Already posted.

Well sorry. It hadn't been posted yet when I submitted it. I don't have any way to know what other people have submitted that hasn't been posted yet. And the titles were different enough that whoever approved them didn't notice.

300 posts about the submission process!

Ex-Pirates owner McClatchy comes out as gay

Yawn.

I think I asked you before, Ray, do you know any gay people at all?

What I find most interesting is that no players have come out. Far from hostile, the public acceptance of homosexuality and gay people is so high as to be vehemently anti-homophobic.

I'm beginning to think that there there aren't any gay baseball players. I'm incredibly surprised by this, but I don't know how else to interpret the lack of active players who have come out.

What I find most interesting is that no players have come out. Far from hostile, the public acceptance of homosexuality and gay people is so high as to be vehemently anti-homophobic.

I couldn't disagree more. Not only is a large section of the population still vehemently homophobic, but I think an even larger section of the public would be willing to toss around homophobic slurs just to get under an opposing player's skin. Any player who comes out is going to have to take levels verbal abuse unseen since MLB integrated.

[7] I disagree that the section of the population that is vehemently homophobic is large. Furthermore, the rest of the population is showing no tolerance for that intolerance. For me, the tipping point of this perception was an NFL player publicly pushing back against homophobia.

Any fan who's verbally abusing a player with homosexual slurs is going to get thrown out of the ballpark.

I think I asked you before, Ray, do you know any gay people at all?

Um, yes? And I don't care that they are gay. And that's cool, because society tells people that we shouldn't care. So I don't see what the issue is, or why it's even news that McClatchy is gay. Would "Ex-Pirates Owner McClatchy comes out as straight" make headlines? This is as newsworthy.

I also don't really care that McClatchy is gay, but grew up in the Bay Area and live in Manhattan. I just assume half the people I meet are gay.

This one is for you, Ray.

I also don't really care that McClatchy is gay, but grew up in the Bay Area and live in Manhattan. I just assume half the people I meet are gay

You're underestimating.

In a massive step forward for equality, gay men prove they can run baseball teams just as poorly as straight men.

Shooty, thanks - I enjoyed that discussion of Columbo immensely.

[7] I disagree that the section of the population that is vehemently homophobic is large.

define "large"

[14] Well, gay "marriage-style rights" support polls at >50%. I don't imagine a significant portion of that are libertarians who despise homosexuality, but don't think its the government's job to regulate that.

OTOH, those who oppose it are probably falling close to the "vehemently homophobic" description, but...I'm going to choose to define "vehement homophobia" as a fan who'd publicly call a player a "faggot" or otherwise virulent slur, knowing that there will be consequences. My guess for that population size would be less than 10%.

10% of the population would be large, and in some sections of the country that could be significantly higher. I dont know how much of the population holds strong anti gay feelings, but just because its under 50% does not mean its not large. Given the rhetoric in Californing during the prop 8 battle, Id guess its more than 10%. There is probably a poll out there somewhere with actual answers...

Ok here is one mostly useless statistic I have found...
"A study performed in 2007 in the UK for the charity Stonewall reports that up to 90 percent of the population support anti-discrimination laws protecting gay and lesbian people."

#15,

That would imply 3000 such fans out of a crowd of 30000. No way in 2012. In 1975 probably. I could see 10% being the types who would say things like that in quiet voices, when they are sure of who can hear them. The ones who will be obnoxious about it will be few, and will be quickly removed from the park.

Good point AROM.

What I find most interesting is that no players have come out. Far from hostile, the public acceptance of homosexuality and gay people is so high as to be vehemently anti-homophobic.

I'm beginning to think that there there aren't any gay baseball players. I'm incredibly surprised by this, but I don't know how else to interpret the lack of active players who have come out.

I'm not sure we're quite there, but we're moving in that direction. And whoever comes out will be a cult hero for the gay community, and a minor celebrity that will transcend sport. If you're a scrub and you're secretly gay, I think near the end of your career it makes a ton of financial sense to come out, write a book, and cash in. Its kinda odd no one has done this yet.

I've thought that too, AG#1F but... I can understand why a player might alternately not want to come out -or- going the other way, feel unworthy of being the player to break that barrier publically.

If you're a scrub and you're secretly gay, I think near the end of your career it makes a ton of financial sense to come out, write a book, and cash in. Its kinda odd no one has done this yet.

A few players have done it after they were retired.

A few players have done it after they were retired.

Billy Bean never should have written that book.

Yawn.

Never saw him sodomize.