Baseball fans can be a romantic bunch who regard the diamond as a near-perfect space. There’s the sharp yet endless line separating fair from foul. A batter is allowed just three unsuccessful swings before he is out; a pitcher four errant throws before the batter is advanced to first base. The pitcher’s plate, the 24-inch long and 6-inch wide slab of whitened rubber, is exactly 60 feet and 6 inches away from the back point of home plate. No more, no less. Yet within these strict rules, players can take their unique approaches: They may throw hard or soft, run fast or not-so-fast, hit for home runs or bunt. They play infield or outfield or even as a designated hitter who leaves the fielding to others.
In short, the world could take a lesson from the national pastime.
On Thursday, the Baltimore Orioles host the team’s annual LGBTQ+ Pride Night. There will be Pride-themed food and beverages, face paintings, a photo booth, rainbow kettle corn and, in typical MLB merchandise fashion, Pride-related pins, shirts and caps for sale. This is not just inclusivity but smart marketing. The Orioles are making a statement. And they happen to have chosen the perfect opponent for this moment.
That’s because the Orioles are playing the Texas Rangers, the only one of the 30 teams in Major League Baseball that does not host a Pride Night. The team claims to have a commitment to “make everyone feel welcome and included in Rangers games,” but their disinterest in a Pride Night smacks of something else. Baseball has had Pride Night games since 2001. But never in Arlington, Texas.
Now that’s a statement and it’s not a good one. Americans overwhelmingly support LGBTQ+ rights and protections. But recent polls suggest that support may be slipping, a troubling sign that resurgent Christian nationalism — the kind that helped fuel Donald Trump’s rise — is having some adverse effect on a too-easily marginalized community. While same-sex marriage has the support of 69% of Americans, that’s down two points from 2023 although still more than twice the number of 2003 (two years after the Chicago Cubs hosted the first Pride Night), according to Gallup.
A victory over the Rangers Thursday night would be nice, particularly after recent O’s losses, but one group can already claim victory. In Baltimore, we honor and celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals and we do so proudly — and with kettle corn.
Baltimore Sun editorial writers offer opinions and analysis on news and issues relevant to readers. They operate separately from the newsroom.
