MLB’s Billy Bean Passes At 60 + More News

Some news items I thought worth your time: • Major League Baseball: Billy Bean, Major League Baseball’s Senior Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, passed away at his home on Tuesday after an 11-month battle with acute myeloid leukemia at the age of 60. Bean was the only living openly gay Major League player (current or former), having come out in 1999.

We are deeply saddened by the loss of Billy Bean, former @MLB player and the second MLB player to come out as gay publicly. @billybeanball was a longtime friend to HRC, and his legacy will continue to inspire us and promote acceptance. https://t.co/4jcF2oa19x

— HRC (@HRC) August 7, 2024

• Real Clear Politics: The latest NPR/PBS poll shows Vice President Kamala Harris leading Don-old Trump by 3 points – 51% to 48%. • Politico: An Arizona Republican who falsely claimed to be a legitimate presidential elector for former President Donald Trump — part of a sweeping effort by Trump and his allies to subvert the 2020 election — has pleaded guilty for her role in the scheme.

Arizona Republican becomes first fake elector to plead guilty for role in Trump scheme https://t.co/mPJ56yIulu

— POLITICO (@politico) August 7, 2024

• Boy Culture: Valentina Gomez, the sneering homophobe who called queer people “faggots” in her campaign to become the SOS of Missouri, (1) lost by a LOT LOT LOT, and (2) got her brother fired in New Jersey for supporting her anti-gay campaign. • Bad Ideas: GOP vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance attacked Dem VP candidate Gov. Tim Walz for “stolen valor” saying Walz’s 24 years in the Army/National Guard didn’t stand up to his 4 years in the press office of the Marines.

Walz served as an enlisted soldier in the Army National Guard for 24 years, where he attained the rank of command sergeant major.

Vance served a single four-year enlistment in the Marines, where he worked for the press office. https://t.co/mxy99amUqh — Leah McElrath (@leahmcelrath) August 7, 2024