Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbedejo is an active gay marriage advocate. Maryland house of delegates member Emmett C. Burns, a Democrat, was “appalled and aghast.” He sent a letter to Ravens owner Steven Biscotti requesting the linebacker be forced to “cease and desist” his “injurious actions.”

“I find it inconceivable that one of your players, Mr. Brendon Ayanbadejo would publicly endorse Same-Sex marriage, specifically as a Raven Football player,” Burns wrote in the letter first obtained by WBAL-TV. “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.

“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 continued. “I believe Mr. Ayanbadejo should concentrate on football and steer clear of dividing the fan base.

“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.”

Wetzel goes on at length about how the Ravens doing this would be unfeasible under the collective bargaining agreement and wholly undesirable. He also points out there is a precedent for prominent football players wading into controversial social issues. There’s no need to get into marriage equality in this forum. We’ll simply say we support NFL players actively and intelligently engaging with their communities and making off-the-field headlines for things besides drunk driving and domestic violence.

[Photo via Presswire]