A white male law student, Jonathan Bresser, has filed a lawsuit against the Chicago Bears for alleged intentional race and sex discrimination after being rejected for a fellowship aimed at minorities and women. Bresser claims he met all requirements for the team’s ‘legal diversity scholar’ position but was excluded due to being a white man, which he argues violates the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The lawsuit seeks compensation for emotional distress, lost wages, and legal fees, as well as a change in the Bears’ recruitment policy.
The lawsuit comes amidst a growing backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in professional sports, with organizations like America First Legal challenging initiatives like the NFL’s ‘Rooney Rule.’ Critics of such programs argue that they can lead to discrimination against white, straight men, while advocates believe they are necessary to increase diversity and representation in various fields, including sports.
Chris Deubert, a lawyer following the case, notes that while the Bears’ fellowship program may have been well-intentioned, the requirement for applicants to be a person of color or female violates anti-discrimination laws. He suggests that the club scrap race and sex as qualifications and instead focus on applicants’ experiences with adversity. The Bears, however, have not commented on the lawsuit but emphasize their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion on their website.
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