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Longtime Seattle Seahawks broadcast team member
Dori Monson wanted to voice a political criticism of Washington
Gov. Jay Inslee.
However, the tweet he posted was viewed as transphobic, and he
was suspended by the team and by the company that owns radio
station KIRO-FM, where Monson also hosts a daily political
program.
During a debate with Republican gubernatorial challenger Loren
Culp on Wednesday, Inslee, a Democrat, referred to Washington as
a "science-oriented" state.
Monson took issue with the assertion, tweeting that he "could go
to Olympia tomorrow and change my birth (certificate) to say I
was a girl on 10/2/61." The tweet, which has since been deleted,
concluded with the line, "HAHAHAHA"
Monson, who has been with the Seahawks' broadcast team since
2002, has worked on the pregame, halftime and postgame shows,
and he also has done a weekly radio show with coach Pete
Carroll.
The broadcaster, a Seattle native, did not appear at the studio
Friday to tape the show with Carroll or for his talk-radio
program.
Calling it a case of being taken out of context, Monson said the
tweet was in no way meant to be transphobic. Instead, he meant
to criticize Inslee.
As a libertarian, Monson said he "couldn't care less" whether
anyone wants to change genders, and he called the attacks on him
another element of the current "cancel culture."
"They're saying you're laughing at transgender people," Monson
said, according to The Athletic. "No, I'm laughing at Jay Inslee
saying we are a science-based state. But I hurt a couple people
I care about deeply. I personally called them ... (and) said I'm
sorry."
Monson later added: "If you were hurt by that, I'm sorry. Not
where I was going, not my intent."
--Field Level Media
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