A professional baseball player says he’d be uncomfortable playing alongside an openly gay teammate because it would conflict with his religious values.
In an L.A. Times article on gay athletes in pro sports, Detroit Tigers right fielder Torri Hunter said, “For me, as a Christian … I will be uncomfortable [with a gay teammate] because in all my teachings and all my learning, biblically, it’s not right. It will be difficult and uncomfortable.”
As a Major League player, Hunter plays against and alongside men who abuse drugs and sleep with prostitutes, who been arrested for drunk driving and spousal abuse, and done God knows what else. B
But that doesn’t seem to interfere with his comfort levels.
How about we take this to the next level?
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Hunter’s not exactly a bastion of multicultural tolerance. In a panel on African-Americans in baseball, he announced black Latinos didn’t “count.”
“People see dark faces out there, and the perception is that they’re African-American. They’re not us. They’re impostors…
As African-American players, we have a theory that [owners] can go get an imitator and pass them off as us. It’s like they had to get some kind of dark faces, so they go to the Dominican or Venezuela because you can get them cheaper.”
Then again, Hunter doesn’t feel comfortable around anyone, does he?
Photo: Keith Allison
Thom
So, Torii, are you uncomfortable playing with the guys who are liars? Violent ones who hit others? Ones who cheat on their wives? Do the ones who cheat on their taxes distract you from your game? How about the ones who are atheists or agnostics? Do they bother you? Would you be upset if a Buddhist joined the team?
If you can’t do your best in a job because of your religious beliefs, the best thing for you to do is find another job. How bout coaching the little kids on the Westboro Baptist “Church’s” baseball team? Of course the salary would be much, much less.
2eo
So he’s a blatant r@cist as well as an atypical religious selective moralist too.
Be a shame if he drove his car into a lamp post and died due to a brain bleed, oh wait, no it wouldn’t. Happy new year.
PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
Here in the UK until recently baseball was known as rounders and was played almost exclusively by girls and children, this situation kind of the mirror image of soccer in your country.
Actually, I’d be happy to never waste another thought on sport again, only, godammit, why they go and make those uniforms so goddamn tight!!!
WayDifferent
So he’s a stereotypical black Detroit homophobe that doesn’t want to lose his job. No Different than the blacks that have kicked their “transgender” misfit offspring (that just happen to be gay) onto the northside of $hitcago to rape and pillage White people. It’s really a vicious cycle.
Maybe in 2013 we’ll make some real progress, forget about the “gay marriage” agenda for just a moment and address black, religious homophobia….. especially among their own.
2eo
@PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID: Err, can I make a quick correction.
It is still known as Rounders, only slightly renamed to Steroid Rounders.
The Real Mike in Asheville
@WayDifferent: Well you and Hunter have at least one thing in common: when you look in a mirror, you see a racist.
Caleb in SC
So this tool hides behind his religious beliefs to excuse his homophobia. How unoriginal, and what complete and utter bullshit. Isn’t this the same guy that fathered at least one child out of wedlock? Where are his religious beliefs when his rutting up on every piece of ass that will spread her legs for him?
Mr. Enemabag Jones
“For me, as a Christian … I will be uncomfortable [with a gay teammate] because in all my teachings and all my learning, biblically, it’s not right. It will be difficult and uncomfortable.”
The same excuses were used to try and keep Jackie Robinson out of major league baseball.
Dakotahgeo
This N bast**d is no Christian! And probably not as good a football player as most foreign athletes brought in to the USA! Another has been who never was! Spousal abuser, who talks, but doesn’t walk his faux religious beliefs!
Dakotahgeo, M.Div. Pastor/Chaplain
Kieran
The really sad and sick part is that by voicing his homophobia publicly, Tori no doubt believes God is pleased with him and will reward him in heaven. Just once I’d like to hear one of these religious hypocrites speak of being uncomfortable around divorced people since Jesus made it very clear he was against divorce.
Papi Balenciaga
hmmm. Interesting, but I have NEVER been the one to loose any sleep based off the commets of some baseball player and his slave master’s religious beliefs
Papi Balenciaga
@WayDifferent: So are Westboro and NOM examples of “white, religious homophobia”? Silly me and here I thought all homophobia was the same. I learned something new today, thanx Queerty.
FireFromHeaven
No, Dominicans are not African-American, but many are African. In terms of their ethnicity, Dominican people are often quite mixed, just like African-Americans. Our own President has called black people a “mongrel race.” He meant no insult, but was specifying that many Black Americans are mixed- like Mr. Hunter himself. Historically speaking, in all probability, Mr. Hunters ancestors were gotten far cheaper than the Dominican athletes he seems to loathe. As for his “Christian” beliefs- give me a break. I really despise people who commandeer Christ as their own personal Lord and Scapegoat for their racist and bigoted beliefs. Leave Christ out of this.
muscl954
Does this guy qualify for “Douche of the Week”? He’s got my vote.
