Pressure on Anheuser-Busch to End Support for Homophobic UFC

Nevada equality and union activists recently sent a letter urging the company to end its sponsorship of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.

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Neal Broverman

October 14 2011 5:45 PM EST

November 17 2015 5:28 AM EST

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Nevada equality and union activists recently sent a letter to Anheuser-Busch, urging the company to end its sponsorship of the Ultimate Fighting Championship following repeated incidences of antigay animus from athletes and executives.

The letter was addressed to Luiz Fernando Edmond, head of Anheuser-Busch's North American operations. Signed by LGBT activist Cleve Jones, Derek Washington of the Stonewall Democratic Club of Southern Nevada, Geoconda Arguello-Kline of Culinary Workers Union, Local 226, Howard Watts III of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network of Southern Nevada, and Laura Martin of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada (UFC's parent company is based in Las Vegas), the letter said it was incongruous for Anheuser-Busch to sponsor gay pride events as well as the UFC.

The letter mentioned specific antigay incidents from players and officials, including a homophobic rant from UFC president Dana White where he dropped the "F word" 34 times. Read the full letter here.