MLB On AZ Anti-Gay Bill: We Have 'Zero-Tolerance Policy' On LGBT Discrimination

[DonViejo]

Source: TPM

CAITLIN MACNEAL – FEBRUARY 26, 2014, 6:55 PM EST

Major League Baseball on Wednesday issued a statement on the controversial anti-gay bill passed by the Arizona legislature last week, condemning discrimination against gays and lesbians.

"MLB has a zero-tolerance policy for harassment or discrimination based on sexual orientation, as reflected by our collective bargaining agreement with the MLB Players Association. Accordingly, MLB will neither support nor tolerate any words, attitudes or actions that imperil the inclusive communities that we have strived to foster within our game," the statement reads.

"As the sport of Jackie Robinson, Major League Baseball and its 30 Clubs stand united behind the principles of respect, inclusion and acceptance."

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Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/mlb-zero-tolerance-arizona-bill

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[blkmusclmachine]

1. Bankrupt Arizona. It's the only thing the Teabaggers will understand.

[RKP5637]

5. Exactly, there is nothing special about Arizona, nothing! Yes, there is scenery, but

that should not be paramount to a state that seemingly wants to embrace discrimination, racism, persecution of minorities, bigotry and homophobia. The world is a big place, who really needs Arizona if given a chance for alternatives. The super bowl should also be pulled from Arizona! Even if she veto's it, the crude is still there.

[dbackjon]

12. Really? You think we are all like this

You are as intolerant and hateful as the assholes that voted for this bill.

85% of Arizonans opposed this bill.


You will find hateful bigots in every state, every city.

[RKP5637]

15. Who votes these people in? I come from a state where exactly the same is happening. n/t

[dbackjon]

16. Unfortunately, a small minority controls the Republican Party

If there is a silver lining to this, it has opened the eyes of many moderates as to what the GOP is doing to our state.

[RKP5637]

18. Yep, you're right, I over reacted. You know, I start to get so pissed off with all

of this nonsense. As you said, it's waking the moderates up. I have friends that think they have to do nothing, and I keep telling them they had best pay attention to what is going on, that these individuals have an agenda, they are focused and all of this does not just happen by chance. They focus themselves on hatred and fear, and that's a powerful motivator for their brainwashed base.

[dbackjon]

21. Their tactics remind me of this:

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me--and there was no one left to speak for me.




They are slowly trying to make the US a Christian Theocratic Dictatorship.

[RKP5637]

22. Exactly what is going on. I often wonder why so many Americans are so slow to get

what they are trying to do. They invoke god-words and way too many people give them a free pass. So many Americans are so damn gullible and fall hook, line and sinker for their tactics.

[AZ Mike]

6. Hate to say it....

....but you are right.

As a born-and-raised AZ resident, a message must be sent.

Money is all that talks to these people. Speak their language.

[RKP5637]

7. Arizona is already bankrupt! Oh, you meant financially too! Yes, definitely!!! n/t

[Mr.Bill]

2. Of course I totally agree with this statement

but it need some teeth in it. They could at least say they are looking at relocating the Cactus League. Some individual teams talked about doing this over the "Show me your papers" laws.

[AtheistCrusader]

3. I can't wait for the religious right's howls of protest and boycott of 'america's pasttime'.

[olddad56]

19. let them boycott baseball, it will make going to the game more pleasant

[Cha]

4. EEEEE HAAAAAAAW! I'm so happy

about all these statements from folks from the Majors to Businesses regarding the AZ Legislator Stupid Haters.

Thanks DonViejo!

[frazzled]

8. Great statement ...

But are you sure they meant to include "gender" among the things they won't discriminate against? I've seen baseball players of different races, religions, and national origins, and (one presumes) sexual orientations. But I've never seen a lady baseball player.

I'm not saying they should hire female players. I understand gender differences in a game such as baseball. But don't pretend, just the same.

But when it comes to basketball, I sometimes wonder: is the worst male player in the NBA really better than the best female player in the WNBA? I'm gonna bet not, but you can slap me if I'm wrong on this.

[pangaia]

9. MLB absolutely, positively DOES discriminate agains female umpires.

Of course MLB hates umpires to begin with. :&gt

[aggiesal]

23. Don't cherry pick the stastemernt . . .

It also states that "...Those values are fundamental to our game's diverse
players, [Font color=Red]employees[/font] and fans. ..."

There are women that work at all levels of the front office.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

10. Good. Expose the assholes. Turn on the light and watch these roaches scatter!

[yuiyoshida]

11. I wonder what the Arizona

Baseball team would have done, had it passed? Moved? Refused to play?

[former9thward]

20. It would have done nothing.

Just like MLB will do nothing. The NFL will do nothing.

[yuiyoshida]

24. THE NFL ALREADY

ANNOUNCED that if the bill went though, they would TAKE the SUPERBOWL to Tampa Bay.. That is a huge amount of money, that Jan Brewer would never see. You can BET your butt, that, that influenced her not to sign the bill.

[former9thward]

25. They were bluffing and anyone who knows sports knew it.

Not enough time to switch. SB are awarded 4 years in advance for a reason. Your shouting will not change reality.

[yuiyoshida]

26. Bluffing?

I doubt it...I think they were very serious about it. But you know that is your opinion and I disagree with it. No biggie.

[ChazII]

13. Which of the 50 states sent the first openly bisexual

to Congress?
.
.
.
.
.
That would be the backward, bigoted state of Arizona. Give us credit for doing at least one thing right.

[Zorra]

14. Bravo. Mentioning Jackie Robinson is the perfect finishing touch. nt

[WilliamPitt]

17. Baseball.

"The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It's been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt, and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game, is a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good, and it could be again. Ohhhhhhhh, people will come, Ray. People will most definitely come."

[Keefer]

27. What would MLB have done?

Move the Diamondbacks?