TORONTO — Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Anthony Bass stated Thursday he doesn’t imagine an anti-LGBTQ+ social media publish he shared final month was hateful.

The right-handed reliever additionally stated he's “working hard” to teach himself, together with assembly with the chief director of activist group Pride Toronto.

Bass is scheduled to catch the ceremonial first pitch from Toronto LGBTQ+ activist leZlie Lee Kam earlier than Friday’s recreation towards Minnesota because the Blue Jays start their fourth annual Pride Weekend celebration.

Bass apologized earlier than a May 30 recreation towards Milwaukee, sooner or later after sharing a publish on his Instagram tales calling for anti-LGBTQ+ boycotts of Target and Bud Light over help they confirmed for the LGBTQ+ neighborhood. Both corporations are coping with fallout from these campaigns, which have included hostile and homophobic criticisms and calls from LGBTQ+ activists to not cave to anti-LGBTQ+ teams.

Bass has been booed by Toronto followers in his two house appearances for the reason that apology.

“I totally get that,” Bass stated. “I just want them to know that I’m working hard on myself, a lot of self-reflection.”

However, Bass later stated he didn’t imagine the publish, which described the sale of LGBTQ+ merchandise as “evil” and “demonic,” must be thought of hateful.

“I do not,” Bass stated. “That’s why I posted it originally. When I look back at it, I can see how people would view it that way and that’s why I was apologetic.”

Bass stated he selected to delete the publish as a result of “it was the right thing to do,” and since he didn’t need it to be a distraction to the group.

“But I stand by my personal beliefs,” Bass stated, “and everyone seems to be entitled to their private beliefs, proper? Also, I imply no hurt in direction of any teams of individuals.

“My focus from the get-go should have been doing my job and being accepting of everyone’s decisions and views in life,” Bass added. “Through this process, I’ve learned that. Moving forward, I will definitely know better than to post my personal beliefs on my social media platforms.”

Blue Jays common supervisor Ross Atkins addressed the topic for the primary time Thursday, shortly earlier than Bass spoke.

While acknowledging that he was “personally hurt” by Bass’s publish, Atkins stated he accepted the apology the pitcher provided to him and supervisor John Schneider final month.

“I felt his apology and his accountability to be genuine or we'd be speaking a few completely different end result, fairly frankly,″ Atkins stated. “That was completely essential for us to be along with how strongly we really feel in regards to the progress that has been made by the Toronto Blue Jays on this neighborhood.

“It needs to continue,” Atkins added. “I don’t think you can ever do enough. We’ll stay true to that commitment to make this environment as inclusive as we possibly can.”

Workers had been hanging rainbow flags inside Rogers Centre after Thursday’s win over Houston, making ready the stadium for Friday’s celebrations.

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