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9 Baseball Players Who Opened Up About Being Gay
LGBT individuals are some of the most courageous and powerful change agents and leaders I’ve met, as well as the most tenacious defenders of the weak and voiceless because they know what it’s like to be there. Ronan Farrows. So, here we will discuss some of the bravest of all beings; as we all know, homophobia is still prominent in baseball, as it is in other sports. Despite efforts to support the LGBTQ community, they have been ineffectual.
Baseball is one of America’s five major sports, and its popularity is growing around the world.
Major League Baseball appears to be lagging behind other sports leagues in terms of accepting LGBT athletes.
In Major League Baseball, players were recorded shouting homophobic insults during games.
The current episode with Reds broadcaster Brennaman, among others, demonstrates why.
Using 9 baseball players as examples.
Pride is for everyone.
In professional baseball, brave players who publicly come out as homosexual are mostly from the minor levels.
Because of the pressure to embrace pride players in baseball, homosexual players who come out as gay before or after retirement may have a short career.
Barker, Matt
Matt Barker was a high school baseball prodigy at the time.
Later, the Colorado Rockies selected him with the 46th pick.
The club, on the other hand, wanted him to finish college.
However, he was thrown off the collegiate team and was not drafted afterward.
He now plays second base for the Denver Browns in the National Adult Baseball League.
Later, during an interview with SB Nation, he confirmed his sexual orientation.
He chose to join the Browns because the organization was already aware of his sexual orientation and it was not an issue for them.
Santana, Ryan Jordan
Ryan Santana was a professional baseball player with the Golden Dodgers in Australia.
I attended Christain University Azusa Pacific University, which has a policy that specifically prohibits homosexuals from enrolling.
Furthermore, Santan made waves in 2017 when he came out as gay in front of his mother and teammates while filming This Is Life, a TLC series.
He afterward retired from baseball and joined Phoneix’s gay softball group.
Despite this, Santan had always had plans after coming out as gay.
He refuses to play baseball.
John Dillinger was drafted by the Pirates in 1992.
He bounced around five minor league teams for 11 years during his professional career.
Dillinger revealed his sexuality to Outsports in 2012.
However, Dillinger also states that he had no intention of informing his colleagues after hearing homophobic slurs.
Similarly, he only told his family members about dating a man in 2007.
He afterward became involved with Gregory Fisher.
Furthermore, former Pittsburgh Pirates owner Kevin McClatchy inspired him to publicly come out as gay.
Dunnington, Tyler
Tyler Dunnington is a former pitcher with the St. Louis Cardinals’ minor league organization.
He was the 28th overall pick in the 2014 MLB draft.
Dunnington, however, departed from baseball after only one year in the league.
Before retiring, he had not acknowledged his sexual orientation to any of his teammates or the general public.
Later, in an interview with SB Nation Outsports, he said hearing anti-gay insults from teammates in the locker room or during games was like a dagger in the heart.
He further stated that comments made by coaches and players about killing gay people destroyed his spirit.
Later, after a promising debut season, he abandons baseball due to a lack of support.
However, with the encouragement of his family and friends, he found the strength to return to the sport he had loved since childhood.
Dunnington later attended the MLB Diversity Business Summit in Phoenix in 2016.
Burch, Jason
Jason Burch has been a member of four separate MLB franchise-affiliated teams.
He started his career in 2008 and retired in 2008.
His mother has always instructed him that he should never answer if no one asks him a question.
Later in life, he repeated the same mantra.
Despite telling his teammates about his sexuality, he did not publicly come out until 2015, when he spoke with Outsports.
Brunch also says he should have announced his sexual orientation during his playing days.
During his minor league career, he dated men on every team for over 6 years.
He earned a legal degree after quitting baseball.
Brunch later met his current partner, Drew Raines, in 2012.
Denson, David
David Denson is a former professional baseball player from the United States.
In addition, he was a minor-league outfielder and first baseman with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Denson was the 15th overall choice in the 2013 MLB draft by the Milwaukee Brewers.
However, he spent his first two seasons with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.
Later that year, in the 2015 season, he faced Helena Brewers.
Denson returned to Wisconsin the next season and played outfield.
Denson also confirmed his sexuality to his Wisconsin teammates in 2015.
He was relieved to witness his comrades’ support.
Later that month, in August 2015, Billy Bean assisted Densen in contacting the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in order to openly come out as gay.
