Thu. August 23, 2018
Chicago, IL -
The Chicago Cubs created controversy earlier this week when the team acquired infielder Daniel Murphy, who is known for making homophobic comments. The trade comes just days before Out at Wrigley, the Cubs' official gay day at Wrigley Field.
Murphy, who made his Cubs' debut on Wednesday, made the comments in 2015 about former MLB player Billy Bean, who came out as gay following his big-league career.
"I disagree with his lifestyle. I do disagree with the fact that Billy is a homosexual," Murphy said. "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."
Bean, who serves as MLB's Ambassador of Inclusion, said he and Murphy have since found common ground and become friends. Murphy has never publicly addressed his comments.
"What's most unfortunate here isn't what Murphy said, but how he has done nothing to improve the situation since," wrote Cyd Zeigler, Editor of Outsports.com. "He's on the record saying he disagrees with the 'lifestyle' of an entire class of people with a long history of persecution in sports."
Cubs G.M. Jed Hoyer said that the Cubs consulted with Bean before trading for Murphy, and that they were given an endorsement to execute the deal.
"We wanted to get his impression of it," Hoyer told reporters on Wednesday. "He was really positive and thought the organization could really benefit from his presence. We felt it was important to make that phone call."
The Chicago Tribune reported the Ricketts family approved the trade after board member Laura Rickets, an out lesbian, received assurances that Murphy worked with MLB baseball following his comments three years ago.
Under the Ricketts, the Cubs have had a presence in the Chicago Pride Parade every year since 2010 and in 2017 the team brought the World Series Championship Trophy on their float, which was the first time a World Series Trophy has been included in a Pride parade.
This Sunday, the Cubs will host Out at Wrigley, the longest-running LGBT-themed day among the 30 Major League Baseball teams.
Out at Wrigley organizers posted a response on Facebook:
"Please bring all your rainbow flags and rainbow anything you have to the game Sunday to show the newly acquired Cubs player that the Cubs have a huge LGBT fan base and we don't care if he disagrees with the gay 'lifestyle'."
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