During last Saturday's 16th annual “Pride Night” celebration at Tropicana Field, at least five Tampa Bay Rays players decided not to wear rainbow-colored logos on their uniforms and hats, saying it's against their religion and that they don't want to "encourage" the LGBTQ+ behavior.
The five players include Jason Adam, Jalen Beeks, Brooks Raley, Jeffrey Springs, and Ryan Thompson.
Speaking to WFLA, Thompson essentially stated that he did some research and discovered that he won't be able to get into heaven if he pretends to like the gay community too much.
Notably, many Rays fans have pointed out that this selective bit of performative bigotry absolutely sucks. Here are a few of the better tweets roasting the Rays players who can't even unify around something as simple as tolerance and support for marginalized groups.
The best tweets roasting Tampa Bay Rays players for removing Pride logo from uniforms
By CL Staff on Mon, Jun 6, 2022 at 4:13 pm
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the pitchers who didn't wear the pride logo posted a 13.5 ERA (and earned the loss in relief). that kinda feels like a sign to me. https://t.co/Qa53aNnJVQ
— Neverending Corey (@CoreyNever) June 6, 2022
Being gay is not a "lifestyle." Being gay is not a "lifestyle." Being gay is not a "lifestyle." Being gay is not a "lifestyle." Being gay is not a "lifestyle." Being gay is not a "lifestyle." Being gay is not a "lifestyle." Being gay is not a "lifestyle."
— Peter Schorsch 🇺🇦 (@PeterSchorschFL) June 6, 2022
cc: @RaysBaseball pic.twitter.com/f7klUJ0Y8U
if people came out to protest they could make history by being the first baseball fans, gay or straight, to attend a tampa bay rays game https://t.co/GNbF9KJDt2
— David Grossman (@davidgross_man) June 6, 2022
Jesus: “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you” (John 15:12)
— Dan (@behindhomeplate) June 6, 2022
Five Tampa Bay Rays: “No thanks, it’s against my religion”
If your religious beliefs keep you from wearing a symbol of accepting everyone, then you don’t actually accept everyone.
— The Barrelman’s Burner 🍺⚾️ (@barrelman_mke) June 6, 2022
Imagine if an athlete decided not to wear camo to support the military because of religious beliefs https://t.co/SRuUBTOh22
— Jay Forster (@_jakobforster) June 6, 2022
Like Carlin said: fascism disguised as “tolerance.” https://t.co/se0HrMNJGu
— Josh Denny (@JoshDenny) June 6, 2022
Wearing a patch doesn’t mean you have to go out and sleep with another dude. It’s literally just saying that you’re not cool with discrimination against people who might want to sleep with another dude. Everything doesn’t have to be zero sum.
— Corey Richardson (@vexedinthecity) June 6, 2022
Wearing a patch doesn’t mean you have to go out and sleep with another dude. It’s literally just saying that you’re not cool with discrimination against people who might want to sleep with another dude. Everything doesn’t have to be zero sum.
— Corey Richardson (@vexedinthecity) June 6, 2022
Imagine being so homophobic you peel off the tiny rainbow patch they ask you to wear for like three hours total https://t.co/HQdPsNh8r6
— Ryan Chaput (@theblondbeard) June 6, 2022
Jalen Beeks chose not to participate in wearing the Tampa Bay Rays Pride hat last night, entered the game in the eighth, gave up a 2-run homer, and picked up the loss. #Gaysball
— Baseball GIFs (@gifs_baseball) June 5, 2022
I love that Rays player invoking the gay "lifestyle." He should met this gay couple we're friends with. Just had a kid. Living on no sleep. Constantly covered with barf and poop. Consider eating a pizza and watching 3/4 of a TV show a "victory."
— Craig Calcaterra (@craigcalcaterra) June 6, 2022
What a threatening "lifestyle."
I'm new to American Christianity. Can someone give me a shortcut to whom Jesus says I should hate and why?
— JDills (@jeff_dilworth) June 6, 2022
The same people who say you should have to play the national anthem and stand for it are offended about putting "politics" in the game.
— crouching tiger, shining wizard (@bizmarkiedesade) June 6, 2022
If universal compulsory nationalism is part of baseball, it's already political.
I always forget that passage where Jesus says love thy neighbor unless they’re gay https://t.co/ANWmgGfXaw
— Mark (@mypostdemise) June 6, 2022
Hear this all the time. It’s nothing to do with faith, it’s about belief. Deeply flawed, discriminatory beliefs. https://t.co/5F6ehEmnEU
— Kam (@Kam_LFC) June 6, 2022
Do they work on the Sabbath? It’s not faith, it’s hate. https://t.co/v7qS00DfzN
— Kris 🌻 (@KrisArmstrong1) June 6, 2022
It’s important to remember many people still believe our right to exist and have equal rights is inherently wrong or evil. This is why pride, even in its complicated commercialized form, is critical. https://t.co/dS1OgP5SRr
— Greg Brinck (@gregbrinck) June 6, 2022
Why don’t they just respectfully kneel? I’m sure nothing bad will happen to them. https://t.co/BKChhPRIJN
— Peter Sagal (@petersagal) June 6, 2022
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