Tonight’s Central Arkansas Pride event at the Arkansas Travelers game is cancelled after the Travs reportedly refused to allow a drag queen to throw the first pitch.
The Travs had offered to let a member of the LGBTQ+ community throw the first pitch at a special Out Days event at the ballpark. But it appears the sports outfit was banking on LGB and drew the line at TQ+. When the Travs found out the pitcher would be a drag queen, they told Central Arkansas Pride organizers they weren’t ready for all that, Pride organizers Zack Baker and Dolores Wilk said.
“The event is cancelled. Our core belief on this matter is that you accept all of us or none of us,” Wilk explained. “We felt it was really important to stand behind members of our community. We’re either going to show up authentically as ourselves or not at all.”
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We’ve reached out to the Arkansas Travelers for comment and will update this story when we hear back.
Out Days events highlight diversity and visibility and for members of the LGBTQ+ community to be able to enjoy experiences in a safe space. Central Arkansas Pride held an Out Day event at Dickey-Stephens Park in 2019, with state Rep. Tippi McCullough (D-Little Rock) throwing the first pitch. Between 150 and 200 members and supporters of the Central Arkansas LGBTQ+ community came out for the 2019 event, Wilk said.
Central Arkansas Pride is refunding anyone who bought tickets for tonight, and looking ahead to their next event, the Oct. 15 Pride Festival.
Baker and Wilk also said they’re open to planning events at the ballpark in the future. “We are open to working with anyone in the community who will be inclusive,” Baker said.
“If they want to come to the table and include everyone in our community, we’re open to that,” Wilk said. “We’re not gonna go back in the closet to appease anyone.”