Texas Rangers Trigger Controversy with Bold Stand as Pride Month Hits Full Swing

Classic Southern hospitality doesn’t always extend to everyone, as the Texas Rangers are proving. June is here, which means that while many are ringing in summer, Pride Month is also in full swing. From rainbow logos to special shout-outs to members of the LGBTQI+ community, MLB has also joined the fray to promote diversity. For the whole month, big league franchises dedicate a game each to celebrating the vast group. Special guests perform while the audience dresses up in rainbow colors.

Both Los Angeles teams, the Angels and the Dodgers, have held their Pride Night recently. While, of course, it’s not something that every baseball fan approves of, MLB is keeping abreast with the times, nevertheless. Other major American sports are also making efforts, even when they receive criticism from fans and players alike. But if reports are to be believed, one MLB team doesn’t have any plans to hold any such celebration in 2023.

Texas Rangers are once again not waving their Pride flag in 2023

Baseball ballparks are among the most populated venues during the season, which means they are also a breeding ground for passionate fans to let loose. Brawls are a common occurrence, and that’s just over the sport. Handling something like Pride Night takes a certain delicacy and the Rangers are not ready to upset anyone just yet.

“Our commitment is to make everyone feel welcome and included in Rangers baseball. That means in our ballpark, at every game, and in all we do — for both our fans and our employees. We deliver on that promise across our many programs to have a positive impact across our entire community,” a representative for the team told the Los Angeles Times.

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The Rangers remain steadfast in their decision of a refusal to host Pride Night, but where does this inflexibility come from?

The Rangers once tried to host a Pride night

In 2003, the Texas-based clubhouse tried to ride the wave of the 21st century by inviting several LGBT groups to their stadium. However, the move did not work in their favor as fans protested heavily. Since then, it seems that the Rangers have decided never to hold another Pride celebration at all.

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While corporations promote the cause during June, many also receive backlash for being performative. The Rangers have apparently tried to combat that by being more inclusive. “With respect to Pride Night, we reached out to the Resource Center and said what can we do internally. We immediately adopted some changes they suggested to be more inclusive in hiring practices. I think that’s more meaningful than just saying, ‘OK, we had a Pride Night,’” said Rangers COO Neil Leibman in 2020.

However, many activists nonetheless think that the team still has a way to go, especially if one compares it to other MLB franchises.