Sneak preview: Had an excellent meeting with the Blue Jays last week and Gay Day with the Jays is a Go!

Date: Friday June 25th, 7pm, vs. Montreal Expos at SkyDome

This is the Friday of Gay Pride Weekend, so all are invited to Toronto to attend and stay for the Dyke March on Saturday and the Pride Parade on Sunday.

I've suggested the theme of Gays in Sports, and hope to get representation/participation by gay people in all levels of sports: professional, amateur, college/high school, and recreational.

This event will be an officially designated day by the Blue Jays. I will also get it designated as an official Pride Week event. We will have the first pitch, national anthem and on-field ceremony before the game.

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I will be contacting some of my Outsports friends & acquaintences who live in other cities (ie. Montreal, Ottawa, Boston, NYC, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., etc.) for their help in promoting this event in their city. If you can help in any way, it would be greatly appreciated.

Also, if anyone has contacts with gay athletes who may want to become involved with this event, please let me know. I would like to bring in some high-profile professional athletes (Billy Bean for first pitch? Esera Tuaolo for national anthem?), and may have a limited budget providing I can get the sponsorship I want.

Jim & Cyd, I will be contacting you, not just for your help, but because I want you to be part of my event. You guys and Outsports have been important in raising awareness and acceptance of gay people in athletics and society... and I want you guys to get the public recognition you deserve.

If anyone would like to help with this event, please contact me.

If anyone would like to organize a similar event with their hometown team, I (and, I'm sure, scottie from Outsports) would be happy to help. Scottie has been a great help and inspiration to me in this endeavor. And I thank him.

More details will follow.

This sounds like a very exciting weekend! Barring some unforeseen, really bizarre circumstances, I am definitely planning to be there.

FYI: Our tentative plans have the Outsports convention in Philly in June. Could be a conflict.

Does that count Joe?

Waiting for that Phillies schedule to get firmed up......

In any case, good luck Canmark.

Yes, Jim Allen. wink I was under the impression that May was the target month...I do seem to recall that on that tentative schedule that was pulled from their website, the Phils were home for the Friday-Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. I have no idea of what it said for June. I really hope there's no conflict, because not only would Gay Day with the Jays be a great, fun-filled weekend, but "Day" and "Jays" rhymes. wink

I hope there is no conflict either, as I am planning on going to both events. Looks like the Gay Day with the Jays is going to be a great event. And Toronto is a wonderful city as well.

Good news, everyone! wink The Phillies' 2004 tentative schedule is back up on their website. I printed it out this time just in case it disappears again.

Home weekends in June: only one--Fri. 6/18 through Sun. 6/20 vs. the Royals. (The following weekend, when the Gay Day with the Jays is scheduled, the Phils are in Fenway to meet the Red Sox. My brothers were already talking about making the trip to Boston like we did to Pittsburgh this year, so I'll have to figure something out.)

Home weekends in May, in case the Outsports convention planners want to consider May instead of June: Fri. 4/30 thru Sun. 5/2 vs. the Diamondbacks; Fri. 5/21 thru Sun 5/23 vs. the Padres; Fri. 5/28 thru Sun. 5/30 vs. the Braves...and since this is Memorial Day weekend, Mon. 5/31 vs the Mets. (All Fri. and Sat. games are 7:05 starts, Sun. games are 1:35, and 5/31 is 1:05--all subject to change, of course.)

Link to full tentative schedule

JIP - thanks for the update. Do you have any idea when Gay Day at Citizen's Park will be held next year?

When things firm up with the Outsports Convention, perhaps us Philly guys can plan some sort of tailgate or pre/post party if a Phils game is part of the gameplan (or not ).

In reading my post, I realized it wasn't very clear -- let's plan for the Philly contingent to host some type of party(ies) during the Convention whether or not it is part of a Phils game.

I don't know when the Gay Day would be...you'd have to ask scottie...where is he, anyway?

Here I am - was on vacation for a week and just started a new job, but I've been monitoring the board even though haven't posted.

Will be working with Phillies in the next month or so (hopefully) to select a date for Gay Day, but I am hoping for a Thursday or Friday in August (which means it would be vs. Rockies, Giants, or less likely Astros or Brewers).
Although some people wanted to do it in June, Phillies aren't home very much in June, plus June Gay Day is in Toronto this year!

