At the very least 5 Tampa Bay Rays gamers selected to not put on rainbow logos that supported the LGBT group throughout the workforce’s Delight Night time, describing the choice as “faith-based.”
Jason Adam, Jeffrey Springs, Brooks Raley, Ryan Thompson and Jalen Beeks wore their workforce’s conventional hats and eliminated a rainbow brand from their jerseys on Saturday, in keeping with the Tampa Bay Instances.
Adam mentioned on behalf of his teammates that it was a “exhausting choice.”
“As a result of in the end all of us mentioned what we would like is them to know that each one are welcome and beloved right here,” Adam mentioned.
“However after we put it on our our bodies, I believe a whole lot of guys determined that it’s only a way of life that possibly — not that they appear down on anyone or suppose in another way — it’s simply that possibly we don’t need to encourage it if we consider in Jesus, who’s inspired us to reside a way of life that might abstain from that conduct, similar to (Jesus) encourages me as a heterosexual male to abstain from intercourse outdoors of the confines of marriage. It’s no completely different.”
The Delight Night time apparel included a hat with a rainbow “TB” brand, in addition to a patch on the best sleeves that includes a rainbow model of the workforce’s alternate sunburst brand.
It’s unclear what number of Rays opted out of the Delight Night time apparel, however greater than half of the workforce appeared to put on the rainbow logos, in keeping with the Instances.
“Our Delight Nights proceed to develop each by way of visibility and participation,” mentioned Rays president Matt Silverman. “By doing this, we lengthen an invite not only for this sport however for all of our video games that the LGBTQ+ group is invited, welcomed and celebrated.”
Florida has garnered controversy over the “Don’t Say Homosexual” invoice, which prohibits dialogue about sexual orientation or gender id in kindergarten by means of third grade lecture rooms. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the invoice into legislation earlier this yr.
()