Anheuser-Busch Urged to Drop Sponsorship of Homophobic 'Ultimate Fighting Championship' (UFC)

Longtime gay activist Cleve Jones, Stonewall Democratic Club of Southern Nevada Chair Derek Washington, Culinary Workers Union President Geoconda Arguello-Kline,  Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network of Southern Nevada Co-Chair Howard Watts III, and Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada activist Laura Martin have written a letter to Anheuser-Busch urging them to drop sponsorship of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) over the organization's failure to address homophobic behavior by its leaders and athletes.

They write, in part:

"Bud Light has been a major sponsor of recent gay pride celebrations in Houston, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco, among other cities, as well as last year’s Gay Days celebration in Orlando, Fla.  However, we believe it is hypocritical of Anheuser-Busch to advertise Bud Light during gay pride events that celebrate diversity and tolerance, while sponsoring a professional sports organization that tolerates hateful language and anti-gay bigotry."

They also detail a long list of complaints regarding anti-gay behavior against the UFC.

Read their full letter, AFTER THE JUMP...

Much of the anti-gay behavior detailed in the letter can be found here. The activists have also started a petitiion urging FOX to drop the UFC.

Watch: UFC Fighter Michael Bisping Calls Opponent 'Faggot' in Promo

Several of you have emailed about a promotional video for a UFC event in Sydney over the weekend in which UFC fighter Michael Bisping is seen referring to his his opponent as a "faggot M-f-er."

Our tipster Wayne writes that if Bisping's comment had been racially-oriented he would have been fired immediately: "As a straight man and as a fan of your site, I find it utterly reprehensible that such a scumbag like Michael Bisping would be able to get away with this. You may not know who Michael Bisping is, and you may not be fans of mixed martial arts and the UFC, but their fans are legion. I hope you draw attention to this pathetic man."

Outsports took note of the incident as well, noting that "For good measure, after delivering an illegal knee to Rivera in their fight he won, Bisping then spit in Rivera’s corner."

MMA Fighting says the organization needs to shut down homophobic slurs like Bisping's.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Ultimate Fighting President Dana White, on whose blog the promo video appeared, has been called on in the past by GLAAD to apologize for homophobic slurs.

Ultimate Fighting President Dana White Apologizes for Anti-Gay Slur

Dana White, President of ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was called on to apologize by GLAAD after posting a vlog directed at mixed martial arts reporter Loretta Hunt which contained misogynistic and anti-gay slurs.

White was angry at Hunt for a story she wrote reporting on new restrictions on backstage credentials at the UFC fights.

GLAAD wrote: "In the video, White rants, “And here’s a quote from a guy who wanted to remain anonymous because of fear of repercussions. Shut the f**k up. Any f**king guy who won’t put his name on it. First of all, whoever gave you that quote is a pu**y and a f**king f**got and a f**king liar and everything else.”  Although White doesn’t state the name of the article, based on the author’s name and the content he most likely was referring to this article on the sherdog website. White’s remarks cross a line - it’s unacceptable for an industry professional at his level to trade in these kinds of defamatory, anti-gay slurs.  White knows the impact of words.  Early in the video, he instructs his fighters not to curse on television.  And yet, later in the video he goes on to do exactly that.  He is also aware of the impact that he has.  The UFC’s - and White’s - primary audience is 18 - 34 year old men, and based on his own remarks about how editors can tell a story so the audience cares, he understands just how influential the words that he chooses can be for his audience."

Said White in an apology posted today: "As far as the gay and lesbian community, my comments were not directed toward them. I have no problem with the gay or lesbian community. I'm actually a supporter of many of their issues. The last thing that I would ever want anybody to think about me or think is cool is to go out and attack somebody because of their sexual orientation. That was not my intention. That's not the way I said it and I apologize for anybody that I've offended or hurt."

Watch White's rant, and the apology he posted today, AFTER THE JUMP...