For the first time ever, the NFL is outreaching to businesses owned by lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders for the year of 2016. Robb Fleischer, president of the Golden Gate Business Association, claims San Francisco is going to be the best place to create history for the LGBT community. The NFL tries to target small businesses owned by minorities, women, and disabled veterans for their Business Connection program; the LGBT community is thrilled to be included in their organization. The Business Connection program helps get businesses become incorporated in presentations from representatives of the NFL and the Super Bowl 50 Host Committee staff and corporate sponsors. Nathan Ballard, a spokesman for the NFL, claims these outreach programs are not exclusively beneficial to the NFL, but the entire business world. Do you believe there will be backlash against the NFL for associating with LGBT? Does this make a progressive step towards equality? Do you think more companies should corporate with the LGBT community?
I think it's really great that the NFL is doing this and trying to reach out to underrepresented groups. If there is any backlash in the Bay Area, I doubt it will do much, but there could be negative consequences from other states who are less open and accepting. This is definitely a step in the right direction for equality, especially coming from a sports organization that gets so much publicity. Hopefully more companies will follow in the NFL's footsteps.
ReplyDeleteI believe it is a positive step for equality because not many organizations openly accept LGBT. Because if huge organizations accept LGBT, the public could possibly follow their footsteps. I feel like other companies will follow the NFL's ideas because if they are successful, they will start doing the same. I agree with Valerie, there is a possibility that the other states who are less accepting will cause problems; but it can also lead to change.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Valerie and Aileen. The LGBT alliance is getting more well known to the public, but they still aren't as accepted as they should be. For an organization such as the NFL that's so popular to support LGBT, it declares an important statement: it's time LGBT be supported by all of society. Yes, there will be judgement, both good and bad, but that's life. People will judge, but that shouldn't stop anyone from making the right decisions. First African Americans were treated poorly. Then women were unjustly oppressed. Now, it's LGBT that's receiving harsh criticism. When will society learn? Everyone deserves equality, and society should do everything it can to spread that ideal.
ReplyDeleteI see the NFL doing a great thing on supporting the equality of LGBT. Although people may backlash the NFL for being associated with them, since people believe and have different morals that go against LGBT (plus the fact that some people may feel somewhat uneasy about the businesses since such organization does not usually represent itself publicly as so), this still truly does make a progressive step that other companies should follow and acknowledge, regardless of what negative consequences may arise from an act that the NFL has done. The positive only outweighs the negative in this one, in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the NFL will get positive comments for getting involved with these small businesses. I also think that this is a big step for equality. A giant company like the NFL getting involved with those who are subjected to prejudice from society is a great step in progress when it comes to progression of equality in out society. More companies should get involved with this because not only the companies, but the American economy can benefit from this as well.
ReplyDeleteI think its great that the NFL is supporting the LGBT business. I do agree with others that this is a step towards equality. For the smaller businesses to get noticed and including the LGBT community. Although I agree with Alien that there might be other states who do not agree with this action. Possible causing problems in the future but in general it is a great thing to include the LGBT community.
ReplyDeleteI think it's good that the NFL is supporting these companies and groups, but I don't think that a company should necessarily be defined by the owner's sexual orientation. Pigeon-holing companies and people into certain groups, even to sponsor them, creates artificial divisions that could be detrimental.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you're saying how companies should not be defined by the owner's sexual orientation. However, as time progresses and more companies with various owners are accepted into the business field, it will no longer be a determining factor. Similar to how stereotypes and stigmas associated with blacks went away, they will also fade as more LGBT business owners and become a part of our culture.
DeleteI believe that it is a great idea to have these people involved. Many stores will find great increases in profit and business during this time. I find it great that someone is helping small businesses. Many times small businesses are forgotten about because no one knows of them. By being involved with the Super Bowl, they will become much more well known.
ReplyDeletei think its great that the LGBT people can get involved. The NFL may get some backlash from people who still don't believe in equality, but I think they will also receieve a lot of support as the times are slowly approaching a more tolerant attitude toward LGBT people. I think its a great way to encourage more equality and use publicity for a good thing, especially after all its negative publicity with domestic violence.
ReplyDeleteLike everyone else, I believe it is a great way for the LGBT community to get involved. Despite the fact that there are many who are against this equality, I think that it is time for encouragement in order to create a peaceful environment with pure equality. Companies teaming up with the LGBT community will also create equality within those companies, which is extremely beneficial for everyone.
ReplyDeleteI definitely do not think there will be any sort of negative backlash against the NFL for encouraging business with the LGBT community. There is a strong social push for acceptance, in San Francisco especially. It is due to this push that I believe that there will be no negative backlash, and many other companies will feel more encouraged to do business with the LGBT community than they have before.
ReplyDeleteI agree that there will be no negative backlash against the NFL. It might even help the NFL. Now that a big name like the NFL is joining with the LGBT, it might encourage others to do the same. This is also another step towards an environment of pure equality.
ReplyDeleteThere should not be as much backlash from people since now people are progressively becoming more accepting. I do believe though that for true equality we should not specifically target businesses targeted by minorities, gender, or sexual orientation, but the best organizations. The sense of unity and acceptance though makes up for this.
ReplyDeleteI actually think that there might be some backlash against the NFL. There are still many homophobes in America who will stop at nothing to prevent equality for the LGBT community. However, I think that it's an amazing risk to take for the NFL, as they are a very influential corporation who could possibly make a difference regarding this topic. It is definitely a huge progressive step, but that doesn't mean that there won't be people that are unhappy.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that there should be support from companies to the LGBT community. In the times that we are living in right now, there are a lot of people who are becoming more accepting of people with different sexual preference and gender. However, there is still a large amount of people in this time where people just are closed minded about this topic, and sadly, those people are a part of customers companies have. They could support the LGBT community, but these companies risk losing a lot of customers as a result of this support, thus making them earn less money. What the NFL did was a bold risk for them, and if more companies became influenced from the NFL's form of support, we could begin to see a lot of people becoming accepting of the LGBT community.
ReplyDeleteThis is great that the NFL wants to include the LGBT. I don't agree that it would be backlash because nowadays people are more accepting of gay people. It is not unusual anymore and it has seemed to become a normal part oc our society. I feel like if the NFL shows that they support LGBT then maybe NFL fans will also become more supporting. This helps open up more awareness to LGBT and I think it is great forthe NFL to show some recognition for gays.
ReplyDeleteEven though I believe that this is a positive step towards acceptance of the LGBT community, I know that there are still many people out there who are closed minded about gay rights. Unfortunately, I do feel like there will be backlash for the NFL but I feel like it is worth it in the end. The NFL will also gain alot of respect from the LGBT community and supporters of gay rights so I think overall it will have a positive effect.
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