Juneteenth vs. Pride Month: Sports Leagues’ Mixed Responses

On Friday, America’s leading professional sports leagues and teams commemorated the federal Juneteenth holiday on social media. This day highlights the liberation of Black enslaved individuals in the United States. However, the approach to Juneteenth stood in stark contrast to the way these leagues and teams addressed the beginning of Pride Month.

NFL’s Social Media Engagement

The National Football League (NFL), which ranks highest in success and popularity, celebrated Juneteenth by sharing recognition from various teams on its platforms. Despite acknowledging Juneteenth, the NFL opted not to do the same for Pride Month during its June 1 kickoff or thereafter. The league’s social media presence, including its X account with over 36 million followers and its Instagram account with 32 million followers, did not acknowledge Pride Month.

During a baseball game between the San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres on June 19, 2023, a Juneteenth message was shown on the videoboard (Jeff Chiu/AP Photo).

Juneteenth Recognition Among NFL Teams

While nearly all of the NFL’s 32 teams acknowledged Juneteenth, only a limited number celebrated the start of Pride Month. Teams such as the New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, and New Orleans Saints did not mark Pride Month’s beginning. Many of these teams have similarly abstained in previous years.

The Detroit Lions were the only NFL team that didn’t recognize Juneteenth. This is unusual as the Lions generally support social justice causes. For Pride Month, the Lions had altered their logo to feature a rainbow-colored lion, showing solidarity with the LGBTQ community. Yet, the team did not celebrate a day that holds significance for many Black Americans.

NHL, NBA, and MLB’s Juneteenth Responses

The NHL’s social media was silent regarding Juneteenth, making it the sole major sports league that did not recognize the holiday. In contrast, the NBA and MLB acknowledged Juneteenth alongside the NFL (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images). The NHL supported Pride Month at its start.

The Texas Rangers, unique among MLB teams for not hosting a Pride Month event, celebrated Juneteenth, highlighting varied approaches to social justice causes.

Why the Response Matters

The differing responses by leagues and teams underscore the significance of their positions on social issues. Fans increasingly consider where sports organizations stand, impacting their enthusiasm or criticism based on alignment with personal beliefs. In the past, sports teams focused solely on athletics, but have now embraced various social causes, months, and holidays.

Understanding Juneteenth

Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when Union Army Major General Gordon Granger reached Texas to inform enslaved people of their freedom under the Emancipation Proclamation, an order signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. Though Granger’s announcement preceded nationwide freedom, the proclamation didn’t free slaves in all states. The 13th Amendment, passed by Congress in January 1865, ultimately ended slavery legally.

The amendment vote tallied 86 Republican votes for and none against, alongside 15 Democratic votes in favor and 50 against. By December 1865, states ratified the amendment, freeing enslaved individuals constitutionally.

In 2020, President Donald Trump advocated for Juneteenth’s recognition as a holiday. Though he lost the election, President Joe Biden signed it into law in 2021.

Perhaps a reminder about Juneteenth is due for the NHL and the Detroit Lions.

Follow Armando Salguero on X: @ARMANDOSALGUERO. Armando Salguero is OutKick’s Senior NFL Writer.