CNY Pride president speaks out about homophobic death threats against Breanna Stewart and her wife

SYRACUSE, NY (WSYR-TV) – The New York Liberty are preparing for Game 3 of the WNBA Finals tonight, October 16th. Former C-NS superstar Breanna Stewart is aiming for her third championship. But Stewart and her wife have an argument off the field.

Breanna Stewart and her wife Marta Xargay received homophobic threats after Game 1 of the WNBA Finals

Less than 24 hours after Stewart missed a game-winning layup in overtime of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, her wife received an email containing homophobic death threats.

“It is unacceptable to bring it into our sport and into the world,” Stewart said.

The CNY Pride president agreed with the former C-NS star.

“Can you imagine sitting behind a computer at a sports game and saying, 'I want you dead or I'm going to kill you because you're a lesbian,'” President Jimmy Monto said.

While Monto ran for and served on the Syracuse Common Council, he also received hateful messages.

“People like to hide behind their computer or behind their phone and say things that they might not say to you or me in person,” he said. “So, yeah, I know what it's like to have that hate thrown at me.”

He says situations like this don't just happen to athletes and celebrities.

“This happens to everyday people every day,” Monto said. “I'm happy when it comes to spotlighting a famous person and I hope they continue to speak out.”

The WNBA has condemned the threats at a time when the league is growing in popularity.

“We love that people are engaged in our sport, but not to the point where there are threats, harassment or homophonic comments,” Stewart said.

The WNBA is working with league and team security and law enforcement to ensure appropriate security measures are in place.

“Kudos to her for coming out and saying this is happening to me,” Monto said. “The vulnerability that opens up and tells me: Here is my life, this is what I am experiencing, this is wrong.” We thank her for that, of course.”

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