Speaker emphasizes respect

Former Major League Baseball umpire Dave Pallone informed his audience on Tuesday night of his experiences as a homosexual man in the realm of professional sports. He stressed the topics of respect for all and, on a personal note, related the emotional strife he endured.

As a nationally recognized speaker and author of the 1990 New York Times best-selling autobiography, "Behind the Mask: My Double Life in Baseball," Pallone has been committed to increasing awareness on the realities of his sexual orientation.

Though he umpired for nearly 20 years, MLB fired Pallone when he was discovered to be gay. Pallone said there are currently 30 states that allow employers to fire someone from their job because of their sexual orientation. "Professional and collegiate sports put you in a box," Pallone  said.

"Everybody lives in a box, and if you turn the box it becomes a very dark, very deep, very lonely closet, Pallone said. "And I lived in it. To live in this box you lie to family, friends, peers and disrespect yourself."

He told the audience to imagine living in that same box.

"Take a moment to close your eyes, and dig a 6-foot-deep, 6-foot-wide box," he said. "And now get into that box and live in it for a day and then a night and then for 35 years. I had to stay in that box for 35 years. There isn't anyone who doesn't know someone who lives in this box."

The turning point for Pallone was the death of his partner, John, who he met in 1979. John's death made Pallone want to come out.

"John died and when I went to his funeral, I could not tell his family or my family what he meant to me. I did not have any pictures of him in my home because if someone came over and saw them, they would wonder," he said.

Pallone stressed how even in today's community, especially through social networking sites like MySpace, it is difficult for homosexuals who are not out to keep photos of their partners without raising questions.

"You cannot tell people because you are afraid that someone will look down upon you — maybe even hurt you," Pallone said.

Pallone spoke about issues facing homosexuals, voicing his opinion on the topics of homosexuals in the armed forces and homosexuals and religion.

"People go into the armed forces to protect all of us and I can't understand why someone's sexuality would make a difference to them," Pallone said. "NATO forces include many homosexual men and women and they have told the U.S. it would only take three days to implement the change, not a year."

Pallone is from a religious upbringing; he was raised Catholic and prays on a daily basis.

"I'm very lucky, look what I do now, I'm meant to do this," Pallone said. "I was meant to talk to young students about this. I know in my heart, I guarantee you God will not say I didn't respect other people. That is key. Show respect to other people no matter what their religion, race, or sexual orientation is because it will make things easier for the future."

Pallone continues to increase awareness for the lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgendered communities. He has given interviews for national publications such as The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe and The New York Times. In addition to holding his own radio talk show, Pallone has appeared on The Today Show, BBC Radio, and NPR.

Many organizations worked together to bring Pallone to Gonzaga. His presentation was a joint collaboration with Gonzaga Athletics, the Gonzaga Activities Board, Helping Educate Regarding Orientation, the Gonzaga Institute for Action Against Hate, the Gonzaga Programming Board, Residence Life and Unity Multicultural Education Center.