Ravens Player Brendon Ayanbadejo Doubles Down on Marriage Equality // PLUS: Bush Campaign Manager Calls It "Freedom"

PRO-MARRIAGE EQUALITY NFL PLAYER DOUBLES DOWN: Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo was at the center of a media firestorm in Maryland last week, after Delegate Emmett Burns Jr. tried to get the Ravens to censor the NFL player's marriage equality support. Burns, a Baltimore area Democratic lawmaker and self-proclaimed Ravens fan, sent a letter to the team's owner asking him to muzzle Ayanbadejo, but the team instead stood by Ayanbadejo's free speech rights.

Now the Ravens linebacker is doubling down on his support for marriage equality with the following email message sent through the Marylanders for Marriage Equality list. Ayanbadejo is one of a long line of spokespeople pushing a Vote FOR Question 6 this November:

Juice,

Monday night was a great way to kick-off the season in front of the national audience!

And even though I'm excited that we started the season off with a win, moving us closer to winning the Superbowl, football is just my job, it's not who I am. I am an American before anything. And just like every American I have the right to speak!

Maryland Lawmaker Emmett Burns Tells Baltimore Ravens to Silence Pro-Gay Rights Player // CONTROVERSY ERUPTS

UPDATE: A new Baltimore Sun editorial scorches Delegate Emmett Burns Jr. for his censorship effort. They think he's not fit for office (excerpt below): 

BALTIMORE SUN: That Mr. Burns had to reacquaint himself with the First Amendment ... suggests he has neither the temperament nor the basic understanding of government and law to continue in office. The fact that the use of his office letterhead for the purpose may have violated General Assembly ethics rules only underscores the point....

AN EMBARRASSMENT TO MARYLAND DEMOCRATS - If you haven't heard about the recent controversy surrounding Maryland lawmaker Emmett Burns Jr, you're missing out on one of the most idiotic stories of the year. Hat tip: Todd Eberly of the Free Stater blog. 

Delegate Burns, a Baltimore area Democrat, represents District 10 in the State House. He is also apparently against both free speech and marriage equality. Burns is now the subject of a national, viral news story after he tried to get the Baltimore Ravens to silence one of their players (linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo) for publicly endorsing marriage equality. See a synopsis of the story below.

Baltimore Ravens Linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo is Pro-LGBT rights (source: Instagram)

Here's a brief review of the controversy involving Maryland Delegate Emmett Burns Jr, the Baltimore Ravens, and linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo:

Marylander of the Year Nominations from Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, Sen. Jamie Raskin & The Sun's Annie Linskey

[ See All of the "Marylander of the Year" Nominations ]

This is the 3rd installation of our inaugural Marylander of the Year project. In the spirit of TIME Magazine's annual "Person of the Year" article, we are asking various Marylanders for their thoughts on who has been most influential or impactful in the amazing Free State/Old Line State. Contact Maryland Juice to share your own thoughts (either anonymously or publicly). Below, we print three more nominations. They come from Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, State Senator Jamie Raskin and Annie Linskey, the Baltimore Sun's Maryland politics reporter:

• Jamie Raskin nominates Marylanders for Better Beer and Wine Laws (MBBWL) and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD): "...two groups that worked, separately, to take on the awesome power of the liquor lobby in Maryland—and won!  This is why we now have direct wine shipment into Maryland from wineries in the rest of the United States and direct shipment out for our wonderful Maryland wineries and vineyards that are becoming a force in the national market.  And this is why we were able to win the compulsory ignition interlock device on the steering wheels of thousands of hard-core convicted drunk drivers.  I loved working with both of these groups, neither of which got everything they wanted but both of which made incredible progress against the odds.  Clearly Marylanders of the Year!"