Gay Rights Ally Chris Kluwe and Minnesota Vikings have reached a Deal

Chris Kluwe and the Minnesota Vikings reached a deal.

A while ago, Chris was suing the team over his release. But they worked something out, now Chris will drop the lawsuit.

Here's more:

No financial terms of the settlement were available because the details have yet to be finalized.

Kluwe argued that his release was based on his support for gay marriage and that special teams coordinator Mike Priefer had directed disparaging remarks toward him. The Vikings contended that Kluwe’s release was based solely on his performance.

“The parties intend to hold a joint press conference early next week to make public the terms of a settlement arrived at late last night,” Halunen told USA Today.

Priefer received a three-game suspension, which will begin when the regular season opens, and he will donate $100,000 to gay rights charitable and educational organizations. The ban could be reduced to two games upon completion of anti-harassment, diversity and sexual-orientation sensitivity training.

Cool

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This Week discuss Gays in the NFL

NFL's Jonathan Vilma clarifies his Statement about Gay Football Players

On AC360, New Orleans Saints Jonathan Vilma walked back his statements he made about showering with a gay teammate. Now, he is fine with it.

Chris Kluwe joins in as well.

Interesting Quote: Chris Kluwe

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), chief benefactor of these big money sponsors, has determined that any athlete speaking out in “accredited areas” against the human rights violations occurring in Russia right now will be found in violation of the Olympic Charter, banned from the games, and stripped of any medals. Corporate sponsorships, the pot of gold at the end of the Olympic rainbow, will disappear. A lifetime spent preparing, training, hour after agonizing hour, will have been for naught if an athlete dares to make a political statement at the wrong time about political events happening in a politicized Olympics; politicized in no small part by the IOC refusing to uphold their own charter when it applies to themselves. How can the IOC get away with this blatant disregard of their own rules? Easy. The IOC has what Olympic athletes want. Money. Power. Fame.

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Chris Kluwe discusses Gay Activism and Tim Tebow - WATCH

Chris Kluwe talks to Anderson Cooper on AC360 - VIDEO

Minnesota Vikings recruit Former Chief Justice Magnuson and U.S. D.O.J. Attorney Madel to Review Chris Kluwe's Claims

It's about to get jazzy up in here.

The Minnesota Vikings have recruited Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi, L.L.P. to investigate Chris Kluwe's allegations. Former Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court Eric Magnuson and former U.S. Department of Justice Trial Attorney Chris Madel will lead the investigation.

Here's more from the press release

“It is extremely important for the Vikings organization to react immediately and comprehensively with an independent review of these allegations,” said Vikings Owner/President Mark Wilf. 

Magnuson, who is currently a partner at Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi, L.L.P. and teaches at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, is highly-regarded in Minnesota and throughout the country. He has more than 35 years of practice, including over two years (2008-10) as the Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Madel is the Chair of Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi, L.L.P.’s Government and Internal Investigations Group, and has led numerous high-profile investigations, including the extensively publicized internal investigation of the Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix, Arizona. Madel has also been selected as the Minnesota Lawyer’s “Attorney of the Year” for 2011, 2012, and 2013, and is the first attorney to win the award for three consecutive years.

“This is a highly sensitive matter that we as an organization will address with integrity,” said Vikings Vice President of Legal Affairs and Chief Administrative Officer Kevin Warren. “Eric and Chris have stellar reputations in both the local and national legal community. They have handled numerous cases involving a wide range of issues, and we are confident they will move swiftly and fairly in completing this investigation.”

Robins, Kaplan’s investigation has already begun and will include interviews with current and former members of the Vikings organization.

Brendon Ayanbadejo supports Chris Kluwe's Claims - VIDEO

Interesting Quote: Minnesota Vikings Coach Mike Priefer (a.k.a. The Bigot)

“I vehemently deny today’s allegations made by Chris Kluwe. I want to be clear that I do not tolerate discrimination of any type and am respectful of all individuals. I personally have gay family members who I love and support just as I do any family member. The primary reason I entered coaching was to affect people in a positive way. As a coach, I have always created an accepting environment for my players, including Chris, and have looked to support them both on and off the field. The comments today have not only attacked my character and insulted my professionalism, but they have also impacted my family. While my career focus is to be a great professional football coach, my number one priority has always been to be a protective husband and father to my wife and children. I will continue to work hard for the Minnesota Vikings, the Wilf family and all of our loyal fans.”

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To know more about Mike, check out Chris' article, here. He supposedly said that we will burn in Hell and "We should round up all the gays, send them to an island, and then nuke it until it glows."

