At New Jersey's Monmouth University a group of students attending a basketball game are under investigation for harassing one of the players using pictures taken from his Grindr account on Saturday, March 7.
During the game, during which Monmouth ended up losing 86-72 to Sienna, a group of Monmouth students unfurled a sign that read "Stick to GRINDR." At the same time, many other students held up pictures of one of the Sienna players taken from his Grindr account.
Monmouth's President, Patrick Leahy, quickly condemned the student's actions in a statement.
A message to the Monmouth University community yesterday. https://t.co/gqntsrffUl— Patrick F. Leahy (@Patrick F. Leahy)1583685766.0
The incident was also decried on Twitter.
@PatrickFLeahy Expel them. Unacceptable in 2020— Matt Casey (@Matt Casey)1583770418.0
@usatodaysports Monmouth is in trouble. How do you rationalize that in today's world. Where is their heart and brai… https://t.co/dQy4jaIZMB— Deesix1 (@Deesix1)1583715714.0
@PatrickFLeahy This is awful I couldn't imagine been a teen in the closet and being outed this way. Those students should be expelled— Sean Guerrero (@Sean Guerrero)1583771486.0
Two nights earlier, Monmouth basketball held a "Gay Pride Night" organized by Caroline Mattise, the LGBTQ captain of the Monmouth tennis team.
@tlrd “I’m not talented enough to play at this level but I’m so delusionally obsessed that I think I have the right… https://t.co/0sVK63HaxN— vanc (@vanc)1583773730.0
@PatrickFLeahy It wasn’t just “highly offensive.” It was homophobic, discriminatory, and qualifies as harassment.— Eric Rosswood (@Eric Rosswood)1583772761.0
@PatrickFLeahy Oh no! That is atrocious. Real Hawks never fly that low.— Samantha Bahna (Marquez-Zuniga) (@Samantha Bahna (Marquez-Zuniga))1583690748.0
Leahy has also called for an investigation into the students.
This is exceptionally gross. Don't want to hear any "why do sports teams have pride nights" after this. I hope the… https://t.co/vQfF9Glrk7— Ari Cohn (@Ari Cohn)1583801035.0
Those who wonder why it’s important to celebrate Pride nights in sports, here is a prime example. Why can’t we ju… https://t.co/WcXLK1aLYk— Ben Pereira (@Ben Pereira)1583695510.0
@USATODAY Ridiculous and they should all face harsh consequences. Its 2020 there's no need for this type of homophobic hate— Samuel Badders (@Samuel Badders)1583777955.0
Hopefully people will learn from the swift backlash against these students and realize attacking someone over their sexuality is never funny.