Addressing Homophobia in the Baseball Community

As Pride Month nears to a close, I wanted to discuss something that I found not only disturbing, but disappointing. 29 of the Major League Baseball teams had celebrated Pride Night at their ballparks every year, but there's one team that currently doesn't and that is the Texas Rangers. Yes, you heard that right. The defending World Series Champions have yet to promote something like this. In the over 50 years that the Rangers have been in Texas, it's sad that this has remained an issue. According to a recent article from NBC5 DFW, MLB Diversity Officer Billy Bean, who came out as gay after his playing career concluded, stated that a Pride Night would take place at Globe Life Field at some point, which is the current home of the Rangers and the site of next month's All-Star Game. As an owner of a MLB team, you can't say that you welcome everyone at baseball games and exclude a certain group of people. It doesn't work that way, it's hypocritical, and you don't practice what you preach. You can't also say that there's events for everyone at Globe Life Field and the organization supports all causes in one breath and exclude a group of people the next. Again, it doesn't work that way. If you want to have an inclusive baseball community, then you have to apply and extend that towards everyone and that includes LGBTQ+ people.

If you don't believe that homophobia doesn't exist in baseball, then I have some bad news for you: it does. Mainly it comes from many online baseball communities whenever there's a video or post referencing teams celebrating Pride Night at their ballparks.

Why the Rangers have yet to have a Pride Night is unclear, but I need to say a few things to all baseball fans. Since Pride Month started, I've seen a lot of disgusting and horrific comments, not only on Instagram, but also on YouTube. Referring to people you probably don't even know that well as perverts is not only offensive, but inexcusable. By saying hurtful remarks towards them, you continue to perpetuate stereotypes that can cause them harm. I do have three questions for you:

1. What has the LGBTQ+ community done to you personally?

2. What is it about them that you personally dislike?

3. If someone that was close to you who identifies as LGBTQ+ and you make inflammatory statements about their sexual orientation, would you retract your statements and how would that make you feel?

Having deeply held religious beliefs are not an excuse to degrade and dehumanize LGBTQ+ people. Do you have a right to your own personal beliefs? Yes, but this kind of bigotry shouldn't be excused or encouraged under any circumstances. There's nothing godly about disliking a group of people you don't even know who has done nothing to you. There's nothing godly about spewing Bible verses towards them to make yourself bigger or better than everyone else and also, there's nothing godly about denying someone's existence. I'm not religious by any means, but I'm sure in the Bible it says to love one another. I'm not saying that you have to abandon your beliefs, but I ask you to have a bit of compassion without being cruel. It's not your job or obligation to change LGBTQ+ people for who they are, I ask you to treat them with kindness, dignity, and respect.

This great game of baseball is for everyone to enjoy. If you're so easily triggered and offended over Pride Month and MLB teams celebrating acceptance and equality for all, then that's a you problem. It's not a MLB problem. If it's so damaging to your own well-being, why are you wearing that jersey? Why are you wearing that ball cap? Why do you continue to watch games, either in person or on TV to support your own team? It's such a ridiculous thing to get so worked up over. Maybe you need to reassess your life and check your own biases. The thing about life is to not take everything so personally and not continually look for problems in everything when they're aren't any. No one is shoving anything down your throat, so please stop with that continuously tired narrative. Teams celebrating Pride Month is not a personal attack towards you or your beliefs. There's nothing wrong with what MLB teams do every June and again, if it's too much for you to handle, that's a you problem. My advice to you is to stop being so self centered and get over yourself. It's not that deep.

In closing, I want to share a pic of myself (seen above) showing my support for my own team. I'm a gay man who loves baseball and I'm proud of that. I'm hopeful that the Rangers will have a Pride Night in the future and if people have an issue with that, that's their loss. MLB teams supporting the LGBTQ+ community will never go away anytime soon, no matter how much you rant and rave about it. I've been a die-hard Rangers fan since 2001. I became a fan at 13 after attending my first Rangers game and my support for them has never changed. In case you haven't done the math, I've been a fan for 23 years, come this September.

I'll say this one last time: Baseball is for everyone.