St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jack Flaherty has publicly called out the Tampa Bay Rays players who opted out of wearing an LGBTQ Pride Month logo during a game.
“Absolute joke,” Flaherty wrote in a tweet on Sunday, quoting a tweet from TMZ Sports on the matter.
Flaherty’s response came after Rays pitchers Jason Adam, Jalen Beeks, Brooks Raley, Jeffrey Springs and Ryan Thompson declined to wear rainbow logos on their uniforms during the team’s annual Pride Night celebration, calling it a “faith-based” decision, according to Sports Illustrated.
Adam told the Tampa Bay Times the decision was not judgemental.
“It’s not judgmental. It’s not looking down. It’s just what we believe the lifestyle he’s encouraged us to live, for our good, not to withhold. But again, we love these men and women, we care about them, and we want them to feel safe and welcome here,” Adams added.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) on Thursday vetoed funds for the Rays’ new practice facility in Pasco County in response the team’s public support of gun control legislation following recent mass shootings in the U.S.
In a statement, Rays Manager Kevin Cash said he doesn’t think players’ opinions on the issue will negatively impact the team, adding that they have had discussions on the matter and emphasized “valuing the different perspectives,” SI.com reported.
Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier, who wore the logo during the game, told the Times that creating an “environment of inclusivity” was important to him.
“It’s one of those things, my parents taught me to love everyone as they are, go live your life, whatever your preferences are, go be you,” Kiermaier told the newspaper. “I can’t speak for everyone who’s in here, obviously, but this is a family-friendly environment here at a big-league ball field. … We just want everyone to feel welcomed and included and cheer us on. No matter what your views on anything are.”