Mets' Murphy uses Bean's visit to make his views on homosexuality clear

New York Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy attempted to make his status on homosexuality more clear on Tuesday following a visit from Billy Bean, MLB's ambassador of inclusion and the second major league player ever to announce he was gay.

"I disagree with his lifestyle," Murphy told Mike Vorkunov of NJ.com. "I do disagree with the fact that Billy is a homosexual. That doesn't mean I can't still invest in him and get to know him. I don't think the fact that someone is a homosexual should completely shut the door on investing in them in a relational aspect. Getting to know him. That, I would say, you can still accept them but I do disagree with the lifestyle, 100 percent."

Murphy continued, saying that he believes others in the Christian religion have failed to express themselves in an appropriate way when it comes to conveying their views on homosexuality. 

"Maybe, as a Christian, that we haven't been as articulate enough in describing what our actual stance is on homosexuality," he said. "We love the people. We disagree (with) the lifestyle. That's the way I would describe it for me. It's the same way that there are aspects of my life that I'm trying to surrender to Christ in my own life. 

"There's a great deal of many things, like my pride. I just think that as a believer trying to articulate it in a way that says just because I disagree with the lifestyle doesn't mean I'm just never going to speak to Billy Bean every time he walks through the door. That's not love. That's not love at all."

The 50-year-old Bean played in the majors for six seasons before announcing his retirement in 1995, coming out as being gay after his career was over.

Bean, at the request of Mets general manager Sandy Alderson, dressed in full uniform Tuesday and discussed his story with the organization.

"What's important is that if we have one or two people on a team that we might have exposed them to something they hadn't thought about before," Bean told Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News. "I'm not here to change anybody or tell them that they're wrong. 

"This is our country. We're allowed to be who and what we want. But I think the important thing is understanding the big picture - that if you are a player on the Mets or in a big-league uniform, there's a huge responsibility that goes with that. And I think they can understand that regardless of what their personal opinion is of me."