Ohio State pulls mascot Brutus Buckeye from LGBT Pride event, citing safety concerns

Brutus Buckeye won’t be making history after all.

Citing safety concerns following the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., on Sunday morning, the Ohio State spirit team pulled the university’s mascot from this weekend’s LGBT Pride parade and festival in Columbus.

Brutus was going to appear alongside the Columbus Ohio Gay Lesbian Ally Hockey Assn., which said he would have been the first Big Ten and Division I mascot to take part in a gay pride parade.

The association announced Brutus’ withdrawal from the event Wednesday on Facebook.

“While we have gone to great lengths to provide extra uniformed security for our contingent and even uniformed escorts for all of our special guests, we were given a short two sentence email of withdraw this morning.

“In the end, the decision is left to those in charge of the Brutus mascot and the mascot themselves. We in no way [wish] to downplay or not acknowledge their concerns. We do not blame them or wish to embarrass them as we know they are just as human as we are, and for some people outside of the GLBT community this tragedy may make things even more confusing.”

Karla Rothan, executive director of Stonewall Columbus, which is organizing the event, said Ohio State asked for armed security for Brutus and withdrew the mascot after only plainclothes officers, rather than uniformed police, were offered.

A school representative said in a statement:

“The Ohio State University unequivocally supports diversity and inclusive excellence. As has been the case for years, the university will take part in the Columbus Pride Festival and Parade, including a campus-wide group of faculty, staff, students and senior officials led by President Michael Drake. The spirit program made the difficult decision to withdraw Brutus due to expressed safety concerns. Ohio State looks forward to participating throughout the events.”

Forty-nine people died and at least 53 were injured after Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old U.S. citizen, opened fire and took hostages inside the Pulse nightclub last weekend.

Columbus police have said that more uniformed and undercover officers will be assigned to this year’s pride parade and festival. Event organizers are working with police and Homeland Security officials and also plan to undertake additional safety measures themselves.

Mascots from other local teams are still expected to participate in the event.

“We can’t be afraid,” said the gay and lesbian hockey association’s president, Douglass Massey, according to WSYX/WTTE. “We have be strong. We have to not let that tragedy ruin something, and we have to fight more than ever”