Major League Baseball has adopted a new non-discrimination policy to include gay players as a part of their protected classes, The New York Daily News reports.
The MLB and the Major League Baseball Players’ Association amended Article XV of the agreement which was due to renew this year. In addition to protecting “race, color, religion or national origin,” both organizations will now protect players based on sexual orientation.
“In a majority of states in our country, it is still perfectly legal to fire someone just for being gay, and 13 of the 30 Major League teams are located in those states that allow anti-gay firings,” Tico Almeida, president of Freedom to Work, said. “No player should have to fear harassment or workplace retaliation if he were to publicly come out as gay.”
The New York Daily News reported the decision was made in part by “lawyers on both sides just recognizing that it should be there.”
Multiple teams within the MLB organization operate in states where anti-gay job dismissals are legal. Teams operating in those states include the Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Phillies, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Miami Marlins, and others.
Despite anti-gay legislation that exists in those states, the amended Article will protect players against such actions as a part of the new initiative.
