The Los Angeles Lakers will hold their first-ever Pride Night on Thursday, October 4 when the team plays the Sacramento Kings at STAPLES Center. The Lakers will celebrate diversity, inclusion and unity by hosting members and supporters from the LGBTQ community. Additionally, the Pride Night Celebration will include special in-game entertainment, giveaways and more.
In attendance will be representatives of the Trevor Project of Los Angeles, the LGBT Center of Los Angeles, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles (performing the National Anthem), and LAMBDA (Los Angeles Gay Basketball League).
Th NBA will be showing their connection to the LGBTQ+ Community by inviting former NBA referee Violet Palmer, the first openly gay referee in NBA history, to serve as the Lakers honorary team captain. Also, the “Laces of Unity” Award will be presented to Jason Collins, the NBA’s first openly gay active player, for his continued to work with the league. Collins has been a role model since he came out in April 2013 in a Sports Illustrated interview and after his leaving as a player, has worked as an NBA Cares Ambassador on promoting acceptance and inclusion.
Have you attended Pride Nights sponsored by other professional sports leagues and teams? Will you attend #LAKERSPRIDENIGHT ?
Not to be left out, the Los Angeles Dodgers have announced that they are a little more LGBTQ+ this week. Tennis legend Billie Jean King and partner Ilana Kloss are now co-owners of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“As someone born, raised and educated in Southern California, it is an honor to be part of the Dodger ownership group,” King said in a press release “Mark Walter and the entire Dodger organization are a first-class operation that have proven to be leaders in sports on and off the field of play. We share a commitment to equality and inclusion, including the LGBTQ community, and we hope to further expand the team’s efforts in those areas as we move forward together.” – losangelesblade.com
Walter added: “Just like Billie Jean and Ilana, the Dodger franchise has a history of and commitment to breaking barriers, inclusion and winning, and we’re looking forward to them continuing to promote these attributes within our organization.”
"We are most proud of the Dodgers' place in society," said club CEO Stan Kasten during a Friday introduction. "No franchise has had the impact on society at large or popular culture as the Dodgers. That's why we are so proud to make this announcement today." – mlb.com