Nebraska assistant coach Ron Brown, the subject of recent national headlines after speaking out against an Omaha gay and transgender anti-discrimination law, won't attend a hearing Monday in which the Lincoln City Council will consider passing a similar ordinance.

But it's by no means because he regrets the public nature or vehement argument of his initial stance -- or because he has been discouraged by coaches or administrators to do otherwise.

Nebraska assistant coach Ron Brown, a vocal opponent of an Omaha gay and transgender anti-discrimination law, won't attend a hearing in which Lincoln will consider a similar ordinance. Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Brown, who the university has said is within his rights as a citizen to express his religious and political views publicly, says he doesn't want his appearance to make news.

"A number of fellow Christians who have been working on legislation and working on the nuts and bolts of this issue told me, 'Look, there's going to be so much media attention over you, it's going to take away from the issue,' " Brown told the Lincoln Journal Star on Saturday.

"Everything inside of me said, 'I don't want the media to stop me from going.' Then I realized it was going to be a circus, and everybody already knows how I think. My views stand the same.

"As I prayed about it, I thought it was not in the Lord's will for me to testify."

In March, when the Omaha City Council held a hearing for the measure that added local protections against discrimination for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people, Brown challenged ordinance sponsor Ben Gray and other members to remember the Bible does not condone homosexuality. He told council members they would be held to "great accountability for the decision you are making."

In the aftermath of the speech, Cornhuskers athletic director Tom Osborne and university chancellor Harvey Perlman defended the right of faculty and students to voice their opinions about public events and issues.

But he was reprimanded for listing Memorial Stadium in Lincoln as his address of record in the council register. According to the Journal Star, he has apologized to Perlman for that.

"Nobody has told me at the university that I couldn't go," Brown told the newspaper on Saturday regarding the Lincoln hearing. "I've gotten assurance from the chancellor that, as a citizen, I can express my views publicly. I mean, this is almost like voting.

"I appreciate the University of Nebraska allowing me to go to the hearing if I chose to do so."

Nebraska coach Bo Pelini reiterated to the Journal Star that Brown would not be discouraged from appearing and speaking before the Lincoln council.

"Would I tell him not to go to the hearing? Absolutely not," Pelini said.