The National Football League is looking into charges that a potential draftee was asked by a scout about his sexual orientation, a league spokesman confirmed.
The statement revolves around questions supposedly posed to draft prospect Nick Kasa. At one point, according to various media reports, the scout bluntly asked Mr. Kasa, “Do you like girls?” Mr. Kasa said the question came in context of several about his marital and dating status.
“Any team or employee that inquires about impermissible subjects or makes an employment decision based on such factors is subject to league discipline,” said NFL spokesman Greg Aiello, according to a CNN report.
In the CNN report, Mr. Aiello said NFL policy states that teams can “neither consider nor inquire about sexual orientation in the hiring process.”
League policy also disallows bias against a player for sexual orientation, he said, in the CNN report.
Players’ sexuality was thrust to the forefront - in the eyes of some teams - after Notre Dame standout Manti Te’o’s fake, dead girlfriend was revealed to really be a man who had developed feelings for the linebacker. Te’o says he was fooled by the “girlfriend,” and only had an online relationship.
Te’o adamantly told TV interviewer Katie Couric that he is heterosexual.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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