Pride Night draws Protest for the San Diego Padres

July 8 is set as Pride Night at PETCO Park, where San Diego Pride supporters can attend a Padres game at a discounted ticket price, be recognized on a signboard and hear the Gay Men's Chorus of San Diego sing the National Anthem. However, a recovery program run by Southern Baptist missionaries is protesting the event by walking out on the concession stands they operate in the ballpark and handing out fliers about their protest.

The group says that their primary objection is that Pride Night coincides with a promotion where children under 15 will get a free floppy cap. I guess that explains it all since we now know that acknowledging gay people is strictly adult-only content.

The San Diego Union-Tribune collects some opposing quotes. Pastor JD Loveland, Development Director of the protesting group trots out an old claim:

We're concerned about Christian parents and other parents who do not want to have to answer at a ballgame why 'Adam and Steve' are doing what they are doing.

Pride Executive Director Ron deHarte responds:

We're going to be wearing ball caps and jerseys. That's the extent of the lifestyle they will be seeing.

Exactly. It's not like there's a kiss-in planned for the game. It's not even like those Christian parents who Pastor Loveland are worried about will be forced to sit next to those gay baseball fans since all of the Pride Night tickets are for the Upper Infield section. Just avoid that part of the park.