Posted on 07/09/2018 2:41:21 PM PDT by TBP
One might assume that hailing from New York City — the undisputed bastion of diversity and lifestyle acceptance — a world-famous sports franchise such as the Yankees long ago would’ve sponsored an LGBTQ Pride Night at its iconic stadium.
But it hasn’t.
And since Forbes reported that the Los Angeles Angels will hold a Pride Night next June, the Yankees are now the only Major League Baseball team that hasn’t sponsored such an event or announced its intention of doing so.
According to Outsports, 24 of the 30 MLB teams have Pride events on this season’s calendars.
The Chicago Cubs had June 10 on its schedule, the outlet said, and are planning an encore Pride Night on Aug. 26. Most MLB teams held Pride events in June, which is LGBT pride month.
Outsports also noted which squad boasted the earliest Pride Night — the Padres on April 27 — and that the National League West is the only division with all five teams having Pride events this season. The outlet also offered a list of every MLB team’s “Pride night status.”
What did a gay NYC elected official have to say? “Pride Nights are really important to show the LGBTQ community that they are just as welcome as anyone else,” New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson — the first openly gay man to hold that position, CBS News reported — told the station in a statement. “The Yankees are one of the most famous sporting teams in the world. They should be leading by example.”
What did a GLAAD official have to say? “As a lifelong Yankees fan, some of my favorite memories growing up are with my family at the games,” Rich Ferraro, GLAAD’s chief communications officer, also told CBS News in a statement, “and when I came out, it would have meant the world to me to see the Yankees recognize my community.”
While the Bronx Bombers have participated in GLAAD’s Spirit Day Campaign to support LGBTQ youth, Ferraro told the station that an LGBTQ Pride Night at Yankee Stadium would be a big deal for LGBTQ fans.
“Though the Yankees have a history of being supportive of LGBTQ people, a LGBTQ Pride Night is a major moment to make sure all fans feel included in the game,” he told WCBS.
More from the station:
The Yankees’ crosstown rival, the New York Mets, first held a Pride celebration during the 2016 season — the first of its kind among any Big Apple sports teams, the Mets said at the time.
David Kilmnick, CEO of the LGBT Network, was the first person to pitch the idea of Pride Night to the Mets, according to NBC News, and he said he tried to do the same with the Yankees, despite being a lifelong Mets fan.
It’s not only LGBTQ events, though — the Yankees have mostly avoided promotions with an “ethnic or cultural flavor,” the New York Times noted last year.
The Yankees did not respond to CBS News’ request for comment, but a team spokesman told the Times that while the Yankees have chosen to refrain from holding a gay pride event at Yankee Stadium, there has been involvement “behind the scenes.”
“Everyone of every nationality, religion, ethnicity or sexual orientation and/or preference is welcome at Yankee Stadium every day,” Jason Zillo told the Times in a 2017 statement. “We are a long-term believer in diversity and inclusion, and have always looked to create a safe and supportive environment for all fans to enjoy their experience here.”
Major League Baseball entered a float in the NYC Pride March for the first time in the event’s 49-year history, WCBS reported, adding that the MLB joined the NFL, NHL, NBA, MLS, WNBA, and National Women’s Hockey League there.
The station said Outsports dubbed the NYC Pride March as the “sportiest Pride March ever.”
Whatever snack you wanted! Don’t know about the beer, I was 10.
And Old Timer’s Day.
We brought our own beer till after 9/11, but that was the Indians.
And Derek Jeter was OK, but Omar Vizquel was the man!
They sure weren’t queer....
Terrific example of how the media, in this case NBC, drives the news.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3669207/posts
especially post #15
h/t FReeper dowcaet
It’s a BASEBALL team, not a bunch of fagfaced dickchopper maniacs!
Good.
Why would your sexual preference be anything that makes you “proud”? Its not an accomplishment. You have sex. Whats that to celebrate special with parades and crap?
Special attention whoring and shoving a fringe lifestyle in the face of other demanding acceptance and positive affirmation. Fuch off pervs.
I’d rather see more nickel beer nights in Cleveland, and Disco Demolition nights at Sox park.
$hitter’s full, I guess!
Now, we always bought 100% beef Hebrew national hot dogs at the park, put on Bertman ball park mustard and chopped white onion.
Bertman was requested and launched into space.
That is America!
bertmanballparkmustard.com/
It just seems to me that the best way to let everybody know that everyone is welcome is to not single any group out for any special even LIKE THIS! What am I missing?
Queerball.
Every orifice is a potential scoring opportunity.
Just dont want to see them remove the ball after a point.
But both queer men and women can play. With the gals you can do a triple-score.
Connecting a breeding pipeline to a sewer pipeline, I guess. Or maybe transmitting a potentially fatal STD.
This was in the Chris Chambliss and Ron Guidry days! My dad would complain at the price of a hot dog back then too. Always had to get one though And a pretzel, no mustard(was turned off to that) with a soda. He’d get a bag or two of peanuts and share them.
Yup, Yogi too.
I’ll call ‘em out, no problem. HEY YANKEES... GOOD GOING! THANKS FOR SHOWING SPINE!!
Good times
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