March 5, 2015
Out Ex-Baseball Player Responds to Met's Murphy's Anti-Gay Comments
Jason St. Amand READ TIME: 3 MIN.
The New York Met's second baseman Daniel Murphy made headlines Wednesday after he said he would accept a gay teammate even though he "disagrees with the lifestyle." His comments came after he met Billy Bean - a former major league player who quit baseball after not being able to hide his sexuality any longer.
Murphy said:
"I disagree with his lifestyle. I do disagree with the fact that Billy is a homosexual. That doesn't mean I can't still invest in him and get to know him. I don't think the fact that someone is a homosexual should completely shut the door on investing in them in a relational aspect. Getting to know him. That, I would say, you can still accept them but I do disagree with the lifestyle, 100 percent...
"Maybe, as a Christian, that we haven't been as articulate enough in describing what our actual stance is on homosexuality. We love the people. We disagree with the lifestyle. That's the way I would describe it for me. It's the same way that there are aspects of my life that I'm trying to surrender to Christ in my own life. There's a great deal of many things, like my pride. I just think that as a believer trying to articulate it in a way that says just because I disagree with the lifestyle doesn't mean I'm just never going to speak to Billy Bean every time he walks through the door. That's not love. That's not love at all."
After getting wind of Murphy's controversial comments, Bean has responded in a post on MLB.com, Sports Illustrated points out.
Bean wrote in part:
When I took this job at MLB, I knew it was going to take time for many to embrace my message of inclusion. Expecting everyone to be supportive right away is simply not realistic. If you asked anyone who has competed in high-level men's professional sports, I believe they would agree with me. This doesn't change the way I go about my business, or my belief in what I am doing, but it's reality.
After reading his comments, I appreciate that Daniel spoke his truth. I really do. I was visiting his team, and a reporter asked his opinion about me. He was brave to share his feelings, and it made me want to work harder and be a better example that someday might allow him to view things from my perspective, if only for just a moment.
I respect him, and I want everyone to know that he was respectful of me. We have baseball in common, and for now, that might be the only thing. But it's a start.
The silver lining in his comments are that he would be open to investing in a relationship with a teammate, even if he "disagrees" with the lifestyle. It may not be perfect, but I do see him making an effort to reconcile his religious beliefs with his interpretation of the word lifestyle. It took me 32 years to fully accept my sexual orientation, so it would be hypocritical of me to not be patient with others.
Inclusion means everyone, plain and simple. Daniel is part of that group. A Major League clubhouse is now one of the most diverse places in sports. It wasn't always that way, but we can thank No. 42 for that. So in his honor, with a little patience, compassion and hard work, we'll get there.
Bean is the MLB's Ambassador for Inclusion and was recently invited by the Met's general manager Sandy Alderson to spend the day with the team. Alderson wanted Bean, who is also the first major league player to come out as gay, to tell the players his story and how he left the league. Alderson hoped Bean's story would make the Met's clubhouse a more inclusive place for all people.
Bean played in the majors for six seasons but did not come out until a number of years after his career ended in 1995. Alderson heard him speak last year to a room full of baseball execs and was inspired by what he had to say, wanting to spread his message to his players.
