NFL Says Gay Is O.K.

After a website for LGB sports enthusiasts,
OutSports.com publicized the fact
(first reported by Rex Wockner)
that the NFL was refusing
to allow personalized jerseys with
"Gay" emblazoned on the
rear view an uproar ensued. The NFL has now backed down:

The league reversed itself and will now allow
personalized jerseys to have “GAY” on the back.
This decision came one day after Outsports printed
an article about the policy (see below). Previously,
a person trying to buy such a jersey had it rejected
with the words: "This field should not contain a
naughty word." (this wording was changed in
response to our story to "The personalization
entered cannot be accepted.").

A league spokesman told Outsports that
“there was no message there” to having “gay”
on a list of 1,121 banned words. After being made
aware of the issue, the NFL Shop will now allow “gay”
jerseys, said the spokesman, who asked that his
name not be used. “It should have not been in the
[naughty words] filter,” he said. (Buying a "Gay"
jersey was prohibited more than 24 hours after
we were told it would be accepted).

This decision seems to have less to do with any
sexual orientation statement by the league and
more with the fact that there is a player in the
league with the last name Gay, New England
Patriots rookie defensive back Randall Gay.
Randall is the first Gay in the NFL since Ben Gay
played for the Cleveland Browns in 2001.

Hmmm. All I can is that I very much doubt that Randall and Ben are the only "gays" to have played in the NFL!