Dabo Swinney Set To Appear At Right-Wing, Anti-Gay Group Fundraiser
By Ty Duffy
Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney is scheduled to appear at a fundraiser for the Palmetto Family Council, a religious right advocacy group that opposes gay marriage. This has incited a backlash. GLAAD, among others, has called for him to bow out of the fundraiser.
Swinney is a devout Christian. He’s never hidden that. It’s worth noting he’s also the coach who, when questioned about Michael Sam, pointed out he played with gay players at Alabama, would be foolish to think he’d never coached any at Clemson and it was “never an issue, never a problem.” Swinney is entitled to his personal beliefs, whatever they may be, provided he’s not discriminating. It’s for the best that college football coaches tend not to weigh in on great societal debates.
The issue at hand is whether Swinney should appear at the Palmetto Family Council fundraiser. He can donate as a private individual, but using his likeness to raise money is a public activity. He’s the most high-profile representative of Clemson, a public university. Him fundraising can be construed as offering Clemson’s imprimatur for an organization’s activities and beliefs. It’s up to Clemson to decide whether that’s appropriate with its mission and worth the backlash.
Dabo has the right to religious views. He also accepted impingements on absolute rights as a condition of public employment.
[Getty]