The Texas Rangers, one of Major League Baseball’s teams, have been under scrutiny for not hosting a Pride Night event during the month of June, which is celebrated as Pride Month in support of LGBTQ+ culture and rights. Rafael McDonnell, a member of the Resource Center, an LGBTQ+ organization in Dallas, has been in communication with the Rangers about issues of diversity and inclusion, but the team still has not held a Pride Night. Despite his long-time support for the team, McDonnell finds it disappointing that they have not made progress in this area.
Over the past few years, the Rangers have worked with organizations such as the Resource Center to develop policies of inclusion and have sent employees to volunteer for programs. While McDonnell acknowledges the effort the team has put into supporting the LGBTQ+ community, the absence of a Pride Night remains a sticking point for him. He believes that there may be someone high up in the organization who is opposed to the idea for unexplained reasons, hindering progress in this area within the team.
Both the MLB and LGBTQ+ community leaders, including Billy Bean and DeeJay Johannessen, believe that the Rangers will eventually host a Pride Night at Globe Life Field, the team’s home stadium. However, they suggest that change may have to come with new ownership, as the current leadership may not prioritize this issue. Despite invitations to discuss the matter with the team’s majority owner, Ray C. Davis, leaders such as Johannessen have not been able to secure a meeting to address the importance of a Pride Night.
The Rangers, through a spokesman, have stated that they remain committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all fans and employees, listing various initiatives they have undertaken to support diversity. However, fans like Misty Lockhart, who attend numerous games each year, believe that it is essential for the Rangers to hold a Pride Night to align with other MLB teams and celebrate inclusivity. Lockhart emphasizes that Pride Night is not a political issue but rather a symbol of acceptance and support for the LGBTQ+ community.
While some fans, like Will Davis, view the absence of a Pride Night as a private organizational decision, others, like Johannessen, feel that it reflects poorly on the team and the city of Arlington. The Rangers have faced scrutiny on social media for changing their website slogan to “Straight Up Texas” around the time of Pride Month, although the team claimed the change was unrelated to the event. Diversity advocates continue to push for a Pride Night at Globe Life Field to ensure that the Rangers are inclusive and supportive of all members of their community.
