As National Pride Month comes to an end, all but one of the 30 teams in Major League Baseball are hosting their annual “Pride Night” events, which celebrate the culture and rights of the LGBTQ community. Many major companies even outside of baseball are known for showing strong public support for “LGBTQ rights”, however, the Texas Rangers baseball team will be the only team without a Pride Night this season, stating that they’re committed to making all guests feel welcome at their games.
In 2001, the Chicago Cubs hosted what is now considered to be the first Pride game in the MLB, and in 2003, the Texas Rangers held a fundraising event in which they invited local LGBTQ communities to a game, which is similar to today’s themes of supporting all kinds of groups throughout the season. Even back then, some Ranger’s supporters expressed dislike for the progressive events, with some protesting outside of the stadium.
Despite the backlash the team is facing this month for not holding a Pride Night, the Texas Rangers have stood their ground and have remained consistent with their response to the matter as team officials have stated that they want to make everyone feel welcomed and included in rangers baseball, at each game, and in all they do at their ballpark. The team further stated that they will continue to deliver on their promise to have a positive impact across their community.
Texas has been known for being politically dominated by Republicans for years, as state lawmakers have joined forces with Governor Greg Abbott in 2023 to push forward many conservative-state limits to LGBTQ rights. The Legislature recently passed new laws to expand definitions of prohibited sexual content in school literature as well as public performances. Governor Abbott also signed the Save Women’s Sports Act that prohibits transgender college athletes from competing in teams that align with their gender identity.
