rights
JD Vance says sports teams "don't have to do" Pride Nights anymore because "Trump won"
By Daniel Villarreal at LGBTQ Nation
· June 17, 2026
· 4 min read
Vice President J.D. Vance wrote a social media message seemingly supporting an Major League Baseball player who wrote a Bible verse on their baseball cap during a June 12 Pride Night event at the Oracle Park ballpark in San Francisco, California. The image that Vance commented on showed San Francisc
Key takeaway The image that Vance commented on showed San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Laden Roupp, who wrote Gen 9:11-16, a Bible verse about the rainbow, on his black cap bearing his team's logo in rainbow colors.
Why this matters
Vice President JD Vance's comment that sports teams "don't have to do" Pride Nights anymore because "Trump won" suggests a broader effort to roll back LGBTQ+ visibility and inclusivity in public spaces. The fact that 29 out of 30 MLB teams are still holding Pride Night events this year, despite Vance's assertion, indicates that many organizations remain committed to promoting diversity and inclusion. The incident also highlights the ongoing tension between LGBTQ+ rights and conservative Christian values, as exemplified by the player's decision to write a Bible verse on his Pride cap. The National LGBTQ Task Force and other advocacy groups have long worked to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion and challenge discriminatory policies, and their efforts may be crucial in resisting attempts to erase LGBTQ+ visibility in sports and other areas of public life. The Trevor Project's crisis line remains a vital resource for LGBTQ+ individuals affected by such incidents.
About this story
Original reporting by LGBTQ Nation . LGBTQ News surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: rights ·
Published: June 17, 2026 ·
Source: LGBTQ Nation ·
Reading time: 4 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Vice President J.D. Vance wrote a social media message seemingly supporting an Major League Baseball player who wrote a Bible verse on their baseball cap during a June 12 Pride Night event at the Oracle Park ballpark in San Francisco, California. The image that Vance commented on showed San Francisc
When was this published? This article was first published on June 17, 2026 by LGBTQ Nation and curated for LGBTQ News readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Daniel Villarreal at LGBTQ Nation. To learn more about how LGBTQ News selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more rights coverage from LGBTQ News, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .