The Red Sox have suspended outfielder Jarren Duran without pay for two games as a result of his use of a homophobic slur on Sunday toward a fan who was heckling him during a game at Fenway.
The Sox said in a statement that Duran’s salary from the two-game suspension will be donated to PFLAG, the largest LGBTQ+ support, education and advocacy organization in the U.S.
Duran issued a statement after the game, calling the word the he used “truly horrific.”
“I feel awful knowing how many people I offended and disappointed,” Duran said in the statement. “I apologize to the entire Red Sox organization, but more importantly to the entire LGBTQ community. Our young fans are supposed to be able to look up to me as a role model, but tonight I fell far short of that responsibility. I will use this opportunity to educate myself and my teammates and to grow as a person.”
In a statement, the team echoed Duran’s apology, and said they addressed the incident with him immediately after the game.
“We strive to be an organization that welcomes all fans to Fenway Park, and we will continue to educate our employees, players, coaches and staff on the importance of inclusivity,” the team’s statement read.
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, the state’s first openly LGBTQ+ governor, was asked by reporters about the incident on Monday.
“It’s unacceptable,” Healey replied. “I’m glad he apologized. He should apologize. And there’s no place for that kind of hate or intolerance in the state.”
Healey’s comments came before the team announced the two-game suspension, and when asked if she believed Duran should be disciplined, she deferred to Sox management.
“But, you know, the bottom line is, whether you’re a professional athlete or, you know, Joe Schmo on the street doesn’t matter,” Healey said. “I mean, there’s just certain things that we don’t tolerate here in the state. And, you know, that kind of language is part of it. So I’m glad he apologized.”
The use of a homophobic slur by a sports star was disappointing to advocates for the LGBTQ+ community.
“It’s hurtful,” said Jennifer Levi, senior director of transgender and queer rights with the Boston-based advocacy group GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders, also known as GLAD. “And it also shows how deeply ingrained negative attitudes about LGBTQ people continues to be.”
The reality, Levi said, is that homophobic slurs are common in places like schools and sporting events.
“Young people hear them too many days of their lives,” she said. “And so my focus is really on the impact that those kind of comments have on people’s opportunity to partake in sports and other activities and opportunities.”
Levi described Duran’s suspension and the donation to PFLAG as “a good starting point.”
“It’s essential for teams and the league to take seriously this kind of misconduct and this move reflects that,” Levi said. “I hope and expect this is part of a broader educational effort focused on all players and personnel throughout the league.”
