Dear Delegate Burns,
It has recently come to my attention that you are upset with Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo because of his public endorsement of marriage equality in Maryland (and elsewhere). After reading your letter to Ravens management, I feel compelled to correct you on several factual errors and omissions.
I know of no other NFL player who has done what Mr. Ayanbadejo is doing.
First, Brendon Ayanbadejo is not the only NFL athlete to publicly endorse marriage equality. Chris Kluwe of the Minnesota Vikings has publicly denounced Minnesota's attempt to define marriage as between one man and one woman. Outside of the NFL, many other athletes support LGBT equality as well. LGBT equality aside, many other athletes, including football players, have taken a side on political issues and on political campaigns. Brendon is hardly a trend-setter in this regard. If you don't know something, it is probably better to do a little research on it before making statements that are undeniably false, for your own sake.
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.
Second, even though there are many Ravens fans who do not like what Brendon has done (and I don't deny that they exist), there are many others who greatly appreciate him for standing by equal protections under the law. You are categorically dismissing those folks as if their opinions don't matter. Make no mistake Del. Burns, their opinions DO matter. Just because some of your constituents do not agree with you does not mean they should be ignored, which is what you appear to be doing.
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.
And lastly, regardless of anyone's stance on gay marriage, same-sex marriage, marriage quality, or whatever you want it called, there is ZERO denying that people have the right to express their opinion on this and any issue. Brendon was not on the field waving around a pride flag, nor was he acting as a spokesman for the Ravens franchise, he was speaking for himself and making his views known. In this country, we have a constitutionally recognized freedom of speech. The fact that you are attempting to suppress someone's freedom of speech is the most disturbing part of this entire incident and I'm not alone in that sentiment. Disagree with Brendon all you like (it's your right after all), but do you really think he doesn't have the right to voice his opinion? Before he is a football player, he is a citizen or Maryland and of the United States. I believe that Brendon's response via Twitter was perfectly worded:
well said, sir.
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