May 9, 2014
DC Lobbyist Plans to Ban Gays From Pro-Sports, Block Draft of Michael Sam
Bobby McGuire READ TIME: 3 MIN.
Watch out, Jason Collins! Don't even think about signing that contract, Michael Sam!
To attract additional legislative support, for a bill so unconstitutional that will probably never see a committee much less make it to the floor for debate, lobbyist and part time reactionary commentator and full-time blowhard, Jack Burkman announced Tuesday that "The American Decency Act of 2014," a bill that calls for the banning of openly gay athletes in football, will now extend its stupidity beyond the gridiron.
Additionally, in a separate release, Burkman announced plans to launch a boycott against any football franchise that chooses to pick openly gay defensive end Michael Sam during this week's National Football League draft.
VIA PRESS RELEASE DATED MAY 6
Originally designed to ban openly gay athletes in the National Football League, Burkman expanded the reach the bill to cover the National Basketball Association (NBA), Major League Baseball (MLB) and the National Hockey League (NHL).
"After speaking with Congress and outside supporters, they wanted to see the bill encompass the four major sports American children are watching quite regularly," says Burkman. "If we want to restore decency in American society, we must start with those in position to be role models for today's youth."
"The American Decency Act of 2014" would prohibit NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL teams from employing "self-declared homosexual athletes."
Organizations omitted from the law are those that provide facilities for homosexual players that are "separate and distinct" from the facilities of other players Teams who contravene the law would be fined no less than $8 million and not more than $13 million.
"I felt that if the NFL doesn't have any morals, and people like [Commissioner] Roger Goodell, who are just go-along-get-along guys, just want to appease advertisers, appease corporate America and all that stuff," Burkman told Huffington Post's Sam Stein last month, "I figured, well, it is time for conservatives in Congress to step in and define morality for them."
The Christian Post reported Thursday, that Burkman released another statement promising to build a national a coalition to boycott any NFL franchise who drafts openly gay University of Missouri lineman Michael Sam this week.
In his release, Burkman purports that he is mobilizing "powerful grassroots organizations in 27 of the 50 states," as well as a "coalition of Evangelical Christian leaders from across the nation to take part in a protest if Sam is drafted."
According to the Christian Post, Burkman is already facing opposition from a powerful within the Evangelical community.
"I'm adamantly opposed to such efforts," said Dr. Richard Land, president of the Southern Evangelical Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina, and former president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission who is also the executive editor of CP. "A person's sexual preference should not be an impediment to their livelihood in the sports industry.
"I think it's unwarranted, unjustified and unfair to try to intimidate NFL teams from drafting someone because of their sexual orientation," he ended.
Burkman also is facing criticism closer to home: from his gay brother. According to a report in the Huffington Post from February, "Dr. Jim Burkman, an anesthesiologist from Seattle, sharply criticized his lobbyist brother Jack in an interview."
Dr. Burkman said: "I think the idea that he is pushing legislation that is just hurtful and ridiculous is just plain stupid. He is not a legislator and he can't really push legislation. I don't think there are any cosponsors 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.
"He is my brother and I love him, and we don't see eye-to-eye on any political issues, certainly gay rights," Jim Burkman added. "But I told him years ago he should back off on gay issues, and if he ever crosses the line I would be happy to speak up as his gay brother. Today I felt he crossed the line."
