San Francisco 49er Chris Culliver: Gays Not Welcome in the Locker Room or the NFL - VIDEO

Radio host Artie Lange played a media day interview with Super Bowl-bound San Francisco 49er cornerback Chris Culliver on his show Tuesday, and asked Culliver about the topic of gays in the NFL. Culliver expressed a deep distaste for the whole idea, Yahoo Sports reports:

"I don't do the gay guys man," said Culliver, whose Niners play the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. "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."

When quizzed by Lange whether any homosexual athletes would need to keep their sexuality a secret in football, Culliver responded: "Yeah, come out 10 years later after that."

Watch the interview, AFTER THE JUMP...

The 49ers released a statement in response to Culliver's remarks:

“The San Francisco 49ers reject the comments that were made yesterday, and have addressed the matter with Chris. There is no place for discrimination within our organization at any level. We have and always will proudly support the LGBT community.”

The 49ers were the first NFL team to make an 'It Gets Better' video back in August. Culliver was not among the players who appeared in it.

Hudson Taylor, the Executive Director of Athlete Ally, which works to end homophobia in sports, released a statement condemning Culliver's remarks:

“Chris Culliver’s comments are disrespectful, discriminatory and dangerous, particularly for the young people who look up to him. His words underscore the importance of the Athlete Ally movement and the key role that professional athletes play in shaping an athletic climate that affirms and includes gay and lesbian players.
 
Culliver’s views are as marginal as they are misguided. We’re seeing more and more NFL players take a stand against homophobia in sports through our organization and we know that support at this level is only going to grow. Athlete Ally’s NFL Ambassadors Brendon Ayanbadejo of the AFC Champion Baltimore Ravens, Chris Kluwe of the Minnesota Vikings and Scott Fujita of the Cleveland Browns connect our organization and the NFL, help promote the mission to end homophobia in sports by speaking out to their teams, leagues and fan bases, and encourage their colleagues to join in the effort. It’s clear by their involvement and the incredible support they are receiving from NFL fans across the country that discrimination is on the fringe and has absolutely no place in sports.”

UPDATE: Culliver has now issued a statement. READ IT HERE.

Colorado Teen Files for Ballot Proposal to Amend Constitution Allowing Gays to Marry

Colorado teen Zofie Mandelski has filed a ballot proposal to amend Colorado's constitution, the Denver Post reports:

She filed the proposal Monday with the nonpartisan Legislative Council, the first of many steps in getting an issue on the ballot .

"I do personally support gay marriage, but my parents don't," Mandelski said, "but they are supporting me in this because they do think the issue should be voted on."

The proposal reads: "Be it enacted by the voters of the State of Colorado: Article II Section 31 of the Constitution of the State of Colorado is amended to read: A union of one man and one woman, one man and one man, and one woman and woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state."

Colorado voters in 2006 approved a constitutional amendment that basically outlawed same-sex couples from marrying. It passed approved 55 percent to 45 percent.

The first hearing on the proposal is scheduled for February 11.

How Ticklish is Baltimore Raven Dennis Pitta?

Super Bowl Media Day was yesterday. I've been looking for a clip of Brendon Ayanbadejo discussing his marriage equality advocacy. Then I came across some of the other important topics being discussed.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

(via buzzfeed)

Push Begins for Marriage Equality in Delaware

The New Journal reports that things are stirring in Delaware:

Equality Delaware, the advocacy group that won passage of Delaware’s same-sex civil unions bill in 2011, this week ramps up its campaign for full marriage equality with meetings in New Castle and Sussex counties.

Hundreds of supporters are expected to attend the 5:30 p.m. gatherings – today at First & Central Presbyterian Church in Wilmington and Thursday at CAMP Rehoboth on Baltimore Avenue in Rehoboth Beach.

“We believe 2013 is the right time for marriage [equality] in Delaware,” said Wilmington attorney Lisa Goodman, president of Equality Delaware.

Delaware Governor Jack Markell signed the state's civil union bill into law in May 2011. They went into effect on January 1, 2012.

Tennessee's 'Don't Say Gay' Bill is Back, and Now Requires Schools to Out Gay Kids to Their Parents

Think Progress reports that SB234, Tennessee's 'Don't Say Gay' bill is back ,and more harmful than ever. It also contains language indicating that teachers or counselors would be required to out LGBT students to their parents.

Here's the language:

The general assembly recognizes that certain subjects are particularly sensitive and are, therefore, best explained and discussed within the home. Because of its complex societal, scientific, psychological, and historical implications, human sexuality is one such subject. Human sexuality is best understood by children with sufficient maturity to grasp its complexity and implications [...]

A school counselor, nurse, principal or assistant principal from counseling a student who is engaging in, or who may be at risk of engaging in, behavior injurious to the physical or mental health and well-being of the student or another person; provided, that wherever possible such counseling shall be done in consultation with the student’s parents or legal guardians. Parents or legal guardians of students who receive such counseling shall be notified as soon as practicable that such counseling has occurred

Life by the Numbers: VIDEO

PBS Digital Studios realized that YouTube is teeming with science geeks, so it has started a new series called 'It's Okay to Be Smart' featuring a smart alec host Joe Hanson, who, in the first episode, fills your head with dazzling facts about how successful humans are to other species.

The ASAPScience guys are going to need to step up their game!

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...