Interesting Quote: Chris Kluwe

However, it's clear to me that no matter how much I want to prove I can play, I will no longer punt in the NFL, especially now that I've written this account. Whether it's my age, my minimum veteran salary, my habit of speaking my mind, or (most likely) a combination of all three, my time as a football player is done. Punters are always replaceable, at least in the minds of those in charge, and I realize that in advocating noisily for social change I only made it easier for them to justify not having me around. So it goes.

Some will ask if the NFL has a problem with institutionalized homophobia. I don't think it does. I think there are homophobic people in the NFL, in all positions, but that's true for society as well, and those people eventually get replaced. All we can do is try to expose their behavior when we see it and call them to account for their actions.

Great piece from Chris, check it out 

Oh Snap, his former team responded

Chris Kluwe's going to the Oakland Raiders

Ten days after he was released from the Minnesota Vikings, Chris Kluwe has a new gig with the Oakland Raiders. He will have an one-year contact with the team. According to reports Chris is very happy with the move.

We are happy for him.

Interesting Quote: Chris Kluwe

Chris on being an advocate for marriage equality.

“To me it’s something that, if I’m going to remembered for something, I’d rather be remembered for something that helps people’s lives, that keeps children from wanting to kill themselves as opposed to playing football,” he said. “As much as I love playing football, and I really do enjoy playing football, there are serious societal issues that plague our civilization. And there are things that we need to address. And if no one ever speaks out, nothing ever gets changed.”

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Minnesota Vikings have cut Awesome Ally Chris Kluwe

General Manager Rick Spielman informed Chris Kluwe that he has been cut from the team. Chris was already aware that the move would happen so he wasn't surprised.

He tweeted:

So long, Minnesota, and thanks for all the fish!

— Chris Kluwe (@ChrisWarcraft) May 6, 2013

And thank you everyone for your support. Remember, one label does not define who you are as a person :)

— Chris Kluwe (@ChrisWarcraft) May 6, 2013

I hope Chris continues his support and push for equality to all. Good luck, Chris and thank you

NOM tries to come for Chris Kluwe - VIDEO

Football Player Chris Kluwe: "Not What America Stands For"

Interesting Quote: Chris Kluwe

Dear Archbishop Nienstedt and Pope Benedict XVI,

“Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

“But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”

I read your views on gay marriage in the Star Tribune, Archbishop Nienstedt, and it fills me with great sadness and regret that a steward of the Catholic Church on this Earth feels the need to take a stance of oppression, intolerance, and fear. Surely, is this not what Jesus spoke of when he said, “Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by his fruit”?

How can we reconcile our version of the Catholic Church as salvation to the sick, the needy, the poor, when we must also bear witness to the Catholic Church as oppressor, tormentor, and executioner? Where, in all of Jesus’ teachings, did he ever say to deny the humanity of other human beings; where did the Son of God proclaim that mortal Man knew God’s will; where, pray tell, did Jesus ever say to harden your heart against those who may not be exactly the same as you?

Read the rest here

Interesting Quote: Chris Kluwe

In a lot of ways, being a geek (gaming and Sci-Fi books) shaped his view of the world:

“It’s definitely influenced the way I think. You look at all the sci-fi utopias, and, pretty much in every single one, the basic underlying philosophy is that people treat each other the way they want to be treated and there’s freedom to be who you are. What brings these utopias crashing down is the fact that one group tries to take control of another, and I think that’s very applicable to any sort of human or civil rights campaign.”

Check out the article and hot pics of Chris here

Another Football Player takes a Stand for Gay Rights

Earlier, I blogged about the Maryland lawmaker Emmett C. Burns trying to silence football player, Brendon Ayanbadejo over gay marriage. Now, another football player has joined in the mix.

Chris Kluwe from the Minnesota Vikings, wrote a letter striking down Emmett's foolishness while supporting gay rights.

In the letter, he said: (read the whole thing here)

I can assure you that gay people getting married will have zero effect on your life. They won't come into your house and steal your children. They won't magically turn you into a lustful cockmonster. They won't even overthrow the government in an orgy of hedonistic debauchery because all of a sudden they have the same legal rights as the other 90 percent of our population—rights like Social Security benefits, child care tax credits, Family and Medical Leave to take care of loved ones, and COBRA healthcare for spouses and children. You know what having these rights will make gays? Full-fledged American citizens just like everyone else, with the freedom to pursue happiness and all that entails. Do the civil-rights struggles of the past 200 years mean absolutely nothing to you?

Chris also went on The Ed Show to talk more about the issue

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I think this is wonderful. We are seeing football players, who are known to be 'special' take a stand for gay rights. Let's keep this going!