Cubs Group Has First Prominent Gay Owner; Still, Not Entirely Pro-Gay

America is learning so much about gay people this week. There was this Census release detailing how gay couples are remarkably similar to straight couples in terms of age and income, and that a third of gay couples are raising children.↵↵Also, and more relevant to our purposes: that gay people can be part of an ownership group of one of the most recognizable franchises in all of sports. 41-year-old Laura Ricketts, a lesbian who came out in her 30s, will serve, along with her three brothers, as a board member for the Chicago Cubs. The sale of the Cubs from the Tribune Company to the Ricketts family for $845 million was finalized last week.↵

↵↵That hardly means the Cubs ownership group will lean solidly in favor gay marriage. One of Ricketts’ brothers and fellow board members has come out in opposition to the full legalization of gay marriage, though that is somehow not a source of outward bitterness between siblings even though Laura also serves on the board of the gay rights group Lambda Legal. ↵

↵↵And while it certainly must be encouraging to the gay community to see an openly gay person in a position of authority in sports, where it should buoy all sports fans is the potential for a sympathetic presence in the front office, should there be a closeted player who opts to come out while a member of the team. Having a lesbian on the ownership board won’t instantly transform all the attitudes of the players, but it will give any outed player a viable recourse if they run into hostility from teammates.↵

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