Brewers minor-leaguer makes baseball history by coming out publicly as gay

[Eugene]

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Brewers minor-leaguer makes baseball history by coming out publicly as gay

David Denson says it was a relief to tell Helena teammates

By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel Aug. 15, 2015

For so long, David Denson desperately wanted to reveal to his baseball teammates that he is gay. He just never envisioned it happening in such impromptu and unstructured fashion.

A first baseman for the Milwaukee Brewers' rookie affiliate in Helena, Mont., Denson had just entered the clubhouse a month or so ago when a teammate jokingly referred to him using a derogatory term for a gay male. It was the kind of profane, politically incorrect banter heard in that environment since team sports have been around.

That teammate had no way of knowing Denson actually is gay, but the 20-year-old slugger of African-American and Hispanic descent quickly seized the opportunity.

"Be careful what you say. You never know," Denson cautioned the player with a smile.

Before he knew it, Denson was making the emotional announcement he yearned to share, and the group around him expanded to the point that he soon was speaking to most of the team. Much to Denson's relief, when the conversation ended he was greeted with outward support and understanding instead of condemnation.

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Read more: http://www.jsonline.com/sports/brewers/brewers-minor-leaguer-makes-baseball-history-by-coming-out-publicly-as-gay-b99557156z1-321977731.html

[dsc]

1. actually someone came out not to long ago on a minor league team

http://www.outsports.com/2015/6/28/8859485/openly-gay-minor-league-pitcher-sean-conroy-tosses-shutout-pride-night

The set-up and ending were perfect: Sean Conroy, a 23-year-old baseball prospect with the Sonoma Stompers of the independent Pacific Association of Baseball Clubs, came out as gay prior to the team's Thursday Pride Night. He then threw a three-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts as the Stompers beat the Vallejo Admirals, 7-0, in his first start.

With his announcement, Conroy has become the first publicly gay professional baseball player, though there have been Major League Baseball players like Glenn Burke and Billy Bean who came out after retiring. The team posted this tweet after the game ended with Conroy being hugged by teammate Isaac Wenrich:

end of quote

It is great that there are two now though.

[Wabbajack_]

2. That was an indie minor Leauge

This Denson fellow is actually in Major League team's farm system aka THE Minor Leagues.