A women’s softball coach in Memphis said a church banned her team from its league after learning she was gay.
Jana Jacobson told The Commercial Appeal officials at Bellevue Baptist Church told her she had a “deviant’’ lifestyle and her team would not be allowed to compete in the church’s summer season. Jacobson said her team is made up of straight and gay players and that they were looking for more games to play when they discovered the Cordova church had a league.
Jacobson said she registered, paid the entry fee and attended an organizational meeting. Later, a church official called her seeking another meeting. At that one, officials began questioning whether she was gay.
“Finally, in my frustration, I said that I am going to be clear. I am gay, and I find all of this to be absurd and against the word of God as I know it,” Jacobson said of a meeting with Bellevue officials.
When she said she was, they told her the team could not play.
So far the church has not commented on the incident. Comments on the Commercial Appeal’s web site seem split on support for the church and support for Jacobson.
