Mixed martial arts (MMA) came under fire by legislators on Tuesday after a bill looking to legalize the sport hit the New York State Assembly’s floor.
According to USA Today, openly gay assemblyman Daniel O’Donnell (D-Manhattan) said, “I thought I should learn a little about (MMA). Well, I should really like it. You have two nearly naked, hot men trying to dominate each other. That’s gay porn with a different ending.”
He ended his remarks by quipping that he’d “take a cold shower” and hopes New York remains the only state in the nation to uphold its ban on pro-MMA.
O’Donnell — who happens to be the brother of Rosie O’Donnell — was in good company.
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State Assemblyman Charles Barron (D-Brooklyn) said, “You know how we feel about the chokehold in New York City. You can put him in a chokehold and the ref has to be determining whether he got choked enough or she got choked enough. This (sport) is not something we should legalize or regulate.”
Assemblywoman Deborah Glick (D-New York) agreed, saying participants in the sport are participating in the “dumbing down of America.”
Jose Rivera (D-Bronx) had a different point of view.
“You afraid of violence?” he asked. “You’re lucky you didn’t grow up in the South Bronx like I did.”
h/t: USA Today
