of CrossFit.
That’s the thinly-veiled excuse of CrossFit Infiltrate in Indianapolis, Indiana, which recently canceled a “PRIDE workout” that was organized by one of its LGBTQ members.
A problem with gay people? No way — it’s the pride that’s at issue here.
Related: Just some oiled up bros twerking together at the gym, no big deal
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Gym member Ryan Nix took to Facebook to share the incredible comments from general manager Brandon Lowe.
In a since-deleted post, Nix wrote:
“Last week we received an email from the gym canceling our PRIDE workout. We emailed the owner since it seemed that there was an issue with people who may be LGBT. You can see from his response that there is. Since this time the coaches and general manager have all quit. This is all from the owners of the gym. Many of us are leaving the gym due to the owners. Please tell your friends not to join this place.”
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Here’s what Lowe sent to Nix:
“Our underlying goal for the staff and members at CrossFit Infiltrate and our other gyms CrossFit White river and University Ave CrossFit is total health and well-being for the individual and community. Total health involves the body, the emotions, relationships, and the spirit. At the foundational detractor from health, as we believe God sets the parameters for, is pride. We believe that true health forever can only be found within humility, not pride. Humility is seeing oneself as they truly are, and as God truly defines them to be. As a business we will choose to deploy our resources towards those efforts and causes that line up with our own values and beliefs.
“Of course we will continue treat anyone and everyone with the same respect and provide the same service at CrossFit Infiltrate to anyone that wishes to take part.”
Here’s Lowe explaining what a “CrossFit White River member” is (spoiler: definitely no ‘proud’):
https://youtu.be/dJzyx4mdhoE
Below are the screenshots of the communication:
Paul Nadolski
Unfortunately, since the Supreme Court decided to make it legal to discriminate as long as your imaginary friend tells you to do so, we can expect more and more instances of this. OTOH, if I know a business prefers to discriminate, then I have a choice to NOT do business there.
Xzamilloh
It should be noted that yesterday’s SCOTUS ruling was narrow and did not in fact set any precedents regarding discrimination against LGBT people. This was specifically in favor of that homophobic baker in regards to the way he was treated by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission. Yes, this ruling is scary in what it represents down the road with a majority conservative Supreme Court, but it’s important to realize that this ruling was actually against the CCRC, not exactly in favor of the baker.
MacAdvisor
The Supreme Court didn’t hold anything of the sort. Read the decision. It held, on very narrow grounds, Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, did receive a fair hearing before the Colorado Civil Rights Commission because a commissioner expressed antipathy about Phillips and his beliefs. The opinion states very clearly, “Provisions like these (Colorados public accommodation law) are well within the State’susual power to enact when a legislature has reason to believe that a given group is the target of discrimination, and they do not, as a general matter, violate the First or Fourteenth Amendments.”
Given some of Scalia’s statements, I think it is a rather silly opinion, based on the novel idea a neutral arbitrator can’t disparage an argument, but the circumstances are so unusual as to be almost unrepeatable. The Court did not really answer if creative endeavors, such as cake design, are except from public accommodation laws, but I don’t we will ever again have a civil rights commission denigrate a view point held by an appellant that is also state law (Phillips believes marriage is between one man and one women, as was the law in Colorado at the time. The cake in question was for a reception held in Colorado for a wedding to be held in Massachusetts because Colorado law at the time did not permit same sex marriage). Thus, the case is extremely narrow.
Mkiel
I like to see or hear the response this god gave.
bill195463
fuck em’, tons of gyms in Indy. Go to Club Baths and use their gym, it’s a good gym. I’ve used it before years ago, then finish with a “happy ending”! I’m sure they’d do you Pride Workout. People are so dumb to discriminate. Go to another gym.
happy50132003
What a bunch of crap. If the baker did not want to make their cake it is his right. Not like he was the only baker in the city. The gay couple should have left and found another baker. Makes more out of the situation than needed to be. Gives gays a bad name like being spoiled little brats. We have to have our own way. DO NOT RESPOND HATEFUL….yes I am gay.
Chrisk
@happy50132003. Uh no. If you open a business to the public you serve all the public. If you want to discriminate just open it privately and just sell to your friends. Sorry but no special rights for you. I know that’s a tough concept for the religious loons but it is what it is.
