The Texas Rangers Frustrate LGBTQ+ Advocates as the Only MLB Team Without a Pride Night
ARLINGTON, Texas — Rafael McDonnell, a lifelong Texas Rangers fan and a representative of the Resource Center, an LGBTQ organization in Dallas, finds himself in a complicated relationship with his beloved baseball team. Despite his deep-rooted love for the Rangers, McDonnell is pained by the team’s continued refusal to host a Pride Night, making them the only Major League Baseball (MLB) team without such an event.
McDonnell, who has been attending Rangers games since the 1970s, recalls fond memories of watching games with his late grandfather. However, the absence of a Pride Night has cast a shadow over his enthusiasm. “It pains me that this remains an issue after all these years,” he said. The frustration was so intense that McDonnell considered skipping the Rangers’ World Series championship parade last fall, though he ultimately decided to attend.
The Resource Center, where McDonnell serves as the communications and advocacy manager, has been working with the Rangers for about five years to develop policies of inclusion. The team has sent employees to volunteer for programs at the Resource Center, which advocates for marriage equality and transgender rights. Despite these efforts, McDonnell notes that there have been no recent conversations with the Rangers’ staff since their World Series victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
“For a long time, I’ve thought that it might be somebody very high up in the organization who is opposed to this for some reason that is not clearly articulated,” McDonnell speculated. “To say that the Rangers aren’t doing anything for the community, well, they have. But the hill that they are choosing to stake themselves out on is no Pride Night.”
Several years ago, MLB diversity officer Billy Bean, who came out as gay after a six-year playing career, expressed optimism that a Pride Night would eventually come to Globe Life Field, the Rangers’ home stadium. However, MLB declined to comment on the Rangers’ current stance on Pride Night.
DeeJay Johannessen, chief executive of the HELP Center, another LGBTQ organization in Tarrant County, shares McDonnell’s belief that the Rangers will eventually host a Pride Night. However, both advocates think that change might require new ownership. Johannessen has not requested a meeting with majority owner Ray C. Davis, citing a lack of optimism about its potential impact. “I’d love to meet with Mr. Davis and talk about why it’s important. But I don’t think that’s on his priority list right now,” Johannessen said.
The Rangers declined a request for an interview with Davis but issued a statement emphasizing their commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for fans and employees. “Our longstanding commitment remains the same: To make everyone feel welcome and included in Rangers baseball — in our ballpark, at every game, and in all we do — for both our fans and our employees,” the team said. “We deliver on that promise across our many programs to have a positive impact across our entire community.”
Despite the Rangers’ stance, some fans like Misty Lockhart, who attends about 35 games a year, continue to support the team. Lockhart, who also supports the Dallas Stars and attended their Pride Night, believes the Rangers should complete the MLB picture by hosting a Pride Night. “I think if it were something where MLB said, ‘We’re not participating in this,’ but the MLB does participate in it. And the Rangers have chosen not to,” she said. “I think that’s where I take the bigger issue, is they have actively chosen not to participate in it.”
Lockhart does not see Pride Night as a political issue but acknowledges that the Rangers might face more pressure if they had a downtown stadium in Dallas County, which is more liberal compared to the generally conservative Tarrant County, home to Arlington and Fort Worth.
Will Davis, a Rangers fan from Marble Falls, views the issue differently. He believes that as a private organization, the Rangers should not be forced to host a Pride Night. “In something like this, this is a way for people to go as a state. We don’t want the political stuff shoved down our throats one way or the other, left or right. We’re coming out here to have a good time with friends or family and let it be,” he said.
The Rangers celebrate various heritages and groups throughout the season, including Mexican heritage, Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts, first responders, teachers, and the military. They also recognize universities from around the Dallas-Fort Worth area and the state. These celebrations make the absence of a Pride Night more glaring, according to Johannessen. “I think that the issue here is not whether they are losing every game or whether they are World Series champions,” he said. “It’s a matter of whether or not having a Pride Night is something that the ownership of the Rangers is supportive of.”
The Rangers recently raised eyebrows when they changed the slogan on their website to “Straight Up Texas” from “Run it Back” around June 1. The team has used the “Straight Up Texas” slogan in previous years and stated that the change had nothing to do with Pride Month. However, the attention the change received on social media highlighted the scrutiny the Rangers face as the only MLB team without a Pride Night.
“The Texas Rangers have reached out to us about working with us and providing services and volunteers,” Johannessen said. “That actually hasn’t happened yet. When they asked what they could do, the first thing I said was, ‘Let’s talk about a Pride Night.’”
Source: Associated Press
