Powerful GOP lobbyist drafts bill to ban gay athletes from playing in the NFL

Washington lobbyist Jack Burkman issued a statement saying that his firm, J M Burkman & Associates, is preparing legislation that would ban gay athletes from playing in the National Football League (NFL).

In a statement, Burkman wrote that "We are losing our decency as a nation. Imagine your son being forced to shower with a gay man. That’s a horrifying prospect for every mom in the country. What in the world has this nation come to?"

According to the statement, the idea for a Congressional ban on gay athletes in the NFL came to him after he watched coverage of Michael Sam's decision to come out of the closet prior to the NFL draft. In recent weeks, Sam has been praised by many Democratic lawmakers, as well as First Lady Michelle Obama, who called him "an inspiration."

Last week, a group of Missouri students even formed a human wall to prevent the Westboro Baptist Church from protesting a Sam appearance.

Burkman, however believes that "[i]f the NFL has no morals and no values, then Congress must find values for it."

According to The Hill, Burkman's lobbying firm signed 70 new clients last year, the most of any K Street firm.

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