BY: DM
Published 5 days ago
What should have been a celebration of LGBTQIA+ Pride at Dodger Stadium instead turned into controversy. Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw took the mound during the team’s annual Pride Night game against the San Francisco Giants wearing the club’s special rainbow-themed cap — but with a personal twist. The handwritten words “Gen 9:12-16,” a reference to a Bible passage, were scrawled on the front of Kershaw’s hat.
The subtle message did not stay low-key for long. Screenshots of Kershaw’s hat went viral on social media, sparking intense backlash from many fans and LGBTQIA+ supporters. Many of whom, viewed it as a shady statement during a night dedicated to queer communities. Here is a look at how it all went down.
Clayton Kershaw wrote a bible verse on his Pride-themed cap.
During their June 13 match against the San Francisco Giants, the Dodgers paid tribute to the LGBTQIA+ community for Pride Month. However, not every player was a fan of the inclusive theme. The inscription “Gen 9:12-16” on Kershaw’s cap refers to Genesis 9:12–16, a biblical passage in which God establishes a covenant with Noah after the Great Flood. In those verses, God designates the rainbow as a token of His promise never to flood the entire earth again.
By writing this reference on a cap with rainbow colors, Kershaw appeared to some to be subtly reclaiming the rainbow’s religious significance. The Old Testament lines — “I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant” — suggest the rainbow as God’s creation and promise, rather than a symbol of LGBTQIA+ Pride.
Netizens expressed anger and disappointment, feeling that Kershaw’s personal message cast a shadow on an event meant to celebrate LGBTQIA+ folks. “Clayton Kershaw will always be a Dodger great, but it’s things like this that make him a lot less likable. Just wear the hat. Be a tolerant Christian and accept that there are others who believe differently than you,” one person tweeted. While others applauded Kershaw for sticking to his convictions.
Kershaw took issue with previous Dodgers Pride events.
Inside the Dodgers clubhouse, no teammates publicly condemned or endorsed Kershaw’s cap message, at least not in the immediate aftermath. All Dodgers and even the visiting Giants wore the special Pride caps that night without incident. The Giants’ manager, Gabe Kapler, was happy to participate. Kapler told Fox News he was “very proud to be wearing pride colors tonight. I know many of our players feel the same.”
As for the Dodgers organization, it did not issue any direct comment reprimanding or supporting Kershaw’s actions. When asked, the team declined to comment specifically on the Bible verse incident. The franchise has heavily promoted Pride Nights as part of its message that everyone is welcome at the ballpark. In 2023, amid controversy over Pride Night participants, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts publicly emphasized unity, saying, “We welcome anyone that comes through these gates to support our ball club.” Later that season, the Dodgers also introduced a “Christian Faith and Family Day.”
Should athletes be allowed to express personal religious beliefs during team-sponsored events like Pride Night?
