Tu Ere Maricón: Blue Jays’ Yunel Escobar triggers online uproar over anti-gay slur [View all]

[JackBeck]

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Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Yunel Escobar has caused an online furor after it was revealed that he wore eye-black tape inscribed with a homophobic slur during Saturday’s game against the Boston Red Sox.

A close-up photo posted on Twitter by @james_in_toronto shows the words “Tu ere maricon” — Spanish for “You’re a faggot” — on the black tape Escobar was wearing below his eyes. The phrase was also evident, although not so distinctly, in a photo circulated to various media by Getty Images.

Several messages seeking comment from Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos were not immediately returned. The Jays are expected to hold a news conference Tuesday afternoon in New York, before their game against the Yankees.

Escobar, 29, was originally in Sunday’s starting lineup, but was scratched before game-time. A club spokesman said he had the flu.

More at: http://sports.nationalpost.com/2012/09/17/blue-jays-yunel-escobar-triggers-online-uproar-over-anti-gay-slur/

What a great role model for our youth! Thankfully, many major league sports teams and players have embraced LGBT equality, especially the MLB teams who have recorded videos for the It Gets Better project. The Toronto Blue Jays, on the other hand, have yet to participate in the campaign.