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A2 UP FRONT
Tuesday 25 June 2024
Endangered House candidates grapple with how closely to run

with Biden and Trump

Continued from Front family and let it be."
The Rangers celebrate
"It pains me that this re- Mexican heritage during
mains an issue (after) all a game in June and also
these years." have nights throughout the
Painful enough, McDonnell season dedicated to other
said, that he considered ethnic groups along with
not attending the parade Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts, first
with his boyfriend when the responders, teachers and
Rangers celebrated their the military. The team rec-
first World Series champion- ognizes universities from
ship last fall. Ultimately, he around the Dallas-Fort
decided to go. Worth area and the state.
McDonnell, the commu- Those celebrations make
nications and advocacy the absence more glaring,
manager for the Resource Johannessen said.
Center, says the Rangers "I think that the issue here
invited his group to help is not whether they are los-
them develop a policy of ing every game or whether
inclusion about five years they are World Series cham-
ago. pions," he said. "It's a matter
The team has sent employ- of whether or not having
ees to volunteer for pro- a Pride Night is something
grams in an organization that the ownership of the
that grew out of the AIDS Rangers is supportive of.
crisis in the 1980s and advo- "There may be deeply held
cates for marriage equality beliefs of why they don't
and transgender rights. Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Calif., speaks during the House Select Committee on Intelligence annual want to do that," Johan-
While he has continuing open hearing on world wide threats at the Capitol in Washington, March 9, 2023. nessen said. "And, we're
conversations with mem- Associated Press very respectful of that, but
bers of the Rangers staff, also have to advocate for
McDonnell says he doesn't our community. Because
recall any since the five- the rest of MLB with a Pride our fans and our employ- sen not to," Lockhart said. "I it's kind of an embarrass-
game victory over the Ari- Night. ees," the team said. "We think that's where I take the ment to the city of Arling-
zona Diamondbacks in last At the same time, McDon- deliver on that promise bigger issue, is they have ton that their team is the
year's Fall Classic. nell and Johannessen say across our many programs actively chosen not to par- only one that doesn't have
"For a long time, I've thought the catalyst for change to have a positive impact ticipate in it." a Pride Night."
that it might be somebody might have to be new own- across our entire commu- Lockhart says she doesn't The Rangers raised eye-
very high up in the organi- ership. Johannessen said he nity." see Pride Night as a politi- brows when the slogan
zation who is opposed to hasn't requested to speak The Rangers' stance doesn't cal issue, but acknowledg- on the home page of
this for some reason that with majority owner Ray C. keep Misty Lockhart, who es there would be more their website changed to
is not clearly articulated," Davis to discuss Pride. lives near the ballpark, from pressure on the Rangers if "Straight Up Texas" from
McDonnell said. "To say "I have not because, quite attending about 35 games they had a downtown sta- "Run it Back" sometime
that the Rangers aren't do- honestly, that's just not go- a year. Also a big Dallas dium in the heart of Dallas around June 1. The team
ing anything for the com- ing to happen," Johannes- Stars fan, she was at the County, where the major- has used the "Straight Up
munity, well, they have. But sen said. "I'd love to meet NHL team's Pride Night in ity of elected officials are Texas" slogan in previous
the hill that they are choos- with Mr. Davis and talk March at the American Air- Democrats. Tarrant County, years, and said the change
ing to stake themselves out about why it's important. lines Center in downtown home to Arlington and Fort had nothing to do with
on is no Pride Night." But I don't think that's on his Dallas. Worth, is generally more Pride Month.
Several years ago, MLB di- priority list right now." Lockhart was wearing a conversative. Still, the attention the
versity officer Billy Bean, Through a spokesman, the No. 91 Tyler Seguin Pride Will Davis — a Rangers fan change received on social
who came out as gay af- Rangers declined a request jersey that had been worn from Marble Falls, about media illustrated the scru-
ter a six-year playing ca- by The Associated Press to during warmups in a previ- 200 miles southwest of the tiny the Rangers have in-
reer, said he believed a interview Davis. ous year and was signed stadium in Central Texas — vited as the only MLB team
Pride Night eventually The team issued a state- by the Stars forward. The does see it as a political is- without a Pride Night.
would come to Globe Life ment similar to one from Stars logo on the front was sue. He attended a recent "The Texas Rangers have
Field, the Rangers' retract- a year ago, listing various in rainbow colors. game with his son's youth reached out to us about
able roof home that will organizations they have While she doesn't believe baseball team. working with us and pro-
host next month's All-Star sponsored and steps they the Rangers risk losing fans "I think it's a private organi- viding services and volun-
Game. MLB did not have have taken internally to over their stance on Pride, zation. And if they don't teers," said Johannessen,
comment when asked last "create a welcoming, in- Lockhart would prefer the want to have it, I don't think whose organization has
week about the Rangers' clusive, and supportive en- Rangers complete the MLB they should be forced to provided health services
Pride Night status. vironment for fans and em- picture on something that have it," Davis said. among other things in the
McDonnell and DeeJay ployees." is believed to have started "In something like this, this is LGBTQ+ community for 30
Johannessen — chief ex- "Our longstanding commit- with the Chicago Cubs in a way for people to go as years.
ecutive of the HELP Center, ment remains the same: 2001. a state. We don't want the "That actually hasn't hap-
an LGBTQ+ organization To make everyone feel "I think if it were something political stuff shoved down pened yet. When they
based in Tarrant County, welcome and included in where MLB said, 'We're not our throats one way or the asked what they could do,
where the Rangers play — Rangers baseball — in our participating in this,' but the other, left or right. We're the first thing I said was,
also say they believe the ballpark, at every game, MLB does participate in it. coming out here to have 'Let's talk about a Pride
Rangers some day will join and in all we do — for both And the Rangers have cho- a good time with friends or Night.'"q