As far as Outsports.com conference, if we do it in Philly, the last 2 weekends of May would be ideal (first weekend in May is Equality Forum) so we can have an Outsports.com group at Citizens Bank Ballpark.

AIDS Project Florida is organizing an AIDS Awareness Night as the Baltimore Orioles host the Florida Marlins at a Spring Training game in Ft. Lauderdale.

The event is on Friday March 27th at Ft. Lauderdale Stadium.

At last year's AIDS Awareness Night with the Florida Marlins (event will be held again this year), the Ft. Lauderdale Gay Mens Chorus sang the national anthem.

The website and ticket ordering info is now up for Pride Day with the Blue Jays, which takes place on Friday June 25, 2004. The game is the Toronto Blue Jays vs. Montreal Expos. 7:00pm at the SkyDome in Toronto.

This is an official Blue Jays event, listed on their special events calendar. It's also an official Pride Week event, and will be listed in the official Pride Guide.

The event has received positive support from Blue Jays president & CEO Paul Godfrey in the press.

The GLPAA will be involved in selling fundraising tickets for this event (cheaper than from the Blue Jays directly). Funds raised will go to a program to provide support, mentoring and counselling to gay & lesbian athletes at all levels of sport.

Tyler Hoffman, former minor league umpire and Outsports discussion board member, is the media & PR director for the GLPAA.

And yours truly, canmark, has been involved with this event from the beginning, and will be coordinating ticket sales for the GLPAA.

Please tell your friends about this event, and consider coming up to Toronto for Pride Weekend. Also consider approaching your local sports teams about holding a similar event. On the website, there are links to events in other cities and media reports, which you can use as supporting material to show your team that this can be a successful event.

scottie from Outsports did it with the Phillies, and canmark did it with the Jays. You can too!

Please order your tickets using the form on the website, although Outsporters wishing to sit in the "Outsports section" should contact me or post here, as I will be getting us a block of tickets.

I wanna sit in the Outsports Section!

I somehow had the impression it was a Saturday game. Oh well, doesn't matter. I'll take off from work that Friday. It basically means I'll have to kill myself to work "credit hours" (used like annual leave) so I can take more days off for the Outsports Convention, possibly around the trip to Boston, this trip, and have enough time for my 3 weeks off for the World Cup of Hockey.

So if we're having an Outsports group, we should arrange one hotel to stay at if possible.

Joe, we couldn't have it on Saturday because it conflicts with other Pride events like the Dyke March.

Somebody gave me these free passes to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, and I'm saving one for you.

Oooooh, thanks! Does it have an expiration date? Can I use it when I'm there for the World Cup games in September?

They expires in December. And they're actually courtesy of the Toronto Blue Jays. I was at the HHOF last fall with pat125... and I touched the Stanley Cup. They have a set-up where they'll take a digital picture of you next to the Cup, or you can take your own picture.

Now how did this turn into a hockey thread...? :confused:

Meanwhile, the Cubs' "Out at the Ball Game" event (vs. the Dodgers) is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 15 (afternoon game).

Here's the link.

Edited to add: The Boystown bars apparently have snapped up the seats inside Wrigley (or at least the block of adjoining seats designated for this promotion), probably for sale at the various warmup parties before the event (buy tickets for pickup at the bar on game day). One of the rooftops is also involved, but their tickets are a lot more expensive (although food and drinks are included).

[ May 18, 2004, 06:11 PM: Message edited by: danimal ]

I'm bumping this up in case anyone's interested in the Pride Day with the Blue Jays event that canmark's worked so hard to put together. See above posts for details. Are we having an Outsports group?

Just a bump. Pride Day with the Blue Jays has been getting some good coverage in a variety of websites.

Chicago Sun-Times: Blue Jays out to pursue full spectrum of fans

CBS Sportsline: "In what will be a precedent among Toronto's pro sports franchises, the Jays will stage Gay Community Day at the SkyDome June 25. "

Boston.com (Boston Globe): "On June 25, the Blue Jays will be at home against the Montreal Expos on what will be billed Gay Community Day at SkyDome."

TSN (Canadian sports network): "Toronto has plans for a Gay Community Day, to be hosted when the Montreal Expos visit on June 25. The game coincides with the city's Gay pride week. ... "

Watermark Online (gay Florida website): Blue Jays to host gay community day in June

Gay Rochester Online: "On Friday June 25th, the song Take Me Out To The Ballgame will have a whole new meaning. On that day the Toronto Blue Jays will welcome the gay & lesbian community to the SkyDome for Pride Day with the Blue Jays."

