Home News Report: Vikings refuse to disclose findings on homophobia allegations

Report: Vikings refuse to disclose findings on homophobia allegations

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Report: Vikings refuse to disclose findings on homophobia allegations

chriskluwe

KSTP reports that the Minnesota Vikings are refusing to release the results of an investigation into homophobia within the NFL team’s ranks.

On Jan. 2, former Viking punter Chris Kluwe made some startling claims in a post on Deadspin: He was let go because of his outspoken views on equality for LGBT people, and management told him to keep quiet about his views. Kluwe alleged that special teams coach Mike Priefer made a particularly homophobic remark, one that’s become the focus of discussion.

We were laughing over one of the recent articles I had written supporting same-sex marriage rights, and one of my teammates made a joking remark about me leading the Pride parade. As we sat down in our chairs, Mike Priefer, in one of the meanest voices I can ever recall hearing, said: ‘We should round up all the gays, send them to an island, and then nuke it until it glows.’ The room grew intensely quiet, and none of the players said a word for the rest of the meeting. The atmosphere was decidedly tense.

The Vikings denied that Kluwe was fired because of his outspokenness and initiated an outside investigation into Kluwe’s claims.

That investigation has been completed, but now the Vikings withholding the results.

According to KSTP, a source they contacted said the report is “damaging and embarrassing” to the Vikings, but the organization has been working to “correct any homophobic culture that exists within the organization.”

The Vikings sent a statement to KSTP stating, “We have taken this investigation extremely seriously and an exhaustive review is in its final stages. As we have maintained throughout this process, we will have further comment when the investigation is entirely complete and the Vikings have made determinations on next steps.”

That’s not good enough for Kluwe. The Vikings organization called him a liar and questioned his motives when he first made the allegations of homophobia.

“Kluwe’s only recourse is to file a lawsuit against the Vikings,” Kluwe’s attorney, Clayton Halunen, told Fox 9.

Kluwe is planning a morning press conference challenging the Vikings to release the report.

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Andy Birkey has written for a number of Minnesota and national publications. He founded Eleventh Avenue South which ran from 2002-2011, wrote for the Minnesota Independent from 2006-2011, the American Independent from 2010-2013. His writing has appeared in The Advocate, The Star Tribune, The Huffington Post, Salon, Cagle News Service, Twin Cities Daily Planet, TheUptake, Vita.mn and much more. His writing on LGBT issues, the religious right and social justice has won awards including Best Beat Reporting by the Online News Association, Best Series by the Minnesota chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, and an honorable mention by the Sex-Positive Journalism awards.