Gay Baseball Pro Calls Out 'Hate' After Rays Pri Uniform Controversy

Contents:

• 'IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME FOR THIS:' BRYAN RUBY BE ONLY ACTIVE PRO BASEBALL PLAYER TO BE OUT AS GAY
• WHY AREN'T THERE MORE GAY BASEBALL PLAYERS?
• GAY PRO BASEBALL PLAYER SAYS 'DISCRIMATN AND HATE HAS A VOICE BASEBALL' AFTER TAMPA BAY RAYS PLAYERS REFED TO WEAR PRI NIGHT UNIFORMS
• 9 BASEBALL PLAYERS WHO CAME OUT AS GAY
• WHY ARE THERE NO OPENLY GAY PLAYERS IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL?"IN BASEBALL, YOUR POSN IS ALWAYS LS SECURE THAN OTHER PRO SPORTS."{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}LIFEBY DAN AVERYAPRIL 2, 2017/11:10 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:574PX;WIDTH:1020PX;}GETTY IMAGKISSG HIS BAT FOR GOOD LUCK SATURATED FOR A OL LOOKBY DAN AVERYAPRIL 2, 2017 / 11:10 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"WHY ARE THERE NO OPENLY GAY PLAYERS IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL?","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2017-04-02T15:10:55.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2017-04-02T15:10:55.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"DAN AVERY","KEYWORDS":"SPORTS","ARTICLESECTN":"LIFE"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WE'VE SAID HELLO (AND GOODBYE) TO JASON COLLS AND MICHAEL SAM, BUT I N'T HELP BUT WONR WHY MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL HASN'T HAD S OWN OPENLY GAY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MOR LEAGUERS SEAN CONROY AND DAVID DENSON ME OUT THIS YEAR, BUT ONLY TWO GAY PLAYERS THE MAJORS—BILLY BEAN AND GLENN BURKE—HAVE DISCLOSED THEIR ORIENTATN, AND BOTH AFTER RETIREMENT. (BURKE WAS REPORTEDLY OUT TO HIS TEAMMAT ON THE L.A. DODGERS, BUT WAS NEVER DISCSED PUBLICLY.){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IS CHANCE—THAT THE RIGHT GUY JT HASN'T E ALONG YET? OR IS THERE SOMETHG ABOUT THE SPORT THAT MAK HARR TO E OUT?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THE OBV REASON IS NO ONE HAS HAD THE URAGE TO DO ," OUTSPORTS' CYD ZEIGLER TELLS NEWNOWNEXT. BUT HE ADMS THE GAME PRENTS SOME SPECIFIC {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"ONE OF THE THGS THAT MAK BASEBALL UNIQUE IS THE MOR LEAGUE SYSTEM. PEOPLE ARE BROUGHT UP AND PUT BACK ALL THE TIME. IN BASEBALL, YOUR POSN IS ALWAYS LS SECURE THAN OTHER PRO SPORTS."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE MLB ALSO DRAWS ON MORE PLAYERS WHO SKIPPED LLEGE AND WENT STRAIGHT OM THE MORS, SO THEY AREN'T AS EXPOSED TO OTHER WALKS OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHERE PLAYERS ARE BORN N IMPACT THEIR FEELGS ABOUT HOMOSEXUALY, AS WELL: "THERE'S A HUGE FLUX OF PLAYERS OM CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERI AND THE CARIBBEAN BASEBALL," SAYS ZEIGLER. "GUYS WHO ARE OFTEN RAISED VERY MACHO OR CATHOLIC MUNI."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ULTIMATELY, THOUGH, MOST PLAYERS AT LEAST SAY THEY'D WELE A GAY TEAMMATE. AND FANS ARE OPEN TO AS WELL. "THIS ISN'T AN ISSUE WH FANS— HASN'T BEEN FOR A ," HE ADDS.GETTY IMAGBASEBALL PLAYER POSG ONT OF WHE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MAYBE AN OPENLY GAY MLB PLAYER ISN'T AS IMPORTANT AS WE THK. AFTER ALL, THE DAYS OF BASEBALL BEG "AMERI'S PASTIME" ARE LONG GONE. "FOOTBALL IS KG. NOTHG CHANG AMERIN CULTURE LIKE FOOTBALL," SAYS ZEIGLER. "THE NFL IS THE MOST POWERFUL ENTERTAMENT PANY AMERI."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT BASEBALL IS MAKG AN EFFORT: MANY TEAMS HOST PRI NIGHTS AND MLB HAS EVEN PRODUCED RABOW-THEMED HATS, SHIRTS AND OTHER MERCHANDISE. LAST YEAR, THE LEAGUE HIRED BILLY BEAN TO BE S FIRST AMBASSADOR FOR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THERE'S NO ONE SPECIFIC REASON" WHY A PLAYER HASN'T E OUT, BEAN TELLS . "FOR ME, WAS MY UPBRGG. I WAS RAISED A STRICT CATHOLIC FAY AND MY DAD WAS THE MARE CORPS."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BY AND LARGE, THOUGH, HE THKS DOWN TO BS: "THE PLAYERS NEED TO KNOW THEY'RE GOG TO BE TREATED FAIRLY," HE SAYS. "IT'S SO HARD TO GET TO THE TOP. BY THE TIME THEY'RE THERE, THEY'VE WEATHERED SO MANY STORMS, THIS ULD FEEL LIKE ONE MORE THG."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BEAN IS EAGER TO WELE THAT TRAILBLAZG PLAYER. "MY GOAL IS NOT TO ASK WHY HAVEN'T WE HAD ONE YET. BUT THAT, WHEN WE DO, 'S A POSIVE EXPERIENCE—SO THAT MAYBE TWO OR THREE MORE PLAYERS FEEL FORTABLE G OUT."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ZEIGLER, THOUGH, SAYS THE ONT OFFICE HAS TO LEAD THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"PLAYERS HAVE TO BE NVCED TO E OUT—THATS THE ONLY WAY THAT CHANGE HAPPENS," HE SAYS. "THE MANAGERS AND OWNERS ARE THE ONLY ON WHO N DO . THEY'LL SAY 'S NOT THEIR JOB, BUT I'D SAY THEY HAVE A GREATER RPONSIBILY TO MEASURE PERFORMANCE BEYOND THE SREBOARD."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

'IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME FOR THIS:' BRYAN RUBY BE ONLY ACTIVE PRO BASEBALL PLAYER TO BE OUT AS GAY

In his 1990 tobgraphy, “Behd the Mask: My Double Life Baseball, ” Dave Pallone, a gay major league umpire who was quietly fired 1988 after mors about his sexual orientatn circulated the baseball world, ntend that there were enough gay major league players to create an All-Star team.

Sce then, attus and laws about homosexualy have changed.

And is baseball ready for s gay Jackie Robson? “I thk we’re gettg close, ” Billy Bean, the only openly gay former major league player alive today, recently told me.

WHY AREN'T THERE MORE GAY BASEBALL PLAYERS?

Bean played for the Detro Tigers, Los Angel Dodgers and San Diego Padr for parts of six seasons, hidg his homosexualy om his iends, fans and teammat at great emotnal st.

He me out publicly 1982 an Insi Sports article, “The Double Life of a Gay Dodger. “It’s harr to be gay sports than anywhere else, except maybe print, ” said Burke.

GAY PRO BASEBALL PLAYER SAYS 'DISCRIMATN AND HATE HAS A VOICE BASEBALL' AFTER TAMPA BAY RAYS PLAYERS REFED TO WEAR PRI NIGHT UNIFORMS

A lgerg sta of homophobia. There is a strong current of fundamentalist Christiany wh baseball, which uld make life unfortable for openly gay players.

There are also lgerg strands of explic homophobia.

In 2012, Detro Tigers outfielr Torii Hunter told the Los Angel Tim that he’d be unfortable wh a gay teammate, bee “biblilly, ’s not right.

9 BASEBALL PLAYERS WHO CAME OUT AS GAY

Other MLB players have ma homophobic ments over the years, cludg John Rocker, Julian Tavarez, Yunel Esbar, Daniel Murphy and Todd Jon, along wh manager Ozzie Guillen. Billie Jean Kg, the former tennis star who, 1981, beme the first openly gay high-profile sports figure, is now part-owner of the Dodgers. At least four teams – the Dodgers, Baltimore Orl, San Francis Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks – now have openly gay top-tier executiv.

Several teams have fed or spend players, managers, and at least one broadster – the Ccnati Reds’ Thom Brennaman – for utterg anti-gay slurs.

And spe the ocsnal homophobic ephet that ntu to emerge om their ranks, more and more straight baseball players have exprsed support for the LGBTQ muny over the past uple of s. In 2003, Colorado Rocki star Mark Grace told the Denver Post that most ballplayers wouldn’t be threatened by the ia of a gay teammate. “I’ve played for 16 years, and I’m sure I’ve had homosexual teammat that I didn’t know about.

