Chicago Cubs acquire Daniel Murphy and his ‘lifestyle’ baggage in deal

Chicago Cubs: “I disagree with the lifestyle.”

Three years ago, then-New York Mets infielder Daniel Murphy made his stance on homosexuality perfectly clear. Apparently, being gay is a choice. It’s simply a ‘lifestyle,’ much the same as being a fitness fanatic or an art lover or a conservationist.

Are you kidding me?

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Murphy went on to say he could love such an individual as a person, referencing Billy Bean, Major League Baseball’s inclusion ambassador.

"“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.”"

Now, this is hardly the blatant, outright attacks we’ve seen made against gays in the United States and around the world. But, again, we come back to the main issue with his initial comments. Being gay is not a choice. It’s not something someone wakes up one day saying, “I think I’m going to be gay today.” That’s not how it works – and comments like Murphy’s did and still do a great deal of harm to the LGBTQ cause.

I know more than a few of you will chastise me for saying that. But, to be honest, I don’t really care. His comments, encircled in the safety of religion and love, still discredit those in the gay community for an apparent ‘choice’ they made with their lives.

Growing up in a small town in the Midwest, I’m all too familiar with this mindset in people. But you know what? If you can’t pull your backwards thinking into the modern world, try this on for size. Be open. Try to understand.