Torii Hunter‘s comments regarding the prospect of playing with an openly gay teammate may have been misinterpreted, but the outfielder’s follow-up couldn’t be any clearer.
Hunter, who was quoted in a Los Angeles Times article over the weekend as saying that playing with an openly gay teammate would be “difficult and uncomfortable,” took to Twitter on Monday to clarify his comments. It’s clear the big league veteran isn’t happy with the way he was portrayed.
Hunter posted the following in an extended tweet (via TwitLonger):
“I’m very disappointed in Kevin Baxter‘s article in which my quotes and feelings have been misrepresented. He took two completely separate quotes and made them into one quote that does not express how I feel as a Christian or a human being. I have love and respect for all human beings regardless of race, color or sexual orientation. I am not perfect and try hard to live the best life I can and treat all people with respect. If you know me you know that I am not anti anything and to be portrayed as anti-gay in this article is hurtful and just not true”
Hunter also sent out the following tweet shortly after.
Don’t believe everything u read. Misleading and way out of context.
— Torii Hunter (@toriihunter48) December 31, 2012
The basis of Baxter’s article was to demonstrate just how difficult it is to be a gay athlete, with a number of voices chiming in.
“For me, as a Christian … I will be uncomfortable because in all my teachings and all my learning, biblically, it’s not right,” Hunter was quoted as saying in the article. “It will be difficult and uncomfortable.”
Hunter’s reported comments were only a small part of Baxter’s article, but they were definitely the most controversial. As a result, the outfielder has been criticized in recent days for being insensitive regarding a topic that’s always going to be hot button. No active player in the NBA, NHL, NFL or MLB has ever come out as gay, and until someone does, there will always be speculation as to how an openly gay player’s teammates would respond.
Hunter’s clarification seems to indicate he might not mind after all.
