Some Tampa Bay Rays players refused to wear the LGBTQ+ logo on their uniforms Saturday at Tropicana Field Pride Night.
it’s the 16and year the Tampa Bay Rays hosted Pride Night [Soirée de la Fierté]. For this year’s edition, the team decided to do like the San Francisco Giants and add colorful LGBTQ+ community logos to the uniform and cap.
Except, here it is: some players refused to use the logo and opted for the standard cap, the Tampa Bay Times. This is particularly the case for pitchers Jason Adam, Jalen Beeks, Jeffrey Springs, Brooks Raley and Ryan Thompson.
Adam, who served as the group’s spokesman, said the decision was “largely” based on his religious beliefs. “It’s a tough decision because ultimately, we all said we want them to know that everyone is welcome and loved here,” he explained.
Photo Jim Cowsert, USA TODAY Sports Archive
jason adam
“But by using it on their body, I think a lot of guys have decided that it’s a lifestyle that maybe they don’t want to encourage if they believe in Jesus, who encouraged us to live a lifestyle where we abstain from that kind of lifestyle. behavior, just as Jesus encourages me, as a heterosexual man, to abstain outside the confines of marriage. It is no different. »
He clarified that it was not a “question of judgment”. “We love these men and women, we care about them, and we want them to feel safe and welcome here. »
Rays manager Kevin Cash said after the game that the matter had been the source of much constructive discussion in recent weeks. Rays officials ultimately preferred to give players and staff the choice of whether or not to display the rainbow logo.
always according to Tampa Bay Times, the Rays have long supported LGBTQ+ efforts. Notably, they were the first professional sports team to sign an amicus brief for the United States Supreme Court supporting same-sex marriage.
For Saturday’s game, the organization distributed Pride mini flags to an audience of more than 19,000 people. She also donated $20,000 to Metro Inclusive Health.
