News (USA)

Major League Baseball criticizes Arizona anti-gay religious freedom bill

Major League Baseball criticizes Arizona anti-gay religious freedom bill

NEW YORK — Major League Baseball has issued a statement criticizing legislation in Arizona that if enacted would add protections for people who assert their religious beliefs in refusing service to gays.

mlbArizona Gov. Jan Brewer faces a Saturday deadline to sign or veto Senate Bill 1062.

The baseball commissioner’s office says “as the sport of Jackie Robinson, Major League Baseball and its 30 clubs stand united behind the principles of respect, inclusion and acceptance. Those values are fundamental to our game’s diverse players, employees and fans. We welcome individuals of different sexual orientations, races, religions, genders and national origins.”

The statement Wednesday went on to say “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, attitude s or actions that imperil the inclusive communities that we have strived to foster within our game.”

© 2014, Associated Press, All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Don't forget to share:

Support vital LGBTQ+ journalism

Reader contributions help keep LGBTQ Nation free, so that queer people get the news they need, with stories that mainstream media often leaves out. Can you contribute today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated

Kerry: U.S. launching new effort to combat anti-gay laws worldwide

Previous article

Transcript: Ariz. governor Jan Brewer’s statement on vetoed bill

Next article