WHY ARE THERE NO OPENLY GAY PLAYERS IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL?"IN BASEBALL, YOUR POSN IS ALWAYS LS SECURE THAN OTHER PRO SPORTS."{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}LIFEBY DAN AVERYAPRIL 2, 2017/11:10 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:574PX;WIDTH:1020PX;}GETTY IMAGKISSG HIS BAT FOR GOOD LUCK SATURATED FOR A OL LOOKBY DAN AVERYAPRIL 2, 2017 / 11:10 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"WHY ARE THERE NO OPENLY GAY PLAYERS IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL?","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2017-04-02T15:10:55.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2017-04-02T15:10:55.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"DAN AVERY","KEYWORDS":"SPORTS","ARTICLESECTN":"LIFE"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WE'VE SAID HELLO (AND GOODBYE) TO JASON COLLS AND MICHAEL SAM, BUT I N'T HELP BUT WONR WHY MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL HASN'T HAD S OWN OPENLY GAY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MOR LEAGUERS SEAN CONROY AND DAVID DENSON ME OUT THIS YEAR, BUT ONLY TWO GAY PLAYERS THE MAJORS—BILLY BEAN AND GLENN BURKE—HAVE DISCLOSED THEIR ORIENTATN, AND BOTH AFTER RETIREMENT. (BURKE WAS REPORTEDLY OUT TO HIS TEAMMAT ON THE L.A. DODGERS, BUT WAS NEVER DISCSED PUBLICLY.){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IS CHANCE—THAT THE RIGHT GUY JT HASN'T E ALONG YET? OR IS THERE SOMETHG ABOUT THE SPORT THAT MAK HARR TO E OUT?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THE OBV REASON IS NO ONE HAS HAD THE URAGE TO DO ," OUTSPORTS' CYD ZEIGLER TELLS NEWNOWNEXT. BUT HE ADMS THE GAME PRENTS SOME SPECIFIC {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"ONE OF THE THGS THAT MAK BASEBALL UNIQUE IS THE MOR LEAGUE SYSTEM. PEOPLE ARE BROUGHT UP AND PUT BACK ALL THE TIME. IN BASEBALL, YOUR POSN IS ALWAYS LS SECURE THAN OTHER PRO SPORTS."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE MLB ALSO DRAWS ON MORE PLAYERS WHO SKIPPED LLEGE AND WENT STRAIGHT OM THE MORS, SO THEY AREN'T AS EXPOSED TO OTHER WALKS OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHERE PLAYERS ARE BORN N IMPACT THEIR FEELGS ABOUT HOMOSEXUALY, AS WELL: "THERE'S A HUGE FLUX OF PLAYERS OM CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERI AND THE CARIBBEAN BASEBALL," SAYS ZEIGLER. "GUYS WHO ARE OFTEN RAISED VERY MACHO OR CATHOLIC MUNI."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ULTIMATELY, THOUGH, MOST PLAYERS AT LEAST SAY THEY'D WELE A GAY TEAMMATE. AND FANS ARE OPEN TO AS WELL. "THIS ISN'T AN ISSUE WH FANS— HASN'T BEEN FOR A ," HE ADDS.GETTY IMAGBASEBALL PLAYER POSG ONT OF WHE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MAYBE AN OPENLY GAY MLB PLAYER ISN'T AS IMPORTANT AS WE THK. AFTER ALL, THE DAYS OF BASEBALL BEG "AMERI'S PASTIME" ARE LONG GONE. "FOOTBALL IS KG. NOTHG CHANG AMERIN CULTURE LIKE FOOTBALL," SAYS ZEIGLER. "THE NFL IS THE MOST POWERFUL ENTERTAMENT PANY AMERI."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT BASEBALL IS MAKG AN EFFORT: MANY TEAMS HOST PRI NIGHTS AND MLB HAS EVEN PRODUCED RABOW-THEMED HATS, SHIRTS AND OTHER MERCHANDISE. LAST YEAR, THE LEAGUE HIRED BILLY BEAN TO BE S FIRST AMBASSADOR FOR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THERE'S NO ONE SPECIFIC REASON" WHY A PLAYER HASN'T E OUT, BEAN TELLS . "FOR ME, WAS MY UPBRGG. I WAS RAISED A STRICT CATHOLIC FAY AND MY DAD WAS THE MARE CORPS."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BY AND LARGE, THOUGH, HE THKS DOWN TO BS: "THE PLAYERS NEED TO KNOW THEY'RE GOG TO BE TREATED FAIRLY," HE SAYS. "IT'S SO HARD TO GET TO THE TOP. BY THE TIME THEY'RE THERE, THEY'VE WEATHERED SO MANY STORMS, THIS ULD FEEL LIKE ONE MORE THG."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BEAN IS EAGER TO WELE THAT TRAILBLAZG PLAYER. "MY GOAL IS NOT TO ASK WHY HAVEN'T WE HAD ONE YET. BUT THAT, WHEN WE DO, 'S A POSIVE EXPERIENCE—SO THAT MAYBE TWO OR THREE MORE PLAYERS FEEL FORTABLE G OUT."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ZEIGLER, THOUGH, SAYS THE ONT OFFICE HAS TO LEAD THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"PLAYERS HAVE TO BE NVCED TO E OUT—THATS THE ONLY WAY THAT CHANGE HAPPENS," HE SAYS. "THE MANAGERS AND OWNERS ARE THE ONLY ON WHO N DO . THEY'LL SAY 'S NOT THEIR JOB, BUT I'D SAY THEY HAVE A GREATER RPONSIBILY TO MEASURE PERFORMANCE BEYOND THE SREBOARD."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

Add Grace: “I thk if you’re telligent at all, you’d unrstand that homosexuals are jt like .

Said that havg a gay teammate “wouldn’t bother me at all.