Media Attacks Texas Rangers Again For Not Having Pride Night
The Texas Rangers are the only team in Major League Baseball not to have a "Pride Night," and for that, they're relentlessly attacked by left-wing media outlets.
This year's version came from NBC News, where the media's usual preference, referencing activist concerns as some sort of definitive viewpoint that must be accepted, was reused once again.
"Texas Rangers frustrate LGBTQ advocates as only MLB team without a Pride Night," NBC News headlined their story. And the text is even worse.
To justify the attack, NBC News interviewed Rafael McDonnell, who works for an LGBTQ+ group in Dallas called the Resource Center. And McDonnell, who's spoken with the team about "diversity and inclusion" already, undermined the entire argument.
"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 said. "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."
So the Rangers have not been accused of discrimination, have supported the local LGBTQ+ community, and invite members of the community to speak to the organization and the team. But because they don't have a specific night to celebrate a specific set of sexual and gender preferences, they deserve to be attacked? It's nonsense.
Apr 7, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; A view of the open roof and the field and the fans during the first inning of the game between the Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Texas Rangers Get Attacked Over Nothing
NBC even reached out to Major League Baseball to see what they had to say about the Rangers choice to avoid specifically celebrating sexual preferences. And the league rightfully gave a "no comment," because there's nothing to comment on.
Teams can celebrate whatever they want to, or choose not to celebrate whatever they want to. The Los Angeles Dodgers, for example, have "heritage" nights, where they do specially themed ticket packages for things like Hispanic Heritage, Armenian Heritage, Korean Heritage, and so on. Are the other 29 teams who don't do this racist because they don't also celebrate those cultures with a "heritage" night?
The Rangers issued a statement to NBC saying that their goal is to make everyone "feel welcome and included."
"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."
That should be every team's goal. And as we saw with the Dodgers in 2023, sometimes Pride Night can be exclusionary, offensive and unwelcoming.
READ: Dodgers Cowardice On Anti-Catholic Drag Group Shows Who They Really Value
There's no active discrimination occurring, no justifiable criticism that the team is excluding people from attending their games or say, harassing or criticizing gay couples attending games. But that's not enough for "advocates" and activists. They must be celebrated, or else. And that or else is running to the media to air their non-existent grievances. Unsurprisingly, the media's all too happy to play along.