Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw was criticized after he added a Bible verse to his LGBTQ+ Pride-themed hat that featured the team's logo.
The verses from Genesis 9:12–16 recount God’s covenant with Noah, using the rainbow as a symbol of His promise never to flood the earth and destroy all life again.
You can see the photo of Kershaw's hat below.
@cw_cardenas/X
They read:
""And God said, 'This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations.'"
"I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth."
"When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds."
"I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh."
"When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth."
Kershaw was criticized after the photo of his hat went viral.
Kershaw is a devout Methodist. In 2012, he and his wife, Ellen, co-authored Arise: Live Out Your Faith and Dreams on Whatever Field You Find Yourself, a book reflecting on their Christian faith and humanitarian work.
In 2023, he announced plans to relaunch the team’s Christian Faith and Family Day. The announcement followed controversy surrounding the Dodgers’ decision to invite, uninvite, and ultimately reinvite the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence—a philanthropic group of self-described queer and trans “nuns”—who were being recognized for their community service.
At the time, Kershaw said "we are grateful for the opportunity to talk about Jesus and determined to make it bigger and better than it was before COVID." His remarks sparked criticism from LGBTQ+ fans and supporters alike.
