The Tampa Bay Rays held their 16th Pride Night celebration at Tropicana Field on Saturday, but not everyone in the organization participated.
The team decided this year that they would make their support of their LGBTQ+ community more overt by adding rainbow-colored logos to their Pride Night uniforms, the “TB” on their caps, and on their right jersey sleeves.
“It’s one of those things, my parents taught me to love everyone as they are, go live your life, whatever your preferences are, go be you,” veteran outfielder Kevin Kiermaier said about why it felt important. “I can’t speak for everyone who’s in here, obviously, but this is a family-friendly environment here at a big-league ball field. … We just want everyone to feel welcomed and included and cheer us on. No matter what your views on anything are.”
However, they soon learned that some of their players did not want to participate. While the full list of players who declined the opportunity to support the LGBTQ+ community was not shared, pitchers Jason Adam, Jalen Beeks, Brooks Raley, Jeffrey Springs, and Ryan Thompson were among those who chose to remove the burst logo and wear the team’s standard hat, per the Tampa Bay Times.
The Rays organization told the paper that while they would have preferred everyone to participate, they felt it was important to give players and staff the chance to opt in or out. The team also designated Adam to speak with the press on behalf of the players who decided to opt out.
“A lot of it comes down to faith, to like a faith-based decision,” Adam said. “So it’s a hard decision. Because ultimately we all said what we want is them to know that all are welcome and loved here. But when we put it on our bodies, I think a lot of guys decided that it’s just a lifestyle that maybe — not that they look down on anybody or think differently — it’s just that maybe we don’t want to encourage it if we believe in Jesus, who’s encouraged us to live a lifestyle that would abstain from that behavior, just like (Jesus) encourages me as a heterosexual male to abstain from sex outside of the confines of marriage. It’s no different.
“It’s not judgmental. It’s not looking down. It’s just what we believe the lifestyle he’s encouraged us to live, for our good, not to withhold. But again, we love these men and women, we care about them, and we want them to feel safe and welcome here.”
As you might imagine, Adam’s comments invoked some strong reactions on all sides of the issue from the MLB world.
In case you missed it, there are people who still believe being gay is a lifestyle choice and who also believe Jesus wouldn’t love and support the LGBTQIA+ community. https://t.co/T9OY0EByl4
— Stacey with an e (@StaceGots) June 5, 2022
As part of their efforts to support the LGBTQ+ community, the Rays included LGBTQ+ fans in pregame events, gave out mini pride flags, and made a $20,000 donation to Metro Inclusive Health, which provides diverse health and wellness services to the community. The team also added a rainbow-colored burst to the back wall of the stadium that has been up all season.