Good try though troll;-)
RIGay
The Snake was the Governor there long enough that I am sure his gay-hating coils are wrapped around this douche bags beliefs that his gym is God’s holy ground.
…which was not an issue until the SCOTUS ruled in favor or the cake idiot. Regardless of how you wanna slice and dice the SCOTUS ruling, the homophobes won. Look for a LOT more of this crap to start floating to the surface.
EdWoody
This was a foolish move on the gym owner’s part. It may be stereotypical but a larger-than-universal-average proportion of any gym’s membership is going to be gay men, and if there’s one thing the world is not short of, it’s another gym to go to. This owner just torpedoed his own biggest client base.
Billysees
Your comment sounds to be absolutely correct. If there is going to be some kind ‘band wagon effect’ because of the SC ruling, those thinking about joining should be aware of the possible or probable consequences of lost business.
frankcar1965
And hopefully there will be a big BOYCOTT of CrossFit by all their advertisers. Bad publicity is always the place to hit them and also the pocketbook too.
ethan_hines
Correct me if I am wrong but isn’t what the general manager Brandon Lowe said contradictory? He tries to correlate PRIDE with a “parameter” that only GOD sets. But in the same paragraph he states that the Mission of CrossFit White River is that “Total health involves the body, the emotions, relationships, and the spirit” how can anyone read his reply and not scratch their heads? PRIDE IS an Emotion, involves the body, relationships and especially the spirit. PRIDE is not sinful (or sure it might be written somewhere in some old tattered book that it is). PRIDE comes from inside, it’s a multifaceted emotion. It involves self-esteem, determination, ethics, respect and love. Heck I think of all the emotions PRIDE runs the gamut of all the others.
Andm67
PRIDE IS an Emotion! but as a former Christian PRIDE is also taught as one of the Seven Deadly Sins. and to walk the path of God you are not to commit any of the Seven Sins! Here is a list of what the Christians Sins are “Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, Pride”.
ethan_hines
BTW was anyone quick enough to download the Youtube video before it got pulled?
KeithWC777
Did anyone make a copy of Brandon Lowe’s YouTube video “What is a CFWR Member” before he took it down. Not that it’s particularly important, but I’m curious how he tried to spin it.
KeithWC777
…Oops. Sorry Ethan. Didn’t refresh the page before I asked.
sfcarlos65
If I want to be humble, or rather, feel humility, I will stand next to an ocean.
dwes09
It is kind of interesting that Cylest seems to be gone, and a twit like John60616 is having a field day, indulging the depths of his mental illness.
Cylest Brooks
Hey. Sooo… this is a valid point. I didn’t check in yesterday, and I missed this entire post until now. I have deleted all of the comments from John60616 and have blocked him from commenting in the future.
This one was rough, y’all and I’m really sorry I was so slow to get here and remove it. I *DO* want to say THANK YOU to all of the regulars (and newbies) who handled that way better than I would have expected. It’s a testament to our continued oppression that we are so accustomed to this kind of sacrilegious, ignorant vitriol that our replies feel like one long, sad, angry sigh.
Chrisk
@Cylest Brooks. Umm you might want to look above..
dwes09
We do want inclusion and diversity. Absolutely. It is you that does not. Inclusion and diversity are not allowing the ignorant and backwards to walk all over us and try to limit our constitutional guarantee to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is quite pitiful that a stupid man like you will never understand that.
JessPH
CrossFit just recently fired its Chief Knowledge Officer (whatever that it) for agreeing with this gym. Good riddance to him.
DCguy
I Love that this bit of bigotry exposed somebody higher up in the company who was just fired for supporting it.
At least Cross fit national came through.
Chrisk
Yeah they were definitely in save their butts mode. It’s not like they could’ve let that stand. The whole chain would have come crashing down.
Heywood Jablowme
“Pride” as a “sin” always seemed like a non sequitur to me.
It’s as if the list was something like “Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, and Being Too Good At Crossword Puzzles.”
Of course, now in the Trump era: Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Wrath and Envy are all considered GREAT things! Sloth is still considered a bad thing, I suppose (especially if a black person is doing it) (but it’s okay for a white millionaire playing golf).
Pride is a normal, healthy emotional trait.
mondongo
As LOWE seems to think his imaginary friend AKA God has all the answers, I hope his blow jobs are as good as his stories!
Hard to believe there are still some humans on this planet that believe in Sky Fairies.