Baseball

By Larry Felzer
For Outsports.com

As the first Gay Community Day with the Phillies approaches Aug. 12 and others learn about this event through the media, criticism is beginning. [Editor's note: Milwaukee beat Philadelphia in the game, 6-3]

The American Family Association of Pennsylvania, an anti-gay group, has issued a press release denouncing the Phillies decision to allow LGBT fans to attend a baseball game and openly identify themselves as LGBT fans. As reported by WorldNetDaily, director Diane Gramley stated the LGBT community is "using this in your face method to further seek acceptance of their unusual and dangerous sexual behavior." 

She was particularly concerned about the safety of children attending this game at Philadelphia's Veterans Stadium, citing the recent arrest of some men engaged in sexual activity in the men's room at a local department store. Would setting up separate "gay" and "straight", and maybe "bi" and "trans", and perhaps even "questioning" restrooms take care of her concerns?

What Ms. Gromely doesn't realize is the number of LGBT baseball fans and baseball season ticket holders who already attend Phillies games. It is probable during every home game a LGBT Phillies ticket holder is using the restroom at the same time as some child, as when the restrooms are full at the Vet there are often more than 20 men using the restroom at the same time. Because I have never been in a women's room at the Vet, I cannot speak with any knowledge about how many women can use the women*s restroom at the same time. Perhaps Ms. Gramley would be happier if LGBT attendees were told they can''t use the restrooms at Veterans Stadium. I wonder if Ms. Gramley would be willing to issue adult diapers for those she wants to not use the restrooms with the vulnerable "straight" crowd at the ballpark. 

Locally, a letter writer to the Philadelphia Daily News, in a letter published on Aug. 9, complains about the Phillies hosting "Gay Pride Day" at the Vet. It is very interesting how people read what they want to read into events, without investigating the facts. Just as a local sports radio talk show host talks about the Phillies honoring the gay community. When planning this event with the Phillies, the idea of "Gay Community Day" also being "Gay Pride Day" was never raised, nor were the Phillies asked to honor the gay community. I'm not even sure if the LGBT community in Philadelphia wants to have a gay pride parade marching around on artificial turf.  

The Phillies are welcoming the LGBT community, the same way the Philadelphia Phillies welcome all of their fans. I don't see any reason to ask the Phillies to honor the LGBT community, just to continue to make LGBT fans feel welcome at the Vet and the new ballpark. The LGBT community is being welcomed on the scoreboard because we sold more than 350 tickets. A representative of the LGBT community (or as Ms. Gromely stated "a homosexual") will be throwing out the opening pitch also because we sold those tickets. These are the parameters that were set out in printed group sales literature given to the "Gay Community Day" organizers, as well as information that is readily available to the public on the Phillies.com website. 

The message boards on the phillies.com Web site have had some comments about "Gay Community Day" in the past few days. One writer asked "why are the Phillies promoting homosexuality? I'd like to see a day....in honor of straight white men", to which another poster replied, "How are you going to convince the ticket taker you're a....100% certified heterosexual?". A few of my friends have volunteered to do this screening. Another poster stated that there are "days at the park honoring white heterosexuals ... Pat Burrell Bat Day ... Jim Thome T-shirt day .... not to mention the salute to the championship teams which were mostly white." 

It is nice to know that with this point-counterpoint taking place in these threads on the Phillies.com website, there are still Phillies fans with a sense of humor. Responding to a post asking why this is even being discussed on a baseball message board, another poster replied "the Phillies are playing boring baseball, at this point a heated socio political debase is more interesting than (a) 9-1 loss." But the most amusing poster has to be someone who wrote the Phillies have announced a special award will be given out on gay night "to various players (including Jose Mesa) for blowing games." We'll have to ask the Phillies about doing that next year!

Larry Felzer is an organizer of the Gay Day with the Phillies

Aug. 11, 2003