From Larry Brown Sports:
Baltimore Ravens linebacker/special teams ace Brendon Ayanbadejo already has his plans prepared for Super Bowl week. No, he’s not going to be visiting the finest restaurants and nightclubs in New Orleans. Ayanbadejo is planning to use the media blitz at the Super Bowl as an opportunity to express his views on gay rights and anti-bullying.
Ayanbadejo is biracial and grew up in a liberal environment where discrimination was frowned upon. His stepfather was a resident director for an LGBT dorm at the University of California at Santa Cruz. Ayanbadejo and his family lived in the dorm, which helped him develop passionate feelings for gay rights.
Earlier this season, Ayanbadejo was at the center of a controversy that developed when a Maryland politician wrote a letter to the Ravens telling them to silence the linebacker from speaking out. Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe jumped in and wrote a scathing letter toward the politician admonishing him for discouraging a citizen from sharing their views.
Ayanbadejo remains passionate about gay rights and anti-bullying. In fact, he began working on plans to get out his message as soon as the Ravens clinched a berth to the Super Bowl.
According to The New York Times, Ayanbadejo emailed two marriage equality advocates hours after returning home from the team’s win over the New England Patriots last weekend. He’s even swapped emails with the founder and executive director of Athlete Ally, a group dedicated to ridding sports at all levels of homophobia. He’s trying to organize plans to speak out for gay rights in the week leading up to the big game.
Ayanbadejo even has the dream scenario in mind: the Ravens win the Super Bowl, and he celebrates as a guest on Ellen DeGeneres’ talk show, where the two talk about the importance of equality for gays and lesbians.
You might wonder if the Ravens are worried about Ayanbadejo’s plans to speak out during Super Bowl week becoming a distraction. We don’t know their thoughts on the matter, but we do know the team managed to beat the Patriots despite him causing a stir the week before the game, so they are used to him becoming the focus of attention.
Photo credit: Donald Miralle/Getty Images Sport
Original Story:
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January 26, 2013
I think Brendon is being remarkably brave in being as outspoken as he is, and don't see how exercising his right to free speech will keep him from excelling on the field. Bravo, Brendon.
God created man first, "ADAM" and then a woman "EVE"
not Adam & Steve
but who cares what his views are...anyway if there is no place in heaven for sodomites, then where do those who follow and share the views of the leaders raping boys go?
let people be happy and let football players play football.
BTW, the Bible is not a legal document in this country, so what it does or doesn't say about any subject is utterly and completely irrelevant.
not Adam & Steve
Ss for parades, I amnot a big fan of them for anyone save our country so lets get rid of those ethnoc and religous parades that occur regularly: St. Patrick's Day, Puerto Rican Day, Polish American Day, Chinese New Year, Easter, etc.
Yes, I am also against adultery. If we had to be perfect to call sin what it is, I guess we could all just have parades cause we are all sinners. No, I would rather not celebrate sin.
As the father of a gay son, I appreciate his efforts. Gay rights must be addressed and why not!! Big thumbs up to him! From a depressed Saints fan to the Ravens.... Looking forward to your arrival in the " Big Easy", come and down and finish the job. Many, many people in New Orleans are rooting for you. Good Luck!!
You don't entertain those desires...I guess your priests don't eother. Well ask those poor young boys and girls who found out otherwise!!Jesus has nothing to do with this discussion, it is simply about who is allowed to openly love another human. Get over it. If you choose to deny yourslef the love of another then that is your loss, no need to deny others.