The NFL publicly emphasizes its commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion.
But the league’s recent political donations tell a different story.
The NFL’s political action committee, Gridiron, mostly gave to Republicans last year, reports Awful Announcing. In total, Gridiron made four times the number of individual contributions, and donated three and a half times more money to GOP lawmakers than Democrats.
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One of the most notable recipients was Jim Jordan, whose lowlight of the year was ending his failed speakership run in the most embarrassing way possible. The hard-right rep from Ohio garnered just 199 votes in his bid, marking the first time in a century that a person from the House’s majority party received less than 200 votes in an election for speaker.
The NFL donated at least three times to Jim “Gym” Jordan, documents show. As chairman of the powerful Judiciary Committee, the former wrestling coach is one of Joe Biden‘s leading antagonizers.
Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, who’s head of the Oversight Committee and leading the laughable impeachment inquiry into Biden, received a contribution as well.
Jordan, an ultraconservative who represents north-central and western Ohio, is a staunch opponent of LGBTQ+ rights. He’s used the power of the Judiciary Committee to command hearings on an array of anti-LGBTQ+ issues, such as opposition to gender-affirming healthcare.
When Congress introduced the Respect for Marriage Act in 2022, Jordan voted against the measure, arguing Democrats want…to bypass the Supreme Court?
“This bill is simply the latest installment of the Democrats’ campaign to delegitimize and attempt to intimidate the United States Supreme Court,” he said.
That’s certainly one of the more convoluted ways we’ve heard to express homophobic beliefs!
For more information on Jordan’s antigay record, check out GLAAD’s accountability profile. Speaking of GLAAD, the NFL co-hosted a Super Bowl party with the organization this year, called “Night of Pride.”
It was the most gay-friendly Super Bowl in NFL history, as the league hosted both Carl Nassib and out Jacksonville Jaguars host Kevin Maxen in Las Vegas. The San Francisco 49ers also arrived with an out gay cheerleader, Jonathan Romero.
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Ever since Nassib’s historic coming out, the NFL has partnered with The Trevor Project, the leading suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ+ young people. In recent years, the league has introduced its first ever Pride collection, and produced a video declaring “football is gay.”
Since 2017, the NFL has also sponsored the National Gay Flag Football League’s annual championship tournament, the aptly titled “Gay Bowl.”
Last season, the league celebrated the NGFFL during a national broadcast, highlighting Boston’s gay LGBTQ+ flag football league over the holidays.
There are multiple out execs in the NFL: Sam Rapoport, the senior director for diversity, equity and inclusion; and Christine Vicari, the senior vice president of labor finance.
All that’s to say, the league is making strides on inclusion. Still, the Gridiron’s donations to Jordan, and other homophobic GOP lawmakers, stand in contrast to those efforts. (It’s worth noting the NFL’s latest contributions to Jordan come in the wake of allegations he ignored the sexual abuse of athletes while a wrestling coach at Ohio State.)
There’s also the fact that 60% of the league’s players are Black. Republicans are widely opposed to social justice efforts, including the NFL’s. For years, Republicans have chided the league with their ridiculous “go woke, go broke” narrative.
That paranoia reached a fever pitch last season, when the MAGA crowd ginned up the conspiracy about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce being CIA assets.
Donald Trump, who called Black protesters kneeling during the national anthem “sons of b*tches,” started the right-wing crusade against the league. Nevertheless, nine NFL owners contributed to his inaugural committee. New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, who served as Trump’s ambassador to the U.K., is supporting him again.
But the political contributions of individual billionaires are separate from the league’s. Last year, the NFL made 63 individual contributions to GOP lawmakers, for a total of $134,000. Meanwhile, Gridiron engineered just 15 donations to Democrats worth $38,500.
In addition, the league contributed to $38,500 to Republican PACs, compared to $8,500 to Democratic ones.
The NFL regularly has issues before Congress, including antitrust arguments and labor disputes. Two years ago, the Oversight Committee investigated the Washington Commanders and then-owner Daniel Snyder for alleged rampant sexual harassment and other misdeeds.
Weirdly, Jordan used his time to question commissioner Roger Goodell about Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy.
In a statement, the NFL told Awful Announcing its PAC always contributes an equivalent amount of money to each party, and spending will even out in 2024.
But in previous non-election years, the spending has never been so tilted towards the GOP. In 2019, Gridiron made 22 contributions to Democrats worth $72,500, and $38,100 to Republican Senators.
In 2015, when the Republicans controlled both houses, Gridiron donated $200,500 to Republicans, and $180,000 to Democrats.
Time will tell if the NFL’s spending this year will tilt towards Democrats. There’s a long way to go, despite the league’s stated dedication to inclusion and equality.
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abfab
Is this closet case still with us. Thanks for the reminder. What an awful man…..he’s always seething and scolding and telling lies.
Love321
They can claim to be inclusive towards LGBTQ players, but how many NFL players are openly LGBTQ? I rest my case.
abfab
Lot’s of them on the downlow.
Jim
A business playing both sides?
Who knew?
Oh, yeah we all did
abfab
NFL. Thank god it’s not on all year long. It’s tired. Owners are right wingers and greedy bastards
Fahd
The NFL needs to be held accountable. This kind of reporting has to be ongoing.
The idea that the inept Jordan could be the head of the judiciary committee is mind boggling. The Democrats need to put in the batteries and focus on retaking the House. The US of A cannot take much more of these retrograde Repugnicans running the House of Representatives.
abfab
Keep hope alive! We can do it, yes we can can great gosh almighty!
-Pointer Sisters
LumpyPillows
It’s all about money, as so much evil is. They may support more inclusion, but they will always hedge their bets to guarantee access to power to protect their money.
ZzBomb
I thought conservatives had boycotted the NFL b/c some player once, years back, took a knee during the national anthem.
The NFL tho, in all seriousness, should have its non-profit status revoked.
abfab
The NE Patriots CEOs fawn all over the republican crowds. Trump City.
What’s new on the right wing boycott parade….I’m sure there must be a small GAY company that needs free publicity….
Mack
Well considering that Gym Jordan has never authored a bill I guess the NFL thinks he’s a safe bet not to do anything against them. And of course the millionaire/billionaire owners love the Repubs because of all the tax breaks they get-just the amount of money they save on their airplane is enough to support them.