At least 5 Tampa Bay Rays gamers selected to not put on rainbow logos that supported the LGBT neighborhood through the staff’s Pride Night, describing the choice as “faith-based.”
Jason Adam, Jeffrey Springs, Brooks Raley, Ryan Thompson and Jalen Beeks wore their staff’s conventional hats and eliminated a rainbow emblem from their jerseys on Saturday, in keeping with the Tampa Bay Times.
Adam mentioned on behalf of his teammates that it was a “hard decision.”
“Because ultimately we all said what we want is them to know that all are welcome and loved here,” Adam mentioned.
“But when we put it on our bodies, I think a lot of guys decided that it’s just a lifestyle that maybe — not that they look down on anybody or think differently — it’s just that maybe we don’t want to encourage it if we believe in Jesus, who’s encouraged us to live a lifestyle that would abstain from that behavior, just like (Jesus) encourages me as a heterosexual male to abstain from sex outside of the confines of marriage. It’s no different.”
The Pride Night apparel included a hat with a rainbow “TB” emblem, in addition to a patch on the suitable sleeves that includes a rainbow model of the staff’s alternate sunburst emblem.
It’s unclear what number of Rays opted out of the Pride Night apparel, however greater than half of the staff appeared to put on the rainbow logos, in keeping with the Times.
“Our Pride Nights continue to grow both in terms of visibility and participation,” mentioned Rays president Matt Silverman. “By doing this, we extend an invitation not just for this game but for all of our games that the LGBTQ+ community is invited, welcomed and celebrated.”
Florida has garnered controversy over the “Don’t Say Gay” invoice, which prohibits dialogue about sexual orientation or gender identification in kindergarten by way of third grade school rooms. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the invoice into regulation earlier this 12 months.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com