We Won’t Swallow Our Pride

This headline probably won’t surprise you much: FIFA clashes with Iran, Egypt over rainbow symbols at World Cup Pride Match, considering the two countries playing the game criminalize homosexuality. But you might be surprised that we have a Pride controversy in San Francisco. It started when four Giants pitchers responded to Pride Night by writing Bible verses on their caps. And it’s only gotten worse from there as the Giants organization has utterly failed to address the situation for their inclusive fanbase in a city where the rainbow flag was first unfurled on this day in 1978. “The team’s president of baseball operations and face of the franchise refused to comment on the Pride Night fallout, which was the result of three pitchers adding a Bible verse to their Pride cap and another choosing not to wear the hat for the June 12 game. Posey declined to speak about his own experience as a member of the team that has celebrated and recognized the gay community for the past 32 years.” Ann Killion: Buster Posey didn’t just fail to meet the moment, he made Giants’ Pride controversy worse. There’s a decent chance Posey and other Giants brass are covering their ass to avoid the wrath of Trump’s justice department. But these fraught times are precisely the reason why it’s so important that leaders, especially in San Francisco, stand up for inclusivity and decency. I’m a season ticket holder and an addicted fan, and I turn the channel whenever one of the Giants’ Phobic Four takes the mound, and I know others who have turned off the Giants altogether. The team can’t ignore the fans and the Pride Day controversy. It may be your team, but it’s our town.