Paul Tuns:
The Toronto Blue Jays cut relief pitcher Anthony Bass days after he apologized for his social media posts supporting boycotts against Target and Bud Light for their endorsements of LGBTQ causes, calling them “demonic” and “evil.”
The team forced him to apologize and Bass said he was “truly sorry” to the “pride community” for his “hurtful” social media posts. He said that did not represent his true views and that he needed to be educated about LGBTQ issues.
Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said he was “personally hurt” by Bass’ promotion of the boycott but said he considered Bass’ apology “authentic.” Jays manager John Schneider vowed there would be “follow-up steps” to the apology. The next day Bass was cut from the team despite having an earned run average better than several other relievers who remained on the roster, although the organization admitted that the “distraction” Bass caused by his dissent from the officious LGBQT ideology factored into their decision to release the reliever.
Atkins said the team would make the stadium “environment as inclusive as we possibly can,” leading National Review editor Rich Lowry to sardonically observe that “creating that ‘inclusive’ environment seems to involve excluding people like Anthony Bass and the millions who agree with him.”
