More and more athletes refuse to wear rainbow Pride uniforms. They miss the point.

SB Nation ^ | Jan 18, 2023 | Cyd Zeigler

[where's_the_Outrage?]

When five Tampa Bay Rays players refused to wear a game uniform with a rainbow logo during Pride month, it seemed like a childish move.

Now it’s clear they started a misguided trend that is not-so-quietly building amongst anti-gay athletes in sports around the world.

The refusal to wear a rainbow-colored uniform — and potentially miss games for the club that pays you to play — misses the entire point of the very simple act, instead infusing a clear message of inequality and rejection of an entire class of people......

I’ve had some people ask me if I’d wear a cross to welcome Christians to a ballpark, if the team that employed me was having a Christian Night (and yes, by the way, many clubs host these).

Again, simple: 100%.

I’m not Christian. I was a couple decades ago, but I’ve since left my religious beliefs in the rear-view mirror, in part because of how people like Daniels and these other anti-gay athletes have used the religion I loved to beat me over the head with the Bible.

Every athlete should be able to wear a cross during Christian night, camo during military-appreciate night, and yes, a rainbow uniform during Pride night.

With no doubt, if an athlete refused to wear a Christian symbol for Christian night, or refused to wear camo for military-appreciation night, they would be attacked as anti-Christian and anti-military.

[al_c]

Can't recall recent time a pro team had a "Christian" night.

Can't speak for the rest of the country, but the Texas Rangers have Faith and Family night. So does the ECHL team Allen Americans.

[A_perfect_lady]

Thank you for your answers. I should have known FReepers would have a logical response.

[mewzilla]

I’m not worried about it.

I no longer follow professional or collegiate sports.

Problem solved.