MLB and the Boston Red Sox went too easy on Jarren Duran, and the reaction to his return to the field on Wednesday proves it. Two days after using a homophobic slur responding to a fan heckle, the outfielder received a little extra support from the Fenway Park faithful.
Duran has been open about his battle with mental health, so it's reasonable to assume that some of the fan base wanted to get behind their guy during what has to be a rough time. However, this felt more like support for a mistreated player, and a glance at social media comments will quickly back this up.
https://twitter.com/MacCerullo/status/1823847687214784991
Lauded as an advocate for mental health after revealing his recent struggles, Duran quickly became a fan favorite during a feel-good breakout season for the 27-year-old. Likewise, the Red Sox took the once-stigmatized issue seriously, with manager Alex Cora being among those who openly discussed its importance.
However, the Red Sox failed when given another chance to make an important statement. Instead, after Duran's poor choice of words, he received a slap on the wrist, a punishment fit for much lesser infractions.
Meanwhile, it showed the LGBTQ+ community, baseball fans or not, that if a player uses hateful and genuinely harmful words, they won't be able to play with their friends for two days. Then, when they return, they'll be treated as if they were the one wronged.
Despite the old "sticks and stones" argument, some words have more power than others.
According to the 2024 national survey done in the U.S. by The Trevor Project, nearly half (49 percent) of LGBTQ+ young people said they experienced bullying, which can come in several forms, including slurs like the one used by Duran. Likewise, 39 percent of LGBTQ+ young people "seriously considered attempting suicide," while 12 percent attempted suicide in the past year.
From his comments, there's no reason to believe Duran isn't apologetic, and he shouldn't be judged for one brief moment of his life nor made the poster boy for that conduct. However, the punishment glossed over the real issue, highlighted by the reaction he garnered on Wednesday.
