San Francisco Giants pitcher Landen Roupp wore Genesis 9:12-16 beside the team’s rainbow logo during a Pride Night game against Chicago Cubs, urging the gay community to read the Bible afterward. Teammates JT Brubaker also referenced Bible verses on their Prid
The rainbow on San Francisco Giants caps was meant to be bright on Pride Night. Instead, pitcher Landen Roupp stepped into Friday’s game against the Chicago Cubs with a verse written in silver on his own: “Genesis 9:12-16,” placed beside the team’s rainbow logo.
Roupp, 27 and in his third MLB season, made the message personal. The verse, he said after the game, points to God’s covenant—where a rainbow is described as a sign of God’s promise to Noah, all living creatures, and the earth, along with the vow that God would never again send a great flood.
When asked about the gesture after the Giants lost, Roupp didn’t sound apologetic. He framed his decision as faith, promise, and mercy. “It’s just about God’s covenant and a promise that he makes to us that. you know. his faithfulness and his mercy. ” he said. “That’s just kind of something I believe in. and I stand firm in that. and I’m thankful we live in a country where. you know. we have the freedom to believe what we want … and express what we want.”.
He also insisted the message was not driven by hate. Roupp said he would push anyone offended by the gesture to read the Bible. “First of all, as a believer, I would push them to read the Bible,” he said. “I think God has blessed me in so many ways. and I don’t think I would be here right now if it wasn’t for him.”.
Roupp was direct about the stance he was taking on the field. He returned to the rainbow symbol and what it represents to him as a believer. “Kind of what the verse says. you know. the rainbow is a symbol of God’s covenant to us. and us as believers to stand firm in that. ” he said. “There’s no hate at all. It’s just what I stand for and what I stand in. I believe in God, and that’s me.”.
His teammate JT Brubaker also referenced Bible verses on his Pride hat. Sam Hentges, though, did not wear a rainbow hat at all when he left the bullpen. Roupp, speaking in the immediate aftermath of the game, also made clear he was thinking about how the moment might land with the gay community.
He said there was no resentment behind it—only faith and freedom. “So. like I said. there’s no hate in it at all. you know. like I said. we live in a country where you’re welcome to believe what you want. ” Roupp said. “There’s a freedom of speech and stuff like that. so that’s really all I have to say about that.” He added: “I’m just thankful that God has put me in this situation and that I can go out and share his kingdom.”.
Giants manager Tony Vitello, pressed about the situation after the loss, kept his response broad. “Just kind of a general knowledge of the individuals that have the freedom to do what they think is best. ” he said. Vitello also pointed to the way the Giants have handled Pride more broadly. “I do think it has been apparent from day one and it is pretty impressive how the Giants have tried to embrace the entire community.”.
Major League Baseball celebrates Pride Month every June, and subtle protests across teams are not unheard of. Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Treinen previously wore a regular cap without the rainbow logo during pride night at the World Series winners earlier in June. Last season, Dodgers teammate Clayton Kershaw referenced the same Bible verse Roupp wrote on his cap—Genesis 9:12-16.
For Roupp, the argument was never about politics or provocation. It was about a religious reading of the rainbow itself—written in the middle of a league-sanctioned show of support, right before the next pitch.
The question now for the Giants isn’t just what the caps looked like under stadium lights. It’s how the line between personal belief and public symbolism is being drawn—by players choosing what they wear, and by fans deciding what they can accept.
San Francisco Giants Landen Roupp JT Brubaker Sam Hentges Chicago Cubs Pride Night MLB Pride Month Blake Treinen Clayton Kershaw Genesis 9:12-16
Why can’t they just wear a hat and play baseball.
So he wore Bible verses to Pride Night and told gay people to read the Bible?? That’s not exactly “peaceful” to me. Like freedom of religion but also read the room.
I mean Genesis has rainbows so he was probably like connecting the theme? But then I heard he said it was “not hate” so now I’m confused. Isn’t Pride Night literally about not forcing religion on people, or am I mixing stuff up?
I don’t even get why everyone’s mad, like it’s his faith. But also telling people offended to read the Bible feels kinda like a trap, you know? And the Giants already have the rainbow logo so putting Genesis 9:12-16 right there is gonna start tension no matter what he says. Also can’t tell if this is PR or real conviction because he “didn’t sound apologetic” lol.