Furthermore, he was the first big league affiliated player and the second current professional baseball player to openly come out as gay.
David Denson, 22, unexpectedly retired from baseball in 2017.
He also stated that previous announcements about coming out as gay had no bearing on his choice.
Conroy, Sean
Sean Conroy is a former major league baseball player.
In the minor leagues, he was a member of the Sonoma Stompers.
Furthermore, he is the first baseball player to officially declare his homosexuality.
Conroy disclosed his sexuality on June 25, 2013, during a pride night match during his debut.
He pitched the entire game in the historic game, striking out 11 batters.
Conroy finished that season with a 5-3 record.
Conroy first told his parents about his sexuality when he was 16 years old.
His teammates from high school and college were also aware.
Stompers were unaware of his sexual orientation when he signed his contract.
However, after his arrival, he informed his teammates and owner.
Conroy was warmly backed by the squad, and everyone wore rainbow socks for the memory game.
Later, all of his teammates signed the scorecard from his historic start, and his jersey was displayed in the Hall of Fame.
Similarly, he was startled to learn that he is the only professional baseball player to come out publicly.
Conroy also stated that he has heard numerous homophobic terms over his work and that the major reason for coming out is to educate others.
Conroy announced his retirement from baseball in 2017, just two years into his professional career.
According to the search graph, Sean Conroy appeared to be the most searched after the others mentioned before him.
Mr. Billy Bean
Billy Bean is the second MLB player to publicly declare his homosexuality.
Bean was taken in the fourth round of the 1986 MLB draft by the Detroit Tigers.
During his professional career, he played outfield for MLB teams such as the Tigers, Dodgers, and Padres from 1987 to 1995.
However, he declared his sexual orientation just four years after retiring in 1999.
In an interview with the Miami Herald, he revealed his sexual orientation.
During his time in Padres, though, he told his parents.
Furthermore, he had previously been in a relationship with a lady.
He married Loyola Marymount, but the marriage ended in divorce three years later.
Furthermore, Bean stated that he was 28 years old when he had his first sexual experience with a man.
Later, he met Efrain Veiga, the creator of the Yuca restaurant.
They lived together in Miami Beach for 13 years before splitting up in 2008.
Since coming out as homosexual, Bean has been an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ rights, particularly in sports.
Going the other way was written by Bean in 2003 in response to criticism and hope of gay athletes being accepted by others in sports.
During that period, his book became one of the best-sellers in the United States.
He was named the first MLB Ambassador for Inclusion in 2014.
He was then appointed as vice president of social responsibility and inclusion.
He also serves on the board of the Gay and Lesbian Foundation.
In addition, each year, Bean spends time speaking with current MLB players on LGBTQ problems.
As we can see from the search graph, Billy Bean is not particularly popular.
Burke, Glenn
Glenn Lawrance Burke is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.
During his early career, from 1976 to 1978, he was regarded as a talented standout for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
He also made his debut in the 1977 World Series.
However, injury hampered his career.
He then played for the Oakland Athletics before retiring in 1980.
He is also the first MLB athlete to open up about his sexuality.
He did not, however, speak out in the media.
But he told his Dodgers teammates and owners that he is gay.
It was only in 1982 that he made a public announcement when gay articles were printed by Inside sports magazine.
Later, after joining Oakland, he was mistreated.
Burke informed players they were scared to take a shower with him.
He also stated the management was homophobic.
Burke is also given credit for creating the high five.
ESPN presented The High Five examining every element of the event and how it was invented.
Even after retirement, he actively competed in athletic activities.
Burke participated in gay games, in 1982 in track and baseball in 1986.
Moreover, in 1982 he won medals in both the 100 and 200 meters at the first-ever LGBT games.
However, he slipped into drug difficulties and tested positive for HIV and Aids. Later, he died of Aids in 1985, aged 42.
Later, in 2013 he was inducted into the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of fame in the first class.
Likewise, many publications linked to his biography have been written.
Also, read Tony Bradley, Giannis Antetokounmpo Girlfriend, Raheem Mostert’s
Other significant names
Former MLB club Pittsburgh Pirates owner Kevin McClatchy came out as gay after chatting with The New York Times.
In 2014, Dale Scott, an MLB umpire from 1986 to 2004, acknowledged his sexuality in Referee magazine.
