Dave Pallone had just stepped off of the plane and was making his way to the newsstand.

He picked up the New York Post and skimmed the headlines. When he reached the sports section, his heart stopped.

There, in bold black print, was the secret that he had guarded his entire life.

This was how everyone, including his baseball colleagues, found out who the umpire really was. This was what led baseball to fire Pallone because he was gay.

Pallone came to DU last week in conjunction with the second annual Gay? Fine By Me week on campus to talk about the realities of sexual orientation and to promote his 1990 New York Times best selling autobiography, Behind the Mask: My Double Life in Baseball.

As a member of the National Speakers Association, he has spoken at hundreds of colleges and universities.

He has given over 700 interviews and has been a frequent guest on “Larry King Live.”

He was also featured on ESPN’s documentary, “Homophobia in Sports,” and has owned and hosted his own radio show in Boston.

After 18 years as a professional umpire, 10 of those years with the National Baseball League, he was asked to step away from his ultimate dream because of who he was.

His devastation led him to write the autobiography, which catapulted him to where he is today, giving speeches that let people know that there is hope.

He cited the statistics of suicides of gay men and women as what drives him to talk about his experience and help people find inner peace and respect for who they are.

“I feel like I am doing something really good with my life,” he said.

During his time in baseball, he had made a conscious decision to put his personal life on hold.

“I was told no one like me could ever be a part of professional sports,” he said.

Pallone’s double life became a heavy burden as he developed a three-year relationship that ended tragically when his partner was hit by a car and killed two days after Christmas. He felt that he was not allowed to grieve.

That same year his father, the man who had instilled in him a love for baseball, also died. Today, Pallone regrets not revealing his secret to him.

After the article about his sexual orientation was published in the New York Post, Pallone got a phone call on November 30, 1988 at 11:30 p.m.

Baseball would not rehire him for the season.

The reasoning was that he was the third worst umpire in baseball, though the year before he was in the top 10.

Pallone’s attorney then asked baseball officials to fire the first and second worst umpires in baseball, but they refused. Pallone sued and the case was settled out of court.

So is it legal to fire someone based on sexuality? In 37 states, including Colorado, it is. At the time, New York was one of them.

Gay? Fine By Me ran several events last week to support diversity and tolerance on campus.

“I am very pleased with the number of students that are here, the quality of the questions asked, and the level of engagement,” said Ned Muhovich, director of academic advising, which was the department that sponsored the event.

“The culture of hyper-masculinity can definitely be challenged by someone like Dave,” said senior Laura Ahner, a political science major.