LGBTQ+ groups left FURIOUS as Texas Rangers still refuse to join the rest of MLB in hosting Pride Night: 'It's an embarrassment'

All but one of the 30 of the Major League Baseball teams are hosting Pride Nights this season - most during Pride Month - to celebrate and support LGBTQ+ rights.

The Texas Rangers are the exception. They say they are committed to making everyone feel welcome at all games.

But in September 2003, two years after the Chicago Cubs hosted what is considered the first Pride game, the Rangers invited local LGBTQ+ groups to a game as part of a fundraising event.

Some Rangers fans expressed opposition and there were even some protests outside the stadium before the game.

DeeJay Johannessen - chief executive of the HELP Center, an LGBTQ+ organization based in Tarrant County, where the Rangers play - believes it is an 'embarrassment' for the area that Texas does not have a Pride Night.

'I'd love to meet with Mr. (Rangers majority owner Ray C.) Davis and talk about why it's important. But I don´t think that's on his priority list right now,' he said.

'I think that the issue here is not whether they are losing every game or whether they are World Series champions... it's a matter of whether or not having a Pride Night is something that the ownership of the Rangers is supportive of.

'There may be deeply held beliefs of why they don´t want to do that,' Johannessen added. 'And, we're very respectful of that, but also have to advocate for our community. Because it's kind of an embarrassment to the city of Arlington that their team is the only one that doesn´t have a Pride Night.'

The team has been consistent with its response when asked: 'Our longstanding commitment remains the same: To make everyone feel welcome and included in Rangers baseball,' the team says. 

'We deliver on that promise across our many programs to have a positive impact across our entire community.'

Texas has been dominated by Republicans for a generation, and state lawmakers and Govenor Greg Abbott last year joined the push from many conservative states to limit LBGTQ+ rights.

The Legislature passed new laws expanding definitions of prohibited sexual content in public performances and in school books. Activists fear those measures will be used to target drag shows and ban LGBTQ+ literature from libraries and classrooms.

Texas is one of at least 25 states with laws restricting or banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors. And Texas public universities have been directed to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion offices and training.

Abbott also signed into law the 'Save Women's Sports Act' that bars transgender college athletes from competing on teams that match their gender identity. Texas already had a similar law for high schools.

Amid that conservative political landscape, there is less outside resistance in their home market to the Rangers not having a Pride Night.

Davis has donated at least $560,000 to Texans for Greg Abbott since 2013.

The Astros hosted their first Pride Night in 2021. Houston, the state's most-populated city with about 2.3million people in a metro area of about 6.7 million, is one of the biggest strongholds for Democrats in Texas. Another is Dallas, not far from the Rangers´ home ballpark.

The Rangers were a sponsor of the NAGAAA Gay Softball World Series in 2022 when the event took place in Dallas and Waxahachie.

The team is working on initiatives with local groups, including the Pegasus Slow-Pitch Softball Association, which promotes quality amateur softball at all levels of play with a special emphasis on the participation of members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Pegasus has been invited by MLB and the Rangers to participate in a training program for inclusion on July 14 as part MLB's All-Star Legacy Program initiatives. The Rangers are hosting the All-Star Game on July 16.

The Rangers have worked in the past the Resource Center, which provides programs and assistance to LGBTQ+ communities and anyone impacted in North Dallas by HIV/AIDS through advocacy, health and education. Team employees volunteer and support Resource Center events.

'As someone who grew up watching the Rangers, as someone who has gone to games since the 1970s, some of my biggest and best memories are going to games at the old Arlington Stadium with my late grandfather and listening to games on the radio in his backyard,' said Rafael McDonnell of the Resource Center.

'It pains me that this remains an issue (after) all these years.'

Painful enough, McDonnell said, that he considered not attending the parade with his boyfriend when the Rangers celebrated their first World Series championship last fall. 

'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 added. '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.' 

Several years ago, MLB diversity officer Billy Bean, who came out as gay after a six-year playing career, said he believed a Pride Night eventually would come to Globe Life Field, the Rangers' retractable roof home that will host next month's All-Star Game. MLB did not have comment when asked last week about the Rangers' Pride Night status. 

An Inclusion and Community Impact Council was developed by the team to foster conversations, ideas and programs to support employees internally and to the community externally. Rangers employees participate in anti-harassment programs, and education programs offered by MLB.

The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation focuses on anti-bullying messaging at the club's youth academy, and the staff works with outside agencies to ensure a welcoming environment for all athletes.