NFL Player Stands 'on God's Word'

But in his measured apology, sent to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, White did not disavow the comments he made about Gays during his speech. Without directly mentioning homosexuality, White stated in the apology that in discussing the nation's need to "strive to renew the moral indiscretions that threaten to corrupt our society," he did not intend "to personally hurt anyone" and apologized for having done so.

"But I do not apologize for standing on God's word when it comes to sin in my life and others. My attitude is to hate the sin and love the sinner," stated White.

"We are deeply disappointed and angry that Mr. White has failed to grasp that his attack against Gay people was wrong," responded Human Rights Campaign communications director David Smith. HRC, along with the National Black Lesbian and Gay Leadership Forum and the National Latino/a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Organization, sent letters to the NFL and Campbell's Soup Co. asking both organizations to censure White for his remarks and asking Campbell's to stop using White as a spokesperson. Smith said neither organization has responded to those letters.

Both the NFL and the Green Bay Packers (for which White has played since 1993) declined to comment on White's speech. Similarly, none of the companies for which White does product endorsements have responded to his speech publicly. White did not present himself as a representative of any organization during his speech, but rather said he was speaking as an ordained minister.

A spokesperson for CBS Sports, which reportedly auditioned White for a broadcasting position recently, responded to questions about the impact of White's remarks on their desire to hire him by noting that the network will not employ anyone who violates their "hard and fast policy against bias at all times."

In addition to criticism for his comments about homosexuality, White also drew fire for a section of the speech in which he listed a number of racial groups and noted the "gifts" with which the members of those groups are "blessed." In doing so, he said that Latinos are gifted in "family structure" because they can "put 20 to 30 people in one home" and characterized white people as knowing "how to tap into money."

In his April 2 apology, White asserted that critics of his speech have "failed to see the forest for the trees." White explained that his "main message" in delineating the traits which he believes people belonging to certain racial groups display was to highlight the diversity of American society and the strength that such diversity brings.

"I must admit that my examples may have been somewhat clumsy and inappropriate on how races differ," he stated, "but my intent was not to demean anyone."

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