2eo
@Papi Balenciaga: Looking for a reason to play the race card doesn’t mean it’s logical or relevant. WayDifferent was spot on with his analysis.
Get the stick out your arse and use it to beat something that deserves it.
Papi Balenciaga
@2eo: you mean like that stupid ass comment you just made? If way different had not brought the issue of race in the mix then there would have been no need for me to check him on it and there is no difference between white homophobia and black homophobia. So your snarky ass comment is directed at the wrong one because it seems that he was first to pull the race card out the deck, i just made sure he put that chit back in the deck because there was no need for it… Have a phucking great new year
Spike
What is it that these guys do in the locker-room and showers that is so sexualized that having a gay teammate would make them uncomfortable.
Makes you wonder.
The Real Mike in Asheville
@Dakotahgeo: And you are a Christian? Really? And BTW, baseball players play baseball while football players play football. Oh, and since when is being born in a country, in a family that has been in a country for centuries, considered “brought into” anywhere?
****
Hunter’s bigotry does not justify yours — you too are a bigot, a racist bigot.
Dakotahgeo
@Papi Balenciaga: Now… now… quit acting like Torri Hunter. You’re embarrassing yourself… again.
Papi Balenciaga
@Dakotahgeo: How? By point out to some people on this site that there is no different types of homophobia? A thug who is homophobic is no different than a senator who is homophobic now if their homophobia is different then please explain it to me… If not then please sir have a seat.
IvanPH
Arent baseball gloves made of pig’s skin? I mean PIG, the animal his bible calls an abomination.
CM79
Agree Papi Balenciaga. Commenters at this blog are notorious for using homophobia as a vehicle to fuel and exercise their bubbling under racism. Stories of homophobia perpetrated by white people are posted here regularly, and when that happens not a single racially-motivated comment is peeped. It’s just “homophobia,” with no color attached. But let a story detailing an instance of homophobia with someone of color in question, and you can literally start counting down to either someone saying something blatantly racist in retaliation, or someone making a cliche reference paralleling homophobia to racism in a paper thin attempt to draw some to call out hypocrisy.
Doesn’t happen just here. It also happens at Towleroad, Joe My God, After Elton…basically at all gay blogs.
Dakotahgeo
@Papi Balenciaga: Time explaining this to you would be completely wasted. I was already sitting down, already! (Unnngh!!!)
CM79
Agree Papi Balenciaga. Commenters at this blog are notorious for using homophobia as a vehicle to fuel and exercise their bubbling under r@cism. Stories of homophobia perpetrated by white people are posted here regularly, and when that happens not a single r@cially-motivated comment is peeped. It’s just “homophobia,” with no color attached. But let a story detailing an instance of homophobia with someone of color in question, and you can literally start counting down to either someone saying something blatantly r@cist in retaliation, or someone making a cliche reference paralleling homophobia to r@cism in a paper thin attempt to draw some to call out hypocrisy.
Doesn’t happen just here. This lame tit-for-tat Pac Man defense also happens at Towleroad, Joe My God, After Elton…basically at all gay blogs.
Dakotahgeo
@CM79: Annnd?? Your point is? We already KNEW that!!! Non-issue! (And straight, or slightly bent blogs also. Don’t forget them).
FireFromHeaven
@FireFromHeaven: So you won’t approve my comment, but you’ll allow other members to berate each other with a barrage of insults? I would be willing to revise my comment. I assume it’s the reference to the American slave trade that is bothering you. Or perhaps my lack of context given to the President’s “mongrel race” comment. I can provide you with a source, of course. I will withdraw, but I think you’re being a tad unfair with your policies.
Papi Balenciaga
@Dakotahgeo: mmmm-hummm. Yeah, so there is NO difference, just like I stated in my previous posts. A homophobic bigot is a homophobic bigot…Glad you agree… Cheers to a great new year.
Little-Kiwi
are to suspect he’s also uncomfortable in the locker room, as a Christian, when the men engage in typical jocular locker-room banter about sex with women? sex that may not be missionary-position and approved by God as an act of procreation?
surely, he’s never engaged in oral sex with a woman at any point in his life as that would be un-Christian of him.
or is this one of those things when people suddenly only become Christians when they need an excuse to talk smack about gay people?
1EqualityUSA
This outfielder didn’t even read the Bible from which he formed his opinion. Jesus never said one word about gays the entire time He was on the planet. Jesus never talked about gays, nor are gays mentioned in the Ten Commandments, nor in the Summary of the Law. No prophet expounds upon gays. It really wasn’t that concerning in early churches.
