The Seahawks suspended broadcaster Dori Monson for his transphobic words as the NFL endeavors to celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month.
On Friday, the NFL issued a comprehensive release in which it endeavored to celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month, which takes place in October. From the release:
October is LGBTQ+ History Month, which includes National Coming Out Day (Oct. 11) and Spirit Day (Oct. 15). Today, the NFL launches a series of new initiatives designed to engage the LGBTQ+ community.
Included are a dedicated website (NFL.com/PRIDE); a PSA celebrating out NFL Legends and voicing support and allyship; expanded partnerships with GLAAD and The Trevor Project; a PRIDE-themed NFL shield; and an assortment of LGBTQ+ content airing on NFL Network throughout October. Additionally, NFL Executive Vice President, Football Operations, Troy Vincent penned an op-ed on NFL.com
“The LGBTQ+ community is an important audience for our sport and a critical part of the NFL family,” said Jonathan Beane, NFL Chief Diversity Officer. “We continually strive to provide an inclusive and welcoming environment for all.”
This is entirely admirable, given that the NFL has not been historically welcoming to those whose life preferences are outside the “traditional norm” in any capacity. One needs to look no further than the case of former Rams linebacker Michael Sam, the first NFL player to come out publicly as gay. The Rams selected Sam in the seventh round of the 2014 draft, and though he never played a down of regular-season football, he certainly made quite the splash in and around the league. Former Buccaneers and Colts head coach Tony Dungy, who has held a prominent place in player outreach for years, said that Sam would be a “distraction” based on media attention — this in clarifying comments in which Dungy said he wouldn’t draft Sam at all.
As OutSports details, the NFL’s current video, which will air on Fox’s Sunday early game telecasts, has former players Ryan O’Callahan, Jeff Rohrer, RK Russell and Wade Davis, all of who came out as gay or bi after retiring, begin by saying: “To all current players who are thinking of coming out, when you are ready, so are we.”
The video also has Vikings safety Anthony Harris, Broncos offensive guard Dalton Risner, Ravens defensive lineman Calais Campbell, Browns receiver Jarvis Landry, Ravens defensive back Marlon Humphrey, Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski, and Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins responding, “I support you, I got you, we got you, we support you, it takes all of us, and you deserve to be all you.”
It’s a great initiative, but as has been the case in a league where there is a much-needed recent focus on civil rights, police brutality, and the stories of people of color at the same time at least 25% of the NFL’s team owners have given financial support to the Trump administration, there are going to be some hypocrisy bumps to work out.
This put the Seahawks on the clock to deal with an in-house issue, which they did with the suspension of broadcaster Dori Monson. Monson has been associated with the team since 2002, and has been the Seahawks’ pre-game, post-game, and halftime shows on local radio. Monson is right-leaning and has been so publicly on a number of issues, which isn’t the problem. The problem is that at the same time the NFL is trying to be more inclusive and make people feel better about their preferences, Monson is tweeting out things like this (since deleted), regarding a recent statement by Washington state Governor Jay Inslee during a gubernatorial debate.
On Friday, the Seahawks suspended Monson indefinitely, as did local talk-radio station KIRO. 97.3 FM
“We appreciate the actions taken today by KIRO 97.3 FM and the Seattle Seahawks, and believe that suspending Dori Monson is a good first step, though we also ask Mr. Monson to issue a sincere apology and take actions to build empathy and understanding toward our transgender community — and that he realizes the harmful impact of his words by taking actionable steps towards addressing his history of homophobic and transphobic remarks,” Seattle Pride executive director Krystal Marx said in a statement to the Seattle Times. “If he is unwilling to take these important actions, Seattle Pride will continue to call for his immediate termination.
“Numerous studies have shown that trans people are at a significantly greater risk of depression, fear, isolation and suicide, largely due to ridicule, discrimination and violence. Seeing gender identity openly mocked in public only increases that stigmatization and puts transgender lives at further risk.”
“We do not comment on personnel matters,” KIRO-FM Program Director Bryan Buckalew told Touchdown Wire. We reached out to the Seahawks for a statement, but did not receive a reply.
Monson, in his capacity as a talk-radio host, has also come down firmly on the side of police in questionable shootings, denigrated peaceful protestors, claimed that Colin Kaepernick is “more trouble than he’s worth,” and ridiculed LGBTQ+ people before the aforementioned tweet came into existence.
That’s a hard thing to reconcile from an NFL franchise that has been far out front on these and other civic issues.
Before anybody gets started on “cancel culture,” the point isn’t that Monson should lose his job over this. The point is that the Seahawks have been especially earnest in their desire to be inclusive and diverse at every possible level, and this reaction from their primary radio host at a time when the league wants to break down barriers was an obvious problem. Monson has the right to say whatever he wants, and he also has the right to face the consequences of his words.
It was up to the Seahawks to make a statement in in which the franchise’s commitment to all these things was made clear. In suspending Monson, they have done that — to a point. If the suspension doesn’t turn into a termination, more questions will (and should) be raised.
The NFL is either “woke,” as it often claims these days, or it isn’t. It’s past time to get off the fence.
