Republican wants to ban openly gay NFL players because of showering situation
A Republican lobbyist is in favour of banning openly gay players from America’s National Football League.
”We are losing our decency as a nation,” Jack Burkman said in a statement on Monday. “Imagine your son being forced to shower with a gay man. That’s a horrifying prospect for every mom in the country. What in the world has this nation come to?”
Michael Sam, a University of Missouri football player, came out in an ESPN interview on 9 February.
If selected by a team in the upcoming NFL draft he would make history as the sport’s first openly gay and serving professional player.
Speaking about Sam’s recent coming out Mr Burkman said: “I don’t think he is courageous, I think what he is doing is positioning himself very shrewdly, I think he’s very shrewd, incase the draft doesn’t go as he wants.”
Meanwhile, Burkman’s brother, Dr Jim Burkman, an openly gay anesthesiologist, has denounced his sibiling over the hateful idea, saying: “I think the idea that he is pushing legislation that is just hurtful and ridiculous is just plain stupid,” adding, “he can’t really push legislation. I don’t think there are any co-sponsors for a bill. It is just an attention grab and a media grab to pander to those folks who pay him to lobby on their behalf.”
In a recent survey 76% of NFL players said that they were comfortable to shower with out team mates.
