The Texas Rangers Stand Alone: America’s Team Rejects Forced Pride Nights
While the MLB embraces progressive identity politics by promoting Pride nights, the Texas Rangers remain the only team refraining from such celebrations and instead prioritize playing baseball. In a world where sports are increasingly politicized, the Rangers’ unwavering focus on the game is a breath of fresh air.
The Texas Rangers have chosen baseball over politics by not hosting a Pride night, gay pride-themed game, or other LGBTQ+ promotional events. This decision makes them stand out among their MLB peers, as the Rangers are currently the only organization in the league not to participate in these politically-charged activities.
According to Breitbart, the Rangers have not held any LGBTQ+ celebrations since 2003, when they invited several LGBTQ+ groups to their stadium. The event, which wasn’t officially marketed, was met with protests. Since then, there have been no similar events at the ballpark.
The Dallas Morning News and other media outlets are eager to remind the public of the Rangers’ rejection of Pride nights each season, using it as a basis for negative portrayals. This agenda-driven reporting distracts from the fact that the team maintains a strong record on the field.
Despite immense pressure from various groups, the Rangers’ COO, Neil Leibman, has stated that the club’s primary focus is playing baseball and not implementing external social issue programming. Leibman noted that the team has worked with the Resource Center to create more inclusive hiring practices, but he believes it is more important to focus on the quality of the organization rather than participate in
