Toronto Blue Jay Yunel Escobar returned to the field last night after a 3 game ban due to an anti-gay slur he wrote in his eye black last week, and was greeted with an opening pitch from openly gay former MLS player David Testo.
The Washington Post has more:
Before the game, Escobar sat down with Jose Estevez, an openly gay distance runner from Boston College, and Patrick Burke, the founder of You Can Play.
Escobar’s lost salary during his three-game ban — about $82,000 — was to be directed to You Can Play and the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.
Burke said the 45-minute meeting was helpful for all parties.
“I think it put a face on the issue for Yunel,” Burke said. “I think it humanized the issue of gay athletes for Yunel and I think Jose did a great job today.”
Escobar was penalized after writing “You Are A Faggot” in Spanish before a recent game. He was met with boos from some in the crowd last night after his name was announced. The Blue Jays’ manager says Escobar may continue to hear some boos: “He understands whatever comes his way is part of the process. He made a terrible mistake and is going to have to be accountable.”
