The days of people having to defend their sexuality should be over. The United States legalized same-sex marriage in 2015. It is against the law for a potential employer to ask an applicant about their sexual orientation. That is what happened to LSU running back Derrius Guice at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine. Guice said that one NFL team asked him if he likes men. This illegal and inappropriate questioning has sparked some outrage in many sports analysts, including Max Kellerman and Shannon Sharpe. Here is what they had to say about the incident.

Shannon Sharpe sets the record straight

On yesterday’s edition of the sports show, “Undisputed,” host Shannon Sharpe talked about what happened to Guice. Stating that sexual orientation has nothing to do with one’s ability to play the game or perform one’s job, the former tight end blasted the NFL for its heterosexism. Sharpe stated that “The NFL still thinks that if we pay you a lot of money, we can still ask you and treat you any way we want. You can’t. Roger (Goodell), you’ve got to do something about this.”

According to a statement released by the NFL yesterday, as stated on Boston.com, “The NFL and its clubs are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees in a manner that is consistent with our commitment to diversity and inclusion, state and federal laws and the CBA.

We are looking into the matter.”

This is not the first time that inappropriate questions have been posed to players at the NFL Combine. In 2010, Dez Bryant was asked if his mother was a prostitute, a question also posed to Guice. Two years ago, an NFL Scout from the Atlanta Falcons asked Eli Apple if he liked men.

The United States Equal Opportunity Commission backs up Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employers from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

The NFL may land itself in some deep water if it does not address this discriminatory issue in an effective way.

Kellerman is not happy with Guice questioning

Max Kellerman shared his thoughts about the Guice incident on yesterday’s broadcast of the “Stephen A. Smith Show.” When “First Take’s,” Will Cain said that the ridiculous questions posed to Guice were designed to get more information and that more information is good, Kellerman was quick to object.

According to Kellerman, “More information is not always good. If the information is relevant, it can crowd out the space needed to make really good evaluations. . . This is an example of this.”

Michael Sam became the first openly gay player to be drafted by the NFL. In 2014, Sam was selected by the Saint Louis Rams. Although Sam did not make the final 2014 roster, the drafting of Sam was a step in the right direction for LGBT equality. As of now, there are currently no openly gay players in the NFL.

Whether Derrius Guice is LGBT or heterosexual does not matter. His play has been impressive. During his last two years at LSU, the running back has rushed for over 2600 yards and 26 touchdowns, as stated by ESPN.
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