Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Donte
Stallworth is the latest professional athlete to express support for
gay marriage.
The 30-year-old Stallworth also took to
his Twitter account on Tuesday to support CNN
anchor Don Lemon's decision to come out gay.
“Sad that people are ridiculed for
their sexual orientation in this age... and leave religion out of
this, God loves ALL!!! #hyporcrites,” he messaged his more than
67,000 followers.
“These politicians that use religion
to deter gay marriage are same ones doing dirty under the table ish &
war mongering #WheresYourReligion.”
Moments later he added, “Wanda Sykes:
'If you don't believe in same sex marriage, don't marry the same
sex.' #EnoughSaid.”
Stallworth, who was awarded by his
teammates last year's Ed Block Courage Award, also tweeted support
for Lemon: “Lots of courage you have my brother... Live your life
the way it makes YOU happy! @donlemoncnn #GodBless.”
A
gay marriage endorsement nearly two weeks ago by New York Rangers
winger Sean Avery sparked a loud debate on homophobia in
professional sports that has yet to diminish. Basketball
Hall of Famer Charles Barkley agreed with Avery, while on-air
sports personality Damian Goddard didn't, and was fired. In the
past couple of days, Phoenix Suns CEO and President Rick
Welts came out gay and two players, Grant Hill and Jared Dudley,
appeared
in an anti-gay bullying ad. On Monday, former
Villanova basketball player Will Sheridan followed Welts out of the
closet, and on Tuesday, the San
Francisco Giants announced they would record a video in support of
troubled gay teens.