Washington: New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has clearly warned the National Football League (NFL) against asking players about their sexual orientation, ordering to do more to stop teams from doing so.
Schneiderman said employment discrimination is ethically wrong and illegal, no matter who the employer may be.
Three players at the NFL Scouting Combine last month, Le`veon Bell of Michigan State, Nick Kasa of Colorado and Denard Robinson of the University of Michigan, said in interviews that were asked whether they had girlfriends or whether they liked girls.
“They ask you, Do you have a girlfriend? Are you married? Do you like girls?” Kasa. The questions appear to have been asked in the wake of the fake girlfriend hoax involving Notre Dame Linebacker Manti Te`o.
New York State employment discrimination laws prohibit companies that are based in the state from asking employees or potential job candidates about their sexual orientation. The attorney general`s office said the NFL`s headquarters are in New York and at least 20 of the 32 NFL teams are located in jurisdictions that have similar laws in place.
Under the terms of the league`s collective bargaining agreement teams are not allowed to discriminate against players who are currently under contract.
Schneiderman is hoping the NFL will adopt a similar policy for prospects. Schneiderman said everyone deserves equal protection under the law and the right to a fair workplace, The NFL said it has been looking into the matter and will discuss it further next week during a league meeting in Phoenix.
ANI
First Published: Saturday, March 16, 2013, 11:12