The Gay Ballplayer Debate

Out Magazine Editor In Chief Brendan Lemon wrote a column declaring that he is "having an affair" with a pro baseball player. The catch: the ballplayer is closeted.

We tackle the issue from a variety of angles:

Radio talk show hosts stir the pot. 
"Mental malfunctions.'' ``Gays are going to hell." ``As bad as drug-dealers." These anti-gay slurs were typical of much listener response to the gays in baseball issue on radio talk shows in the Heartland and Bible Belt

Cubs Market Directly to Gay Fans 
After considering it for a year, the Chicago Cubs bought ad space in the Chicago Free Press, a gay newspaper.  They also sold 2,000 tickets for ``Out at the Ball Game'' at Wrigley. 

What We've Learned the Past Three Weeks  
It was an interesting three weeks after the media got wind of Lemon's column.  Everyone talked about it from Jim Rome to Dan Patrick to gay men who usually wouldn't be talking about sports.  Plus, we got to see some interesting poll data from ESPN, how players might react, and the power of the Internet.

Should Jocks Come Out?
Jim Buzinski takes a look at why athletes stay closeted, and offers some sound advice to any jocks who may be considering coming out.

How To Not Treat Your Closeted Boyfriend
Cyd Zeigler was not impressed with the way Brendan Lemon handled himself in the column, and explains why Lemon may have done something even worse than outing the player.  

Grading the media's coverage.  
The media generally did a good job of presenting positive, non-judgmental coverage of this news story.

A gay fan challenges baseball.
A gay Chicago Cubs fan has, for years, been corresponding with men all over the Major Leagues to make inroads for gay players and fans alike.