Yahoo Sports 
Bean and Murphy's exchange offers hope for better days ahead
Billy Bean, who was named the league's first ambassador of inclusion by former MLB commissioner Bud Selig in 2014, is making several planned visits to camps this spring to share his story and provide guidance for players and team employees in support of the gay, bisexual and transgender community.
The most recent stop came on Tuesday, when Bean visited the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie, Fla, and in that one stop, it may have already been proven just how important Bean's role will be to the league going forward.
[Baseball is back! Check out Yahoo For Spring Training for great spring training pics.]
For this visit, general manager Sandy Alderson wanted to put Bean — who played in parts of six seasons and for three different teams from 1987-1995 — in uniform so he could spend the day truly embedded with the team, allowing him to interact with players in the clubhouse and on the field. It was a decision that was universally embraced by Mets players, including veteran Daniel Murphy, who afterward didn't hide the fact that he disagreed completely with Bean's sexual orientation.
"I disagree with his lifestyle," Murphy said. "I do disagree with the fact that Billy is a homosexual. That doesn't mean I can't still invest in him and get to know him. I don't think the fact that someone is a homosexual should completely shut the door on investing in them in a relational aspect. Getting to know him. That, I would say, you can still accept them but I do disagree with the lifestyle, 100 percent."
"Maybe, as a Christian, that we haven't been as articulate enough in describing what our actual stance is on homosexuality," he said. "We love the people. We disagree about the lifestyle. That's the way I would describe it for me. It's the same way that there are aspects of my life that I'm trying to surrender to Christ in my own life. There's a great deal of many things, like my pride. I just think that as a believer trying to articulate it in a way that says just because I disagree with the lifestyle doesn't mean I'm just never going to speak to Billy Bean every time he walks through the door. That's not love. That's not love at all."
Agree or disagree with Murphy's belief, it does take a certain degree of courage to express such honest feelings knowing what the reaction could be. And yes, so far there has been plenty of reaction. Murphy's comments became a hot topic on social media and sports blogs with all sides weighing in.
But not all of it is negative. Far from it, in fact. Some have even acknowledged what sounds like willingness on Murphy's part to put his personal beliefs aside to welcome a gay teammate and are looking at it as a sign for future hope. That the doors are slowly opening wider as opposed to being slammed shut when the topic is even approached.
[Yahoo Sports Fantasy Baseball: Sign up and join a league today!]
In a column written for MLB.com on Wednesday, Bean himself responded to Murphy by expressing appreciation for the honesty. In it, Bean says inclusion isn't just about himself or gay players looking to fit in, it's about everyone in the clubhouse. He also acknowledges that there's progress that obviously still needs to be made, but those steps can't be taken without openness and even the smallest degree of acceptance and willingness to move forward together.
After reading his comments, I appreciate that Daniel spoke his truth. I really do. I was visiting his team, and a reporter asked his opinion about me. He was brave to share his feelings, and it made me want to work harder and be a better example that someday might allow him to view things from my perspective, if only for just a moment.
I respect him, and I want everyone to know that he was respectful of me. We have baseball in common, and for now, that might be the only thing. But it's a start.
The silver lining in his comments are that he would be open to investing in a relationship with a teammate, even if he "disagrees" with the lifestyle. It may not be perfect, but I do see him making an effort to reconcile his religious beliefs with his interpretation of the word lifestyle. It took me 32 years to fully accept my sexual orientation, so it would be hypocritical of me to not be patient with others.
Inclusion means everyone, plain and simple. Daniel is part of that group. A Major League clubhouse is now one of the most diverse places in sports. It wasn't always that way, but we can thank No. 42 for that. So in his honor, with a little patience, compassion and hard work, we'll get there.
Bean acknowledged that it took him 32 years to fully accept his sexual orientation, so it would be hypocritical to not be patient with others who are slow to accept that being gay isn't a choice and shouldn't exclude them. What's important is that Murphy wasn't dismissive. There's hope that by giving some ground and starting this conversation, it will allow more people to be educated and hopefully get beyond the often dismissive and sometimes hate-filled state of mind toward gay people.
It's not a perfect situation or the end point Bean is looking for, but it's a step closer to getting there. And every step represents new hope.
More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:
- - - - - - -
Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at bigleaguestew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
