Brendon Ayanbadejo, a linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens, has been a supporter of the fight for marriage equality in Maryland — and a bigoted state legislator named Emmett Burns has lost his shit over it, sending a letter to the owner of the team demanding that he be punished and prevented from speaking his mind from now on.
I find it inconceivable that one of your players, Mr. Brendon Ayanbadejo would publicly endorse Same-Sex marriage, specifically as a Raven Football player. Many of my constituents and your football supporters are appalled and aghast that a member of the Ravens Football Team would step into this controversial divide and try to sway public opinion one way or the other.
Many of your fans are opposed to such a view and feel it has no place in a sport that is strictly for pride, entertainment and excitement. I believe Mr. Ayanbadejo should concentrate on football and steer clear of dividing the fan base.
I am requesting that you take the necessary action, as a National Football League Owner, to inhibit such expressions from your employees and that he be ordered to cease and desist such injurious actions. I know of no other NFL player who has done what Mr. Ayanbadejo is doing.
Well sure, he’s just upset that Ayanbadejo is “stepping into the controversy” and trying to “sway public opinion one way or the other.” And if Ayanbadejo had come out against marriage equality, I’m sure he would have demanded the same thing, right? Not a chance. The player responded on Twitter:
“The fight is not about same-sex marriage or interracial marriage or slavery or equal rights for women. The fight is for equality for all.”
Yep. And here’s the video he recorded last year:
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Reginald Selkirk
September 10, 2012 at 11:40 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Do read the response to Burns from Vikings punter Chris Kluwe.
.
(hat tip Friendly Atheist)
Randomfactor
September 10, 2012 at 11:49 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
and a bigoted state legislator named Emmett Burns has lost his shit over it,
Democrat, too. :(
dingojack
September 10, 2012 at 11:49 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
You know what else is ‘strictly for pride, entertainment and excitement’? This.
More power to Mr Ayanbadejo, and the many other Marylanders, who are speaking up for human rights.
Dingo
ArtK
September 10, 2012 at 11:49 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Kluwe’s response was fantastic. Of course, some tone-troll is going to say “he used bad words — ignore him,” but the points are all very clear and true.
matthewjernstedt
September 10, 2012 at 11:54 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Burns, sadly, is a Democrat.
eric
September 10, 2012 at 11:57 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
The Ravens management is going to officially respond with support for Ayanbadejo. Link.
nigelTheBold, Venomous Demonic Hater
September 10, 2012 at 11:57 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Reginald Selkirk, #1:
Thanks for that link. We may yet have hope for an incremental step toward equality. We might make it just in time for the implosion of the environment.
Chiroptera
September 10, 2012 at 11:59 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I can sympathize with Burns. Tebow’s nonsense is starting to irritate me, too!
Wut?
sheila
September 10, 2012 at 12:01 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Kluwe also wrote a cleaner version of his reply. It’s fantastic – weapon’s grade eloquence, and maybe even funnier. Don’t miss it!
http://blogs.twincities.com/outofbounds/2012/09/08/out-of-bounds-blog-no-8-inquisitive-kitten-pawing-at-yarn/
Chiroptera
September 10, 2012 at 12:03 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I find it inconceivable that one of your players, Mr. Brendon Ayanbadejo would publicly endorse Same-Sex marriage, specifically as a Raven Football player.
And yet it happened.
olibird
September 10, 2012 at 12:13 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I find it inconceivable that one of your players, Mr. Brendon Ayanbadejo would publicly endorse Same-Sex marriage, specifically as a Raven Football player.
And yet it happened.
I do not think that word means what he thinks it means.
Forbidden Snowflake
September 10, 2012 at 12:18 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Oh noez, someone’s being divisive!
Seriously, though, nothing like the Streisand effect to give a straightforward PSA some added value.
Ace of Sevens
September 10, 2012 at 12:21 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Ishe one of those gus who thinks celebrities exist for our entertainment and they should never do anything for themselves or their own moral sense?
slc1
September 10, 2012 at 12:27 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
According to Wikipedia, fuckface Burns is a Baptist Minister. What a surprise that he would oppose same sex marriage.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmett_Burns
imrryr
September 10, 2012 at 12:27 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
#6 eric – Glad to hear it.
And yeah, Burns is a democrat. It should also be mentioned that in Maryland three candidates are chosen from each district to serve in the House of Delegates. In Burns’ district (district 10, Western Baltimore County) there were only three candidates running (all democrats). No wonder he got elected.
footface
September 10, 2012 at 12:28 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
@4: But Burns’s letter is already tone-trolling! “You’re dividing your fan base!”
Yeah, how about if you let that be their problem, Burnsie, and not yours?
