While Ravens linebacker Brendan Ayanbadejo is using his Super Bowl platform to advocate for same-sex marriage, it appears 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver is working in the opposite direction.
Culliver made several disparaging remarks when asked about the possibility of having a homosexual teammate by radio personality (and former Howard Stern sidekick) Artie Lange.
The audio of the exchange was played during Lange’s show (and passed along by the San Jose Mercury News), with Culliver making it seem clear that a gay teammate would not be welcome.
“I don’t do the gay guys man,” Culliver said. “I don’t do that. No, we don’t got no gay people on the team, they gotta get up out of here if they do.
“Can’t be with that sweet stuff. Nah ... can’t be ... in the locker room man. Nah.”
The 49ers as a franchise have been forward in their efforts to be open-minded, with four players (Ahmad Brooks, Ricky Jean-Francois, Isaac Sopoaga and Donte Whitner) appearing in a video supporting the anti-bullying campaign called “It Gets Better,” which is targeted at lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender youth.
“The San Francisco 49ers are proud to join ItGetsBetter.org, to let all LGBT teens know that it gets better,” Whitner said in the video. “On behalf of the entire 49ers organization, we are on your side, and we promise it gets better.”
Maybe Whitner can start by cleaning up his own locker room, or at least talk to Culliver about making a Flacco-style apology it before his next appearance in front of reporters tomorrow.