Being judgmental is the worse offense. That’s spoken of so often that it would seem to be the more important lesson for us. As for this man’s concern, Jesus must not have shared this concern, as He never spoke about gays. (Never.)
Much has been learned about how the human psyche and physiological effects can alter one’s sexuality. Perhaps, all knowing Jesus was so quiet about this subject because He saw what rabbinical Paul (Saul) could not see. People have always been gay and always will be. It’s not unusual. When we leave these temporal bodies, flesh will cease, gender will cease, the only thing we will have will be a spirit, defined by how we treated others. Love endures. You’ve been commanded to love, not point fingers in judgment. The mercy you’ve shown to others will be meted out to you accordingly. This outfielder has no business judging others, especially when he is so Biblically illiterate.
#7, “The same excuses were used to try and keep Jackie Robinson out of major league baseball.” —Exactly!
Papi Balenciaga
@CM79: Word and you can’t call them on it because then you will be accused of playing what FOX News classifies as that dreaded “Race card”
Thom
In the photo above, torii is shown in a Minnesota uniform. Wonder if Michele and Marcus got to him while he was there?
PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
@FireFromHeaven: i presume this is in reference to being moderated. Queerty is notorious for its throw-a-six-to-start mod rules. So bear in mind you can’t say the C word, p-ssy, and c-ck, I think; most notoriously you CAN be racist and even say the N word but you cannot pull anyone up by daring to use the word “r@cist”, that would be beyond the pale. That’s right, the R word is banned!
PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
@FireFromHeaven: I presume this is in reference to being moderated. Queerty is notorious for its throw-a-six-to-start mod rules. So bear in mind you can’t say the C word, p-ssy, and c-ck, I think; most notoriously you CAN be r@cist and even say the N word but you cannot pull anyone up about it by daring to use the word “r@cist”, that would be beyond the pale. That’s right, the R word is banned!
Brian
Torri Hunter is trash. Imagine if someone said that they would not want to play next to a black man!!
Daniel-Reader
He treats gays the same way Mormons treat blacks. What a loser.
biguy
Fuck you Torii, maybe you should focus on raising your kid not to be a rapist instead of running your goddamn mouth, you overpaid piece of shit
http://www.thedaily.com/page/2012/05/15/051512-news-gang-rape-1-2/
2eo
@biguy: Well said, this needs a lot more emphasis.
How about posting this as an article Queerty?
Kudos biguy, most relevant piece of news I’ve ever seen posted here.
1EqualityUSA
Biguy, Wow. Gang rape. Torrii Hunter has a Hell of a lot more to worry about than gay teammates.
Torrii, did you know that the Bible sees no difference between rape and murder. They are equal offenses and treated the same in God’s eyes. Maybe if you had actually read that Bible, from which you cloak your prejudices, you might have reared a son that didn’t harm others. At least Mike Huckabee’s son merely tied a dog up in a tree and tortured it to death. Your son is accused of gang raping a child. You vile Bible thumpers make me vomit a little in my mouth. Shove your baseball.
Little-Kiwi
it’s to be expected. anti-gay bigot raises gang-rapist son.
like Mike Huckabee. Whose son was kicked out of the scouts for torturing and murdering a stray dog. And yet, despite that utterly sociopathic action, is legally allowed to own and carry loaded guns, and marry.
gay = bad. gun-toting sociopathic rapist = good. as long as you’re straight.
thank you, conservative america!
Dakotahgeo
@The Real Mike in Asheville: I have no time for conservative Christian Taliban people, sports? one doesn’t take any more or less brains than the other on football, baseball fields, locker rooms or any other. Sports that take calculation and thinking are much more challenging. As far as being a Christian or even NOT being a Christian is not for you to decide. Your point is null and void! Do have a nice day and Blessings, Peace, and Joy to you in this New Year 2013!
Dakotahgeo
Correction:
“I have no time for conservative Christian Taliban people,….” The capital “C” should have been a small “c,” as in christian. There is a BIG difference: Christian people DO the work of God, Christian people judge others and do little or nothing for other people. I thankfully work with the Christian people to help ALL people. Just to clear that misconception up for you, Mike.
Dakotahgeo
@The Real Mike in Asheville: Football? Baseball??? Mehhhhhh…… same difference. Now soccer?! THAT’S a thinking man’s game, much like Chess! You gotta plan your moves and be ready and willing to change strategies on a moment’s notice!
Dakotahgeo
@Dakotahgeo: I believe the small c is not working for the word, christian. Refer back to my definition.