MLB agrees to sex harassment policy

By MICHAEL GORMLEY
Associated Press

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Major League Baseball says it'll strengthen its policy against harassment and discrimination based on sexual orientation.

The league is scheduled to announce its new policy during All-Star Game festivities Tuesday. It'll create a workplace code of conduct and distribute it to major and minor league players and create a centralized system to report complaints.

The new agreement among the league, the New York attorney general's office and the players' union was provided to The Associated Press on Monday.

League Commissioner Bud Selig says baseball has "zero tolerance" for discrimination.

The announcement follows state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's deal this year with the National Football League to strengthen its policies.

Few professional athletes are openly gay. Gay rights groups blame the policies and atmosphere in sports for forcing gay athletes to hide their sexual orientations.