Last month, Vikings punter Chris Kluwe and Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo submitted a legal brief regarding the issue of same-sex marriage.
This month, plenty of other athletes are lining up to support the effort to overturn California’s ban on persons of the same gender legally marrying.
Those joining the cause include free-agent linebacker Scott Fujita, Eagles linebacker Connor Barwin, NFLPA president Dominique Foxworth, free-agent tackle Eric Winston, Browns center Alex Mack, Browns linebacker Chris Gocong, Browns linebacker D’Qwell Jackson, Bears punter Adam Podlesh, and free-agent linebacker Scott Shanle. The brief also is being supported by NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith.
“Brendon and I have emphasized all along that athletes have a special message when it comes to welcoming others as friends and teammates, without regard for their sexual orientation -- we’ve made that point before in some unique ways, and we felt we had a special perspective to offer the Court in a very serious case about equality,” Kluwe said in a press release.
Next Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court will entertain arguments on the question of whether the ban on same-sex marriage violates the U.S. Constitution.