In contrast to the U.S. military and the personal comments made by Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Peter Pace about the (im)morality of homosexuality, the NFL is saying its employees are free to speak about their individual views. Indianapolis Colts Coach (and Super Bowl champion) Tony Dungy said Tuesday night he supports a ban in Indiana of same-sex marriages, according to an Indianapolis Star report:
“We’re not trying to downgrade anyone else,” said Dungy, coach of the Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts. “But we’re trying to promote the family – family values the Lord’s way,” Dungy said. “IFI is saying what the Lord says. You can take that and make your decision on which way you want to be.”
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league believes in free speech:
“Coach Dungy is speaking for himself and expressing his views, which he is fully entitled to do. No doubt there are people in our league that have a different view. We respect the right of employees to have and express their views and don’t regulate the political or religious views of team or league employees.”