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Major League Baseball bans hazing when it is sexist or homophobic

MLB doesn’t want players dressed as women anymore.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim v Texas Rangers - Game Two
Justin Grimm was the target of hazing in 2012.
Photo by Rick Yeatts/Getty Images

Major League Baseball is being hailed for a move that is aimed at bringing the “tradition” of sports hazing into 2016. The league has announced that it will bar certain kinds of hazing aimed at demeaning people through the lens of over sexism, among other things.

From the AP:

The policy, obtained by The Associated Press, prohibits ''requiring, coercing or encouraging'' players from ''dressing up as women or wearing costumes that may be offensive to individuals based on their race, sex, nationality, age, sexual orientation, gender identify or other characteristic.''

The forced dressing as women has been a “thing” in MLB for quite a while. According to Billy Bean, MLB’s vice-president, social responsibility and inclusion, veterans have long forced rookies to dress up in feminine clothing on the last road trip of the season (see: above). Bean played in Major League Baseball for several seasons before coming out as gay.

According to reports, the players union has agreed to the ban with the ability of players to challenge penalties.