Major League Baseball, which saw Jackie Robinson...

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Major League Baseball, which saw Jackie Robinson break the color barrier in 1947, Tuesday will announce incremental progress in another civil rights issue. The new collective bargaining agreement adds “sexual orientation” to its section on discrimination, a person with direct knowledge of the agreement told the Daily News.

Article XV, Section A of the MLB’s expiring Basic Agreement, in effect from 2006-2011, states: “The provisions of this Agreement shall be applied to all Players covered by this Agreement without regard to race, color, religion or national origin.”

In the new agreement, which will be made public Tuesday afternoon, the words “sexual orientation” will be added to the equivalent section.

This decision follows that National Football League, which did the same in their CBA this year. Baseball officials familiar with the process describe the mention of “sexual orientation” as not necessarily related to the NFL, and as a provision readily agreed upon by both union and league negotiators.

The change in wording comes at the end of a significant year for gay rights issues. The military abolished its “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, and same-sex marriage became legal in New York state. In baseball, several teams filmed an “It Gets Better Video,” an anti-bullying effort aimed at lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth.

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The New York Daily News, “MLB To Add ‘Sexual Orientation’ to Discrimination Clause.”

Progress.

(via inothernews)

Source inothernews