Boston Red Sox Face Backlash Hosting Drag Show During Pride Night at Fenway

The Boston Red Sox hosted their annual Pride Night at Fenway Park, featuring a drag show in the concourse and welcoming drag queens and LGBTQ+ representatives onto the field for the ceremonial first pitch. The event aimed to promote visibility and inclusivity in sports, with the stadium announcer emphasizing that such efforts enrich competition and camaraderie and create welcoming environments where everyone can thrive. Despite these intentions, the event drew significant backlash on social media, with critics labeling the drag show as 'deplorable' and questioning the relevance of Pride events to baseball's fanbase. Massachusetts has a relatively large LGBTQ+ community, and the Red Sox, along with MLB and other sports organizations, hold Pride celebrations partly to support this community, which faces serious challenges including high suicide rates among LGBTQ youth. The Red Sox have hosted drag performances at Pride Night since at least 2022, and similar events have occurred with other MLB teams, such as the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Red Sox lost their game against the Tampa Bay Rays 10-8 amid the ongoing debate over the role of Pride events in sports venues.