Last Friday, the San Francisco Giants hosted a ‘Pride Night’ in their game against the Chicago Cubs at Oracle Park. The event aimed to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride. Special Pride caps were distributed for players to wear during the game. While most players participated, pitcher Sam Hentges opted out, and three pitchers, including Landen Roupp and JT Brubaker, chose to inscribe Bible verses on their caps.
Arne Johnson, a longtime Giants fan and a parent to two LGBTQ children, expressed his disappointment. He stated, “Every time that Landen Roupp, or one of these players, gets up on the mound, they’re going to have to think, ‘should I be cheering for this person?’ Because they won’t cheer for me, and that’s an experience that goes beyond the boycott. Am I welcome here in this place?” Johnson is a member of Rainbow Families Action, a group supporting transgender and non-binary youth. He found the actions of these pitchers deeply hurtful.
Johnson added, “One night a year, we asked for the players to cheer for our children, and they couldn’t even manage that. To me, that is deeply offensive, and it’s something that nobody in the Bay Area should tolerate.”
“We understand that the choices by individual players has caused pain and anger to many in the LGBTQ+ community and we are sorry for that. Those choices do not change our organization’s commitment to inclusion, belonging, and creating a welcoming environment for all.” — San Francisco Giants
Rainbow Families Action members expressed disappointment with the Giants’ response. They suggested that fans channel their support to venues that fully embrace the LGBTQ community. Although no official boycott has been initiated, Johnson indicated it remains an option unless the Giants address the situation through corrective actions.
He stated, “I would like for the Giants to offer to meet with families and members of the LGBT community and to promise to make substantial changes and educate their players and make a really substantial effort towards healing this hurt.”
Nexstar’s KRON reached out to Major League Baseball (MLB) regarding the inscription of Bible verses on the caps, as this violates league rules. No response was received by the time of publication.
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