Three San Francisco Giants pitchers wrote Genesis 9:12-16 on their caps during Pride Night, but theologians say the Bible verse they cited actually tells a story about God's promise to protect everyone — not reject anyone.
The verse describes the moment after the great flood when God made a covenant with Noah, his descendants, and "every living creature," promising to never again unleash such devastation on the Earth. The rainbow, God says, is the symbol of that promise — a sign of safety, peace, and mercy for all people.
"This is what drives me a little nuts about using this as a protest against Pride," said Kelly Colwell, senior minister of First Congregational Church of Berkeley. "The story is about God saying to people, 'I will never harm you again like this.'"
Landen Roupp, one of the three pitchers who wrote "Gen 9:12-16" in silver pen on his cap, said there was "no hate at all" in his action. "It's just what I stand for," he said.
But biblical scholars say the verse doesn't support the interpretation the pitchers intended. "The idea that this particular verse could be a refutation to the Pride flag is not one that fits in my worldview," said Laura Jean Torgerson, associate professor of New Testament at the Berkeley School of Theology. "It just makes no sense."
Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry in Maryland, which promotes inclusion in the Catholic church, put it starkly: "The idea, sort of the presumption, is that God is choosing the rainbow only for certain people. But God's love is for all people."
The Giants were the first Major League Baseball team to incorporate rainbows into uniforms during Pride Month in 2021. Their 2026 uniform will feature a black cap with "SF" in the colors of the Progress Pride flag, which includes additional colors supporting the transgender community.
The first rainbow flag was designed in 1978 by San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker, who hand-sewed the original eight-color banner to represent joy and inclusivity. The flag has since become an international symbol for LGBTQ rights and community — and a target of those who seek to diminish that visibility.
Colwell noted that there aren't many rainbow references in the Bible, which may explain why conservatives have gravitated toward this particular verse. "So you don't really have a lot of options for Bible verses if you want to justify why you should have exclusive rights to the rainbow as a symbol," she said.
But experts say the story of Noah's rainbow isn't about ownership at all. It's about a divine promise extended to all of creation — and that inclusive reading continues to gain ground among faith communities nationwide.