June 2, 2013
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - Please find below a formal statement from Athlete Ally, a leading organization working to end homophobia, transphobia, and anti-LGBT bullying in sports. These comments are a response to the recent statements made by Indiana Pacers Center Roy Hibbert, where Hibbert used the term "no homo" to describe his close coverage of LeBron James in game 6 of the NBA's Eastern Conference Finals.
"We are disappointed by Hibbert's comments, as that kind of language is disrespectful, has no place in sports and is antithetical to the NBA's policies. As an official partner of the NBA and NBPA, Athlete Ally works closely with the league on delivering trainings and workshops to educate players about LGBT inclusion and respect. The league is undoubtedly a leader in this area, and Roy's statement of apology clearly recognizes the harms of his comments. We are confident that NBA will do its part to rectify the issue to the extent it can, comprehensively educate Hibbert, who seems genuinely apologetic, and make sure that these kinds of comments are soon a thing of the past."
Brendon Ayanbadejo added: "Hibbert's comments show his lack of awareness on this issue. He often talks about love and seems to be a positive and caring person. I think he has potential to be an ally and I hope he takes this moment and learns from it."
Brian Ellner, a leading LGBT advocate and Athlete Ally Board Member said, "Far too many young people look up to our sports stars, especially when on a stage as big as the playoffs. We can't emphasize enough the need for education, because instances like this are harmful to youth. At the same time, we applaud the NBA's swift action and strong rebuke on this."
Roy Hibbert issued an apology this morning saying the following:
"I am apologizing for insensitive remarks made during the postgame press conference after our victory over Miami Saturday night. They were disrespectful and offensive and not a reflection of my personal views. I used a slang term that is not appropriate in any setting, private or public, and the language I used definitely has no place in a public forum, especially over live television. I apologize to those who I have offended, to our fans and to the Pacers’ organization. I sincerely have deep regret over my choice of words last night."
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