TxSkeptic
September 10, 2012 at 12:38 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I think Ayanbadejo may have a clear violation of civil rights case against Burns. If the Ravens owner on his own had requested the players refrain from expressing their opinions in a way that might alienate the fan base, it might not be advisable, but probably not illegal. However, when Burns, an elected state official, says:
It becomes an official governmental interference in the expression of free speech. His legislative body should immediately censure him and start impeachment proceedings.
Just my humble non-lawyer opinion.
Ray Ingles
September 10, 2012 at 12:39 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Kluwe officially wins the internet. We can switch back to paper, I guess. It’s all downhill from here.
fifthdentist
September 10, 2012 at 12:56 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
So I’m sure this black legislator was aghast at black football and baseball players during segregation using their voices and influence to change public opinion on the issue.
Right?
Raging Bee
September 10, 2012 at 1:03 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Apparently Burns has kinda sorta recanted and backed away from his original statements:
http://deadspin.com/5941865/thanks-to-chris-kluwe-gay+baiting-maryland-legislator-decides-nfl-players-have-a-right-to-say-what-they-think-after-all#13472964484492
zmidponk
September 10, 2012 at 1:16 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Guess Burns got burned. He backed off:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-burns-backlash-20120909,0,4310557.story
zmidponk
September 10, 2012 at 1:18 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Damn it, beaten to it.
Modusoperandi
September 10, 2012 at 2:08 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
imrryr “And yeah, Burns is a democrat.”
Not after the next election.
“It should also be mentioned that in Maryland three candidates are chosen from each district to serve in the House of Delegates.”
And each district candidate selects three candidates from each block to serve in the Block of Delegates. An each block candidate selects three candidates from each apartment to serve in the Apartment of Delegates. An each apartment candidate selects three candidates from each room to serve in the Room of Delegates.
What I’m saying is, in Maryland everyone works for the government.
cjcolucci
September 10, 2012 at 2:13 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Pissing off a Baltimore Ravens linebacker is pretty close to the definition of stupid.
imrryr
September 10, 2012 at 2:22 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Oh, Modus, you handsome devil, you’re always so optimistic. :)
Chuck
September 10, 2012 at 4:30 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Now I have to go learn to play an instrument so I can form a band and name it “Lustful Cockmonster”.
Modusoperandi
September 10, 2012 at 5:10 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
imrryr “Oh, Modus, you handsome devil, you’re always so optimistic. :)”
Well, my outlook is pretty rosey. People say I light up a room with my smile.
Tony •King of the Hellmouth•
September 10, 2012 at 7:19 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
The cleaner version for tone trolls has some awesomeness too:
Personally I don’t think much of Burns backing off from his statements. Until he accepts *why* he was wrong and adjusts accordingly, he’s still a bigot.
tbp1
September 10, 2012 at 11:15 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I must confess that from time to time I have succumbed to thinking of football players as dumb jocks, but no more. Not only are Ayanbadejo and Kluwe on the right side, they are eloquent, thoughtful, courageous, and in Kluwe’s case possessed of a razor-sharp wit to boot. I wouldn’t want him mad at me. Not only could he beat the crap put of me, he could best me in a battle of wits, too. It’s so not fair.
pilch62
September 10, 2012 at 11:33 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Burns’ letter, on legislative (i.e., official, public) stationary is at the very least an ethics violation, and has been referred to the Maryland legislature’s ethics committee.
What I just for the life of me don’t understand: how could Burns think he could legitimately attempt to intimidate an employer into depriving one of said employer’s employees of a First Amendment right? Did he learn nothing from the civil rights movement he lived thru in Mississippi, where he was born and raised??? Just mind-boggling . . .
Cue Santayana . . .
Childermass
September 11, 2012 at 9:10 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
This incident actually has a potential be-scared element: A legislator has contacted a person’s employer in an attempt to shut him up.
This was a dumb ass move here because NFL players are not nearly as replaceable most workers are. But say he did it to someone with a more ordinary job but who was effective in local politics. Most people really could be replaced — there certainly plenty of people willing to replace them.
We need rules that say that legislators may not use their position to threaten people in anyway including their employment. The law should also make it clear you can’t fire people for what they do outside of work and outside of company time (with maybe an exception for spokesmen, political jobs, and religious jobs).
democommie
September 11, 2012 at 11:18 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I think Burns should just go and ‘front Mr. Mr Ayanbadejo. I’m sure that will work out to someone’s satisfaction (not likely Mr. Burns’).
konrad_arflane
September 11, 2012 at 2:30 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Kluwe is a punter. He would probably *kick* the crap out of you, not beat it.
Football is totally not gay… Part 3 | riffingreligion
September 10, 2012 at 2:19 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
[...] 9/10/12: I have learned from some commenters over at Ed Brayton’s blog that this dingus Burns is also a Democrat. A Democrat! What the hell is wrong with him? Has the [...]