The Washington Post has an insightful article about why the WNBA’s Washington Mystics don’t have a KissCam that so many NBA and other WNBA teams have implemented. The kiss cams generally show two people sitting next to each other and the crowd urges them to kiss. The reason the Mystics don’t do it: They don’t want to show lesbians kissing.
“We got a lot of kids here,” Sheila Johnson, the Mystics’ managing partner, said when asked last week at a game. “We just don’t find it appropriate.”
The article goes at length to show what they don’t find appropriate is people of the same-sex kissing, talking to fans, management and players. One of the Mystics’ players predictably compares being gay to abortion:
“We wouldn’t broadcast on our Jumbotron about abortion issues because of the religious and political conflicts it would cause,” said Lindsey Harding, the team’s point guard. “It’s a similar, sensitive subject. We don’t want to put anything out there to turn down certain fans.”
Of course, the HRC spokesperson interviewed for the article put it perfectly: HRC’s support can be bought and sold with some cash and an appearance at one of their dinners:
As Cathy Nelson, the Human Rights Campaign’s vice president, said in a phone interview, “Sheila and the Mystics have been nothing but supportive in our mind, showing up at all our dinners, events, even bringing the whole team once.”
The Mystics are the latest in a growing number of pro sports teams with kissing problems. In the past there have been issues with the New York Liberty, Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Dodgers, among others.
You can contact the Washington Mystics or email Community Relations Director Nicole Boden directly at nboden@washmystics.com.
Hat tip to Ben Finzel at Fleishman-Hillard
on Jul 28th, 2009 at 10:10 AM
For another, more caustic perspective on this issue, see this posting from the Washington City Paper’s Sexist blog by Amanda Hess.
http://tinyurl.com/m4n3xh
on Jul 28th, 2009 at 11:18 AM
Thats BS!!!!!!!! WTF do I have to sit and watch a mana and woman kiss?? To me thats disgusting. If you dont want your kids to see what goes on at the WNBA games, take em to see the damn Wizards!!!!!!!!
on Jul 28th, 2009 at 11:59 AM
I’m sorry I must have travelled back in time – is this the 1800’s? Are you freakin kidding me?!?! Kissing is now inappropriate? Wow – I sure hope the Mystics don’t have any cheerleaders in sports bras and short mini-skirts… why won’t someone please think of the children.
on Jul 28th, 2009 at 12:07 PM
the HRC is worthless, nothing but a bunch of cocktail hour kiss-asses!
on Jul 28th, 2009 at 2:15 PM
HRC = Haters of Real Change. And they are self hating queers too.
on Jul 28th, 2009 at 2:39 PM
Glad I’m not the only one who sees that the HRC is a complete fraud of an organization. I find it ridiculous. If ANYTHING…its a teachable moment for parents to tell their kids that love doesn’t necessarily mean a man and a woman, but that love can be between 2 men or 2 women. If you don’t agree with it and tell your child its wrong…whatever…they will be telling them that without the kisscam ANYWAY!!! Foolishness reigns yet again.
on Jul 28th, 2009 at 4:10 PM
I live in SF, and a popular one-liner here is: “who needs the WNBA when you can go to Oakland and see black lesbians for free?” (Yes, I know the league has white players too.)
Seriously, the WNBA is a sad sad joke in that regard. You’re running a women’s basketball league and you’re pretending there are no lesbians, either on the court or in the stands? Jeezus.
on Jul 30th, 2009 at 8:10 AM
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