Del. Emmett Burns blasts Ravens for linebacker’s support of gay marriage 

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo supports gay marriage. He has written about the issue for the Huffington Post and late last year he made a video for the organization Marylanders for Marriage Equality laying out his support. “Join me,” he said. “It’s the right thing to do.”

Maryland Delegate Emmett C. Burns Jr. (D-Baltimore County) does not agree.

After Ayanbadejo recently offered two tickets to the home opener for a Marylanders for Marriage Equality fundraiser, Burns sent a letter to Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti saying he found it “inconceivable” that a player would support gay marriage.

“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,” Burns wrote, according to the letter, which was obtained and reported by WBALTV. “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.”

Burns, founder and pastor of Rising Sun First Baptist Church, has been a frequent and high-profile critic of gay marriage, which was legalized in Maryland earlier this year, but faces a referendum vote in November. He was infuriated that President Obama expressed support for gay marriage, saying he would drop his support for Obama’s candidacy.

Ayanbadejo is entitled to his opinion, his belief regardless of his employment or public standing. For Burns to expect the NFL or a franchise within it to control their employee on topics outside of the NFL scope is ridiculousness.

Originally Posted by: Pack93z 

Free speech does not give you the right to say whatever you want, and receive no negative feedback or repercussions. Obviously a very, very stupid situation but Burns has just as much of a right to express his opinion as Ayanbadejo does.

Originally Posted by: Porforis 

Burns is doing more than simply expressing his opinion here, IMO... sounds to me like he's trying using his position to lean on the Ravens. And regardless, suggesting (demanding) that someone else's opinions be suppressed because they don't mesh with yours is about as far from the spirit of free speech as you can get.

Originally Posted by: Since69 

"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."