Pride Center of Western New York: Pride Day with the Blue Jays

Also, the event is listed on Outsports, Gaysports and 365gay.com

Hour.ca "I'm never more happy than when I'm proudly openly gay and rooting for my home team alongside my father and friends at a baseball game. It's like my worlds are converging... The day I heard about the Blue Jays I immediately called Divers/Cité marketing director Paul Girard - who used to handle marketing for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League - and introduced him to the Montreal Expos, and I am hopeful both parties can set a date for this summer."

[ April 26, 2004, 06:47 AM: Message edited by: canmark ]

Pride Day with the Blue Jays update:

Actress Sharon Gless (Queer As Folk, Cagney & Lacey) to throw out the first pitch.

Olympian Mark Tewksbury (co-president of OutGames Montreal 2006) to help Blue Jays present cheque to Pride Toronto.

More particpants to be announced. The Blue Jays are advertising this event locally in Xtra and Fab.

Red Sox fans take note: I have just been told that Out At Fenway is a go! On the Monday August 16th game vs. the Toronto Blue Jays, the Green Monster goes rainbow. For info, contact PrideSports Boston.

Also, don't forget Gay Community Night with the Philadelphia Phillies, Monday August 9th vs. Colorado Rockies. This event is organized by our very own scottie.

For info on other gay days at MLB ballparks, see gaybaseballdays.com

Texas Outsporters: Does anyone know if the Texas Rangers will be doing Gay Day again this year? I know last year's event was met with some organized protest, but am wondering if they are going to try again.

Florida Outsporters: Does anyone know if the Florida Marlins are doing their AIDS Awareness Day again? I was told it would take place in August, but haven't got a confirmed date.

If anyone knows of any other MLB team doing a Gay Day, please let me know so I can post it on my website.

I am told that the NY Mets are trying to find a date to schedule their first-ever gay day, so NY-ers look out for that.

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Have found out that the Florida Marlins AIDS Awareness Day will be Thursday August 26, 2004 vs. SF Giants.

[ July 10, 2004, 08:18 AM: Message edited by: canmark ]

Just a reminder that this Sunday July 11th is the San Francisco Giants 11th annual Until There's A Cure Day. This event raises awareness and money for AIDS organizations in the Bay Area. In previous years, Giants players such as Marquis Grissom (who lost his siter to AIDS) have participated in on field pre-game ceremonies.

In August, there are a host of Gay & Lesbian Community Days at MLB ballparks:

Monday August 9 - Philadelphia Phillies, Citzen's Bank Ball Park (organized by Outsports' scottie; see separate thread on that event)

Sunday August 15 - Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field (Out at the Ballgame)

Monday August 16 - Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park (Out at Fenway Park)

Thursday August 26 - Florida Marlins, Pro Player Stadium (AIDS Awareness Day)


I encourage people to attend these events. All will attract 500-1000 or more people in the gay & lesbian community sections. They're great fun. You can meet other sporty gays, and feel comfortable being openly gay in a ballpark. And it's a great way to show the community and the general public that gay people are sports fans--and we're out there in large numbers.

From Giants official website:



Note red ribbon on uniform.

[ July 11, 2004, 07:24 PM: Message edited by: canmark ]

Just discovered an article by Mark Tewksbury on Gay Day with the Blue Jays. It's available on both gay.com and PlanetOut

Don't forget upcoming gay days, some of which are being organized by Outsporters:

Monday August 9 - Philadelphia Phillies (org. by Outsports' scottie)

Sunday August 15 - Chicago Cubs

Monday August 16 - Boston Red Sox

Monday September 13 - New York Mets (org. by Outsports' co-founder Cyd)

The Giants have just announced the first "LGBT Singles Night" at the Wed. Sept. 1st Giants/Rockies game at SBC Park. They've had several Straight "Singles Nights" this year and last, and they've been persuaded to try a gay one. All who buy tix thru a link on the Giants website will get to sit in one section; there's a mixer behind the scoreboard before the game! Here's the link, scroll down the page for info:
Lesbian Giant Bisexual and Transgender

And note that 2 days later, it's "Christian Fellowship Nite"...

A gay baseball singles night?! Excellent!

From the link:

We need that in every ballpark across the country! wink

