Billy Bean returns to AEN this Thursday. |
'Going
the Other Way'
On Thursday,
May 15, former Major League Baseball player Billy Bean will be
AEN's speaker.
Like millions
of American kids, Billy Bean grew up wanting to be like a baseball
player, specifically Boston Red Sox legend Ted Williams. And unlike
millions of American kids, Bean was talented enough to work his
way through baseball's torturous minor league system and play
in the majors.
Billy Bean
played major league baseball from 1987 through 1995. He broke
into the major leagues with the Detroit Tigers, and tied a major
league record with 4 hits in his first major league game. He went
on to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the San Diego Padres.
Born in Santa Ana, California, he was a multi-sport star at Santa
Ana High School, where he was chosen "athlete of the year"
as a senior. He was selected Valedictorian of his graduating class,
and went on to become an "All-America" outfielder twice
before graduating from Loyola Marymount University in 1986 with
a degree in Business Administration.
During his
time in the major leagues, Bean led a double life, one on the
ballfield and one at home, where he refused to see teammates or
straight friends for fear they'd find out. In 1993 his partner
of three years, Sam, died of a ruptured pancreas. Bean was with
him at the hospital all night, but because he was still in the
closet couldn't request leave from the team. He played his game
the next day and didn't even attend Sam's funeral. But he swore
to himself that the next person in his life would be the most
important thing in it. The next year he met Miami restaurateur
Effrain Veiga. Despite the fact that they were separated by almost
4000 miles, Bean decided to pursue a relationship. The two moved
in together a few months later and Bean quit baseball. Bean lived
in secret in Miami for the next four years, never giving his home
number to any old teammates and leaving only his voice on the
answering machine they might call.
Copies of Going the Other Way will be available at
Thursday's meeting. |
Finally, exhausted
from his deceptions, he came out in an interview with the New
York Times in 1999. He followed that up with a nationally televised
interview with Diane Sawyer. Bean is the first major league baseball
player in 20 years to acknowledge his homosexuality. He was a
featured spokesman on behalf of the Democratic National Committee
during campaign 2000, and still travels around the country on
behalf of the Human Rights Campaign, reaching out to many young
adults. Bean was astounded at the positive reaction from old friends,
especially his roommate with the Tigers, Brad Ausmus.
He and Veiga
opened a restaurant, Mayya, in South Beach. Bean recently has
written a memoir entitled Going the Other Way which tells
his story and culminates in a plea for professional team sports
to live up to their promise of equality and opportunity.
The doors
open at the Sheraton Colony Square Hotel at 5:45 p.m. with the
program beginning at 6:45 p.m.
Members: $10, Guests: $20, Students: Free
Southern
Voice: Billy
Bean on baseball and being gay
AJC.com: Of
baseball and 'coming out'
AJC.com: Wide
world of sports still widely homophobic
Executive
director search
AEN has begun
a search to hire an executive director to lead our organization
to a new level of excellence in networking. If you, or someone
you know, is interested, please check out the description of this
new position.
AEN.org:
Executive director job description
Southern Voice: Gay
business group seeks first executive director
|
AEN
President David Payne and Log Cabin Republican Executive
Director Patrick Guerriero
|
Log Cabin
chief speaks out
Patrick Guerriero
is a former mayor, state representative, and candidate for lieutenant
governor from Massachusetts, and has devoted his career to public
service. As a Republican, Guerriero has championed issues such
as lower taxes, smaller government, improved public schools, safer
neighborhoods and equal rights. In addition, he has advocated
for anti-hate-crimes legislation and AIDS funding, as well as
expansion of domestic partnership benefits.
Since his
appointment as executive director of the National Log Cabin Republicans,
Mr. Guerriero has vowed to visit as many states and cities in
this nation as he can in a 3-4 month period. In addition, he helped
broker a peace between the Log Cabin Republicans and the HRC whose
relationship has been rocky in the past. His priorities include
fighting the ban on gays in the military, expanding domestic partnership
benefits, fighting the spread of HIV, and creating a place at
the Republican table for conservative LGBT persons.
He acknowledged
that the Republican Party is not perfect, but promoted the argument
that for the gay rights movement to succeed, the LGBT community
needs to strategically work with both major parties. He pointed
out examples of Republicans who have promoted equal rights such
as former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld and New York Gov. George
Pataki to Republicans who have changed their mind about gay equality
and have become supporters such as Sens. Gordon Smith of Oregon
and Susan Collins of Maine. He also noted that he has been included
in high level Republican political meetings, such as strategy
sessions on how to deal with the Democratic filibusters of some
of President Bush's judicial nominees.
Ultimately,
Guerriero said he would like for there not to be a purpose in
having a Log Cabin Republicans organization since both major parties
would support equality. In an audience made up of Democrats, Republicans,
and Independents, Guerriero's comments were well received by audience
as a fresh perspective on the fight for equal rights for all Americans,
regardless of sexual orientation.
AEN.org:
Photos
from April's meeting
Web site: lcr.org
Postcard Opt-Out
 In
an effort to reduce our impact on the environment and our expenses,
we're offering members the ability to opt-out of our postcard
mailings. If you do opt-out, we'll continue to keep you updated
with our e-mail list.
Click
here to opt-out of the postcard mailing
Upcoming
speakers
 June
19
Rebecca Burns
Editor, Atlanta Magazine
 July
17
Paul M. Smith
Attorney who argued before the U.S. Supreme Court this year to
repeal Texas' sodomy laws.
 August
21
Spurgeon Richardson
President, Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau
Announcements
|
> In
this issue
•
'Going the Other Way'
• Executive director search
• LCR chief speaks out
• Postcard opt-out
• Upcoming speakers
• Announcements
>
May meeting
Thursday,
May 15
Billy Bean
Sheraton Colony Square
Doors open 5:45 p.m.
Program begins 6:45 p.m.
>
Luncheons
Reservations »
>
Wednesday, May 14
Jamie Ensley
Cowtipper's
Noon
>
Thursday, May 15
Sandy Hoke
Waverly Hotel
11:45 a.m.
>
Thursday, May 22
Bonnie Barton
Grady's
11:45 a.m.
>
Friday, May 30
David Payne & Ronald Moore
Chequer's
11:45 a.m.
>
Wednesday, June 11
Sandy Hoke
Waverly Hotel
11:45 a.m.
>
Thursday, June 30
Bonnie Barton
Grady's
11:45 a.m.
AEN's
mission is to:
•
Promote business contacts and friendships through networking;
•
Advocate equality for lesbians, gays, bi-sexuals, and transgenders;
•
Promote diversity in the business community;
•
Foster leadership in business, government and the arts.
Board
members
David
Payne
President
Bonnie Barton
Vice President
Jamie Ensley
Treasurer
Margie Archer
Secretary
Drew Barton
Communications Chair
Dana Brown-Owings
Diversity, Pride Chair
Don George
Nominations Chair
Patrick Greco
Luncheons Chair
Joe Guthridge
Sandy Hoke
Stephen Julien
Steve Koval
Past President
Carl Lange
Programming Chair
Dan Lax
Membership Chair
Ann McAllister
Barbara Rubin
Jason Cecil
Newsletter Editor
|
