ESPN star baseball analyst Curt Schilling fired for comments about transgender people

Former all-star pitcher and prominent baseball analyst Curt Schilling has been fired by ESPN sports network for an offensive Facebook post about transgender people. Schilling was suspended for a month in August 2015 after he posted a tweet comparing radical Muslims to Nazis.

In the latest controversy, Schilling reposted a meme on Facebook referring to the recent law in the city of Charlotte – countermanded by the state of North Carolina – allowing transgender people to use the bathroom that corresponds to their chosen gender.

The meme Schilling posted featured a photo of a man wearing a wig with holes cut in his T-shirt exposing his breasts. Its caption stated: "Let him in! to the restroom with your daughter or else you're a narrow-minded, judgmental, unloving racist bigot who needs to die."

Schilling added his own comment to the meme, remarking: "A man is a man no matter what they call themselves. I don't care what they are, who they sleep with, men's room was designed for the penis, women's not so much. Now you need laws telling us differently? Pathetic."

Schilling describes himself on his Facebook account as a "Conservative pro life pro 2nd [right-to-bear-arms] amendment American who wants to help those that cannot help themselves."

"ESPN is an inclusive company," ESPN said in a statement after Schilling's dismissal. "Curt Schilling has been advised that his conduct was unacceptable and his employment with ESPN has been terminated."

Schilling is yet to comment on the termination. Supporters are already filling up his Facebook page with comments. "So, Curt Schilling doesn't have First Amendment rights?" asked one user. Another commentator suggested an ESPN boycott.

Schilling defended his Facebook post after it triggered an avalanche of criticism before his firing.

"Let's make one thing clear right upfront," he wrote. "If you get offended by anything in this post, that's your fault, all yours. This latest brew ha ha is beyond hilarious. I didn't post that ugly picture. I made a comment about the basic functionality of men's and women's restrooms, period."