Lobbyist Jack Burkman is pushing for
federal legislation that would ban gay players in the National
Football League (NFL).
Burkman said in a recent interview with
Washington D.C. ABC affiliate WJLA that his bill was about “restoring
common decency.”
“When you think about it, would we
allow women in a locker room? No. If your son were a football
player would you want him showering with women? No,” Burkman said.
“This is just common decency and civility. The reason we wouldn't
want a woman in there is because there's sexual attraction between
men and women. Such is the case between gay and straight. It's just
common sense.”
While the interviewer pointed out that
gay men are most likely already playing in the NFL, Burkman claimed
that his legislation would cover openly gay players. (The video is
embedded on this page. Visit
our video library for more videos.)
The proposal comes as the NFL considers
its first openly gay player, Michael Sam.
(Related: Michael
Sam: I don't want to be Michael Sam the gay football player.)
Sam responded to Burkman's proposal in
a tweet: “Jack Burkman is going to need a Delorian, not some bogus
bill, if he wants to prevent gay athletes from being in the locker
room.”
According to The
Huffington Post, the bill is titled The American Decency
Act of 2014 and would prohibit “self-declared homosexual
football players” from joining an NFL team unless it “provides
facilities for homosexual players which are entirely separate and
distinct from the facilities used by heterosexual players.” Fines
would range between $3 and $8 million.
Burkman, who heads the lobbying firm
Burkman Associates LLC, said he expects 36 representatives and 6
senators to back his bill within the next 20 days, but refused to
offer any actual names.
Burkman also lost a client over his proposal.
DC Solar Solutions told ThinkProgress
that it has ended its relationship with Burkman.
“DC Solar does not condone or support
Mr. Burkman's homophobic views, and since learning about his
misguided efforts to write legislation banning gay athletes from the
NFL, we have ended our relationship with him,” the company said in
a written statement. “DC Solar values diversity within our company
and within our communities, and we do not tolerate discrimination of
any sort. As a company working to address issues about our country's
future, we have no intention of working with those who are stuck in
the past.”