EPISODE · Jun 18, 2026 · 11 MIN
Ep. 286: MLB Pride Backlash, Ranger Fired Over Trans Flag, Florida Scraps Arch | June 18
from Listen Up Girl · host Zach Randes-Friedman
MLB & Pride: The Texas Rangers remain the only one of 30 MLB teams never to hold a Pride Night, hosting Faith and Family Night on June 18 instead. Separately, Giants pitchers Landen Roupp, JT Brubaker, and Ryan Walker wrote Genesis 9:12–16 on Pride Night caps; reliever Sam Hentges declined the cap. MLB warned the players of possible future penalties, and Sen. Josh Hawley sent a letter to Commissioner Rob Manfred alleging discrimination against Christian players. Yosemite ranger: Dr. SJ Joslin, the nonbinary ranger behind the 55-foot trans Pride flag hung from El Capitan, had their wrongful-termination lawsuit dismissed but vowed to continue fighting. Florida Rainbow Arch: A Florida city was forced to scrap a planned Rainbow Arch under Gov. Ron DeSantis's anti-DEI law — the installation had been intended to replace rainbow crosswalks previously removed. Hate crime: A gay couple in a small town survived a brutal beating; one victim, who identifies as conservative, said he thought he would die. Wrestling lawsuit: A high school wrestler filed a sexual assault suit after discovering an opponent was transgender; wrestling experts reviewing the footage say it shows no assault. Good news: The Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art presents "Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art" (through Aug. 23), with a free curator-and-artist panel on June 18 from 5–6 p.m. Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedmanhttps://www.listenupgirl.com/Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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What this episode covers
It's Day 18 of Pride, and today's Listen Up Girl runs from the ballpark to the courtroom to a Smithsonian gallery. The Texas Rangers host Faith and Family Night as MLB's lone Pride holdout, while three Giants pitchers face league warnings — and a senator's outrage — over Bible verses on their Pride caps. A nonbinary park ranger loses a lawsuit over their firing but refuses to quit. Florida cancels a Rainbow Arch under DeSantis's anti-DEI law. A gay couple survives a vicious beating, a transgender high school athlete is hit with a sexual assault suit experts call baseless, and we close with a free queer African art celebration at the Smithsonian happening tonight.
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Ep. 286: MLB Pride Backlash, Ranger Fired Over Trans Flag, Florida Scraps Arch | June 18
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