Portland Pickles Stage On-Field Kiss During 1 'Heated Rivalry' Theme Night

1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 15

Portland Pickles players staged a scripted mound-charge kiss Tuesday during a 'Heated Rivalry' promotion, with the team framing the bit as a tribute to an HBO gay hockey series.
The sequence had a pitcher hit a batter, who rushed the mound before the two embraced and kissed in front of fans, including families and children shown in video from the game.
J.P. Hardy, identified in the report as the pitcher, later wrote on Instagram that he could 'check off' making out on the diamond during a professional baseball game.
The stunt quickly fed a wider culture-war debate online over LGBTQ-themed events in baseball, with critics and supporters clashing over whether the display was inappropriate for kids.
The Pickles, a collegiate summer team known for promotional antics, are set to hold a separate Pride Night on Thursday, calling it a celebration of LGBTQ+ people and inclusion.