Quite sure regardless of race that this would've have been done anyways. I suspect if people want to look for certain things they can find something...
It was used yrs before it represented a gay person. It wasn't an issue using it throughout the 60s then the 70s came and .....well, you know the rest...
Regarding McGriff....not sure if his short tenure here warrants his name up on the Level Of Excellance. BUT his "real" career start was with Toronto...