Braves pitcher John Smoltz criticized the battle to legalize
gay marriage in a recent interview with the Associated Press. ‘What’s
next, marrying an animal?” he reportedly said. (Photo by Duane Burleson/AP)
Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz and catcher Eddie Perez reportedly made
anti-gay comments last week during interviews with the Associated Press, including
Smoltz comparing same-sex marriage to legalizing bestiality.
The AP article, published July 3, examined homophobia in professional sports
and the prospects of a gay player coming out in baseball, basketball, football
or hockey.
But Smoltz spoke specifically about the most dominant social issue in the gay
rights movement, marriage equality, sparking one local activist to demand an
apology.
“Smoltz, a devout Christian, criticized those who want to legalize gay marriage,”
the AP reported. “‘What’s next? Marrying an animal?’ he asked derisively.”
Kris Pierce, who is leading the fight against a proposed state constitutional
ban on gay marriage to be decided by Georgia voters in November, called Perez
and Smoltz’s comments “nothing new.”
“Unfortunately major league sports haven’t come around to mainstream thinking,”
Pierce said, adding that the players’ comments were induced by “testosterone
and unfounded fear.”
Pierce, who is heterosexual, said he was personally offended by Smoltz’s remarks
and demanded that the Cy Young Award-winning pitcher and perennial Hall of Famer
publicly apologize.
“To say that we are akin to animals is a slap in the face to the GLBT community,”
said Pierce, Georgia Equality’s campaign manager on the amendment. “I think
he owes the GLBT community an apology, and I have no problem saying that I expect
one from him.”
But Brad Hainje, media relations director for the Braves, said he has talked
to the players about the AP article and both said the quotes attributed to them
don’t reflect their views on homosexuality.
“Eddie [Perez] told me that those quotes that were attributed to him were inaccurate,”
Hainje said. “[Smoltz also] said the article did not accurately reflect his
views on the topic.”
Jack Stokes, director of media relations for AP, said no one from the Braves
has contacted the news service requesting a clarification or correction surrounding
the players’ comments.
Hainje said he believed Smoltz was working with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
on an article that would clarify his position. Smoltz would not give interviews
to other media outlets on the issue, Hainje said.
Hainje attempted to arrange an interview between Southern Voice and Perez,
but one could not be conducted by press time.
Comments attributed to the two Braves players don’t represent the views of
the organization, Hainje said.
“They were speaking from their personal point of view,” he said.
Rocker redux?
Smoltz and Perez aren’t the first Braves players to stir controversy with public
comments deriding gay people.
Former Braves relief pitcher John Rocker caused a national stir in 1999 by
ridiculing a host of minority groups when describing to a Sports Illustrated
reporter why he would not want to play for a New York-based team.
“Imagine having to take the No. 7 train to the ballpark, looking like you’re
[riding] through Beirut, next to some kid with purple hair, next to some queer
with AIDS, right next to some dude who just got out of jail for the fourth time,
right next to some 20-year-old mom with four kids,” Rocker said.
Local gay rights activists mounted significant protests. Rocker was ordered
by Major League Baseball to undergo a psychiatric evaluation and was briefly
suspended by the league before being traded from the Braves in June 2001.
The new comments by Perez and Smoltz indicate that the Braves organization
has done little to combat homophobia among its players, according to Donna Lopiano,
CEO of the Women’s Sports Foundation, which helped create the Homophobia in
Sports Project.
“I think the male locker room has had a reputation of being homophobic and
lacking tolerance in many respects,” Lopiano said. “And few sports organizations
have taken on the challenge of making these rooms better.”
Hainje said he was unaware of any sensitivity or diversity training offered
by the Braves for players.
In addition to Smoltz’s comments against gay marriage, he predicted that it
was only a matter of time before an openly gay player is among the MLB ranks.
Despite his religious beliefs, Smoltz was reported to say he wouldn’t have a
problem having a gay teammate “unless it compromised the team.”
In his comments to the AP, Perez also said he wouldn’t mind having a gay teammate,
so long as he knew the player’s sexual orientation up front.
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Ruby10 Denver
, Co
0
What I think about same sex marriages is that they are nothing bad its just how people choose to be. This country is suppose to a free country well its not even though people say it is. Gay, bi-sexual, and lesbian guys and girls should have a right to do what they prefer. I mean they say everybody should be happy well these type of people should get the chance to be very happy. I think that a law should get passed that gay people can get married. I hope that people that read this really like my idea. I am a straight girl that likes to hang out with gay people I my self think they are very interesting an awesome to hang out with. I am 16 turning 17 if you are toward my idea you should let other people now don’t let people hold you back yea they might make you feel bad but its ok if you approve of your self you shouldn’t care what people say.
Posted 10/28/08 - 1:30 PM
BIBIS06 Denver
, Co
0
America Is a free country right? Well I don’t think so there is a lot of gay people in this place right its huge and the thing is that America supposed to be this awesome big free country but the truth is that its not and the reason why I say this is simply because I don’t get to marry who I want I’m a guy living in Denver Colorado
I’m 17 years old about to turn 18. I was thinking to myself what about the gay people lesbians, gays and bi-sexual guys and girls we don’t get the right to marry who we want and I think that sucks. I think since America is a free country we should get the right to marry who we want because we are not doing anything bad if we just get to be together and be happy, well that would be my American dream. But my opinion stands I think we should get the right to have same sex marriage. I hope I get to a lot of people with my opinion I know its not the greatest thing ever but well I hope you gay people out there could relate to it if you would like to share your ideas with me please write to me at sinahid_medellin@yahoo.com that’s my e-mail duh!