Inclusion Panel

The Hate Is Wrong Super Bowl Inclusion Panel is about bringing together a passionate group of people to discuss the issue of inclusion in sports. We have been fortunate to have some of the highest-profile names in sports and society.  Past panelists have included Billy Bean (MLB), Greg Louganis (Olympian), Katie Sowers (NFL), Bonnie Thurston (WNBA), Tony Richardson (NFL), Zion Armstrong (Adidas), and many more.

The future is uncertain but if we are to change that, we need to come together with love, respect, unity, hope, and understanding. We need to talk about the hard things to bring each and everyone’s attention, to heal, and to come up with solutions. Join us as we bring together an amazing panel from across the country to talk about inclusion, diversity, homophobia, transphobia, and much more.  We hope you join in the conversation about increasing inclusion and diversity and ending hate in any form.

NOTE: We took 2022 and 2023 off. The Hate Is Wrong Inclusion Panel plans to return to Las Vegas in 2024 for the Super Bowl LVIII week. Signup to our email list to learn more.

Special thanks to the Minnesota Vikings and NFL Foundation for your continued support and sponsorship of the Inclusion Panel.

2021 SUPER BOWL INCLUSION PANEL VIDEO REPLAY

Panelists:

1. Billy Bean, MLB Vice President and Ambassador for Inclusion.
2. Anne Doepner – Director of Inclusion for the Minnesota Vikings.
3. Tony Richardson, NFL Legends Community.
4. Andrea Jenkins, the First openly trans woman elected and Minneapolis City Council VP.
5. Carley Knox, Minnesota Lynx (WNBA) Vice President.
6. Bonnie Thurston, WNBA’s player programs.
7. Barbara Roberts, former and first woman Governor of Oregon.
8. Esera Tuaolo – Former NFL player and Executive Director of Hate is Wrong

2019 SUPER BOWL INCLUSION PANEL VIDEO REPLAY

Panelists:

1. Zion Armstrong, President of Adidas North America
2. Greg Louganis, Olympic gold medalist
3. Esera Tuaolo. NFL player
4. Scott Pioli, Atlanta Falcons Assistant General Manager
5. Karin Nelson. Minnesota Vikings Vice-President
6. Katie Sowers, San Francisco 49ers assistant coach
7. Peter King. NBC Sports writer and commentator

Hate Is Wrong Has 3 Objectives

1. We seek to eliminate the above explicit and implicit bias by bringing the NFL and the LGBT communities closer together. These events support the idea that inclusion comes from changing the whole NFL environment, not just relying on gay or bisexual players to do all the work.
   
2. The party will bring together people of all identities—coaches, players, team owners, fans, and the like of all sexualities and genders—to publicly show support for inclusion. As the party grows in size and popularity, the change in and around the NFL and the sports world will, too.
   
3. We seek to cultivate a hate-free zone on which LGBT athletes can rely, whether closeted or open with their sexuality. Players will have a whole organization and many readily identifiable allies for support.

Money raised through the party is donated to diversity centers and anti-bullying organizations. The Super Bowl Inclusion Party, then, is a traveling campaign of fundraising inclusion, moving yearly to each city hosting the Super Bowl and raising for inclusion-based organizations within that city much-needed financial and networking support. But due to extraordinary circumstances, we will be going virtual this year.

Hate Is Wrong, the owner and producer of the Super Bowl Inclusion Party, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose purpose is to foster diversity in sports and anti-bullying among youth. It achieves this purpose by delivering inclusion-based education around the country, including its Super Bowl Inclusion Panel, and by throwing the Super Bowl Inclusion Party.