MLB comments on vetoed Arizona Senate bill

Major League Baseball called upon its long history as a social institution to speak its mind on the controversial Arizona Senate Bill 1062, which would have allowed businesses in the state to prohibit gays and others from being extended service based upon the religious beliefs of proprietors.

The bill was vetoed by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer on Wednesday.

"As the sport of Jackie Robinson, Major League Baseball and its 30 Clubs stand united behind the principles of respect, inclusion and acceptance," read a statement released by the league. "Those values are fundamental to our game's diverse players, employees and fans. We welcome individuals of different sexual orientations, races, religions, genders and national origins.

"MLB has a zero-tolerance policy for harassment or discrimination based on sexual orientation, as reflected by our collective bargaining agreement with the MLB Players Association. Accordingly, MLB will neither support nor tolerate any words, attitudes or actions that imperil the inclusive communities that we have strived to foster within our game."

Brewer called a news conference at the state Capitol in Phoenix on Wednesday evening and said the bill was problematic and "could result in unintended and negative consequences."

"I sincerely believe that Senate Bill 1062 has the potential to create more problems than it purports to solve," Brewer said.