Kershaw’s Stance on Pride Night Protests Faith

On Friday night, Clayton Kershaw, the star pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, openly expressed his objections to the celebration of gay pride through a personal religious protest.

For years, Kershaw has been uncomfortable with the Dodgers’ support for LGBT causes, particularly highlighted this year when the team invited anti-Christian activist groups for Pride Night at Dodger Stadium. One of these groups included drag queens portraying a Catholic nun, which he found disrespectful to his faith.

He urged the Dodgers to instead host an event fostering support for Christian families. This ongoing conflict seemed to resonate during the Dodgers’ Pride Night, as Kershaw was caught on camera in the dugout appearing to protest.

Kershaw made his feelings clear: “I don’t agree to tease other people’s religions.”

Although he wore a Dodgers pride hat that night, Kershaw added a personal touch: he inscribed a biblical reference next to the rainbow logo, reading “Gen 9:12-16.” This passage refers to God’s covenant and the symbol of a rainbow as a promise never to flood the earth again.

And God said, this is the token of the covenant that makes between me and you, between all living creatures with you, and for a lasting generation: I place a bow in the cloud, and it must be for the token of the covenant between me and the earth…

The Dodgers ended up losing 6-2 to the San Francisco Giants that night, and Kershaw did not pitch. However, he bounced back the following day, throwing seven scoreless innings in a game the Dodgers won 11-5.

The 37-year-old hasn’t voiced his concerns this year as vocally as he did previously, expressing to the LA Times back in 2023 that he felt strongly against ridiculing any religion. “That’s something I definitely disagree with,” he had said.

Similarly, teammate Blake Treinen criticized the group for mocking fundamental religious values, stating that they were making light of something sacred to many.

In July 2023, the Dodgers announced they would host a Christian Faith and Family Day, which has since been excluded from the team’s schedule for 2025.

On a different note, the team is set to celebrate Law Enforcement Night on August 17th.