Billy Bean, one of my closest friends and tireless supporters, passed away this past week.
Our friendship started very quickly. Billy was the young rising star in baseball and I was in tennis. We both were keeping a deep secret that affected our lives: being gay.
Billy and I met in 2014 when we were beginning the process of purchasing Frontiers magazine. We were introduced by Kirk Walker, a successful woman’s softball coach at UCLA. Billy and I became friends, and I asked if he would become the national spokesperson for my newspaper, the Florida Agenda. He said yes.
We spoke about the power of our community having a voice. He gave me incredible ideas how to deliver content. Billy was quite an accomplished tennis player and we had many fun outings on the courts.
When Brian and I moved to Los Angeles, we subleased Billy’s apartment in California. Billy was just beginning his tenure as an executive to support diversity and inclusion in major league baseball. Instead of him having to rent two places, he only had to rent in New York City as we moved into his beautiful apartment. Billy then became the Grand Marshall of our Wilton Manors Stonewall event.
We built a financial product that serves the principles and core values of our community. Billy was passionate about this project as he appeared on shows and was written up in publications about the power of our community having a voice in the financial markets.
Billy and I would play in tennis exhibitions supporting our community. I will never forget the day that Billy, myself and Jason Collins all got on the courts at Plummer Park. Memories I will cherish forever. My last text from Billy is heartfelt with the last sentence saying, “ONE LOVE my dear friend. You are in my heart forever.”
Billy made an incredible mark on this world with his life. I will love my friend until I take my last breath. I smile when I think of him and his big smile, encouraging and showing me support by important action he took to help me.
I think the greatest moment I ever had with Billy was when he flew down to attend the release of my documentary, “Hiding Inside The Baseline,” produced by Fox College Sports that premiered in Wilton Manors. He was traveling all over the country, but he found the time to come see me and support me. He gave the most beautiful speech about our journeys and oath to living our truth. Now, that is a true friend.
I love you, Billy, thank you for being my friend. Thank you for a journey of a lifetime.
Bobby Blair is a LGBTQ media pioneer and leader known for his philanthropic work on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community. A Florida native, he lives in Fort Lauderdale with his longtime partner, Brian Neal. Blair was inducted into the GLBT Hall of Fame in 2015.
