Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

NFL Kicker Unloads Diatribe at Politician on Gay Marriage

Vikings' Chris Kluwe vents at Maryland legislator who opposes

By Mark Russell,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 8, 2012 6:29 AM CDT

(Newser) – A couple of NFL players are feuding with a Maryland politician over gay marriage—with the players arguing in favor and the Democrat protesting. The brouhaha began when Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo publicly endorsed same-sex marriage. In response, Emmett C. Burns Jr., a state politician and minister, sent a letter—published at Yahoo—to Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti, saying that he was "appalled and aghast" by Ayanbadejo's comments and that Bisciotti should "take the necessary action" to stop Ayanbadejo from expressing himself.

Ayanbadejo took to Twitter to defend himself. "Football is just my job it's not who I am," he tweeted. "And just like every American I have the right to speak!!!" But Minnesota Vikings' punter Chris Kluwe wasn't so polite. In a long (and very NSFW) response posted at Deadspin, he said he was "disgusted" by the politician's "vitrolic hatred and bigotry." "I can assure you that gay people getting married will have zero effect on your life," writes Kluwe. He wonders how Burns can be so "mind-bogglingly stupid," but the language gets a lot more colorful than that.

Minnesota Vikings kicker Chris Kluwe signs a fan's jersey in 2011.
Minnesota Vikings kicker Chris Kluwe signs a fan's jersey in 2011.   (AP Photo/Star Tribune, Jeff Wheeler)
Baltimore Ravens player Brendon Ayanbadejo holds his daugher, Anaya, after a game.
Baltimore Ravens player Brendon Ayanbadejo holds his daugher, Anaya, after a game.   (AP Photo/J. Pat Carter)
Rev. Emmett Burns wrote to the Baltimore Ravens owner, asking him to make a player stop endorsing same-sex marriage.
Rev. Emmett Burns wrote to the Baltimore Ravens owner, asking him to make a player stop endorsing same-sex marriage.   (DoniMortonGlover)
In this photograph taken by AP Images for Ubisoft, Minnesota Vikings' Adrian Peterson, center, along with teammates Chris Kluwe, right and Toby Gerhart, left, play Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Revelations on PlayStation 3.
In this photograph taken by AP Images for Ubisoft, Minnesota Vikings' Adrian Peterson, center, along with teammates Chris Kluwe, right and Toby Gerhart, left, play Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Revelations...   (Genevieve Ross/AP Images for Ubisoft)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
My TakeCLICK BELOW TO VOTE
5%
0%
4%
79%
1%
11%
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 71 comments
XYandZ
Sep 10, 2012 9:58 PM CDT
no wonder gay hate crimes have been rising..
thereforwhat
Sep 9, 2012 6:51 AM CDT
the kickers have the dainty little limp wrists.  not surprsing coming from a kicker lol
Bustamonte
Sep 9, 2012 6:28 AM CDT
Obviously, "gays" aren't gay at all. They are dour, sour, & nasty.
 

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   World History Project   |   POPSUGAR Tech   |   Business Insider   |   HuffPost Entertainment   |   NewsOne