Taking back the rainbow

In a world where even supposedly “woke” corporations are pulling their sponsorships of Pride events or yanking rainbow-themed merchandise and displays from their stores, most Major League Baseball teams continue to host Pride celebrations.

Only one team, the Texas Rangers, declined to host one this year. The rest continue to bow their knees to the LGBTQ communities in the cities or states they serve. Whether that’s out of tradition, a sincere desire to create “inclusive” or “welcoming” atmospheres for same-sex couples and/or individuals who self-identify as “gender non-conforming” at their ballparks, or fear that the LGBTQ community will raise a ruckus if they ever stop, I don’t know.

What I do know is that MLB teams that celebrate Pride often put their Christian players in a tough position. Those players must either wear caps, uniform patches, and/or jerseys that incorporate the six colors of the Pride flag into their teams’ names or logos—thereby signaling their support for the Pride cause—or draw media attention, and potential backlash, to themselves by refusing to do so.

That’s the position Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw found himself in on June 13 when his team hosted its archrival, the San Francisco Giants. Like his teammates, Kershaw wore a blue cap that featured a rainbow-colored version of the Dodgers’ interlocking “LA” logo for that contest.

Given that Kershaw has been an outspoken Christian throughout his major league career, I was rather stunned to discover on Facebook a photo of the three-time Cy Young Award winner and future Baseball Hall of Famer wearing that hat in the Dodgers’ dugout. That is, until I learned that Kershaw had altered his cap, scrawling “Gen. 9:12-16” in white ink to the right of the logo.

The verse describes what the rainbow—the seven-colored version that aligns with the biblical number signifying completeness, not the six-colored version on the Pride flag—stands for: namely, God’s binding promise that “never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life” (verse 15).

As of this writing, the Dodgers have yet to issue a statement concerning Kershaw’s alteration of his cap. MLB rules do not explicitly prohibit players from displaying personal messages on their caps, whether near their teams’ logos or otherwise. However, MLB Rule 3.03(c) does state that “no player whose uniform does not conform to that of his teammates shall be permitted to participate in a game.” (Kershaw did not pitch against the Giants.)

Kershaw has been in this position before: Two years ago, the Dodgers sparked controversy when they honored the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence with a Community Hero Award. The Sisters are a pro-LGBTQ group whose members dress like Catholic nuns, adopt sexually suggestive stage names, and perform acts on stage mocking Christian values concerning marriage, gender, and sexuality. Kershaw opposed the Dodgers’ decision to honor the Sisters, claiming his stance had nothing to do with LGBTQ inclusion and everything to do with mocking someone’s faith.

The Dodgers’ salute to the Sisters caused so much controversy, in fact, that the team scrambled to save face. Hoping to appease their Catholic and Christian fans, the Dodgers arranged to host their first Christian Faith and Family Day since 2019—and trotted out Kershaw to promote it. The Dodgers have apparently since gone back to not hosting a Faith and Family Day. Their schedule does not list one for 2025, according to the Christian Broadcasting Network.

The Dodgers apparently don’t value Christian dollars. But what of their Christian employees? Why put them in a position that forces them to choose between signaling support of something their faith prohibits and causing controversy by not signaling such support?

If the Dodgers and other MLB teams want to cater to the LGBTQ communities in their cities, that’s their prerogative. They can sell rainbow-themed merchandise in their team stores or give away rainbow-themed souvenirs to entice LGBTQ fans to the ballpark. They can fly the rainbow flag and promote LGBTQ inclusion through scoreboard messages and in-game public address announcements. But requiring players and other on-field personnel to wear Pride-themed gear is a step too far. I doubt MLB teams would require non-Christian players to wear crosses on their caps or jerseys should those teams host Christian-themed events.

Which is why I applaud Kershaw for writing the biblical reference on his cap. He didn’t choose one of the many verses that condemns LGBTQ conduct or that describes the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. He chose a simple reminder of what the rainbow truly stands for—and in the process, quietly but defiantly pushed back against his employer for requiring him to participate in organizational support for what the Bible unquestionably calls sin.

Kershaw isn’t the first pro athlete to do something like this—I can cite multiple examples, from the sports of baseball, hockey, and soccer especially. However, as long as pro sports teams continue to promote Pride, the Christian athletes they employ would do well to push back the way Kershaw did. True inclusion also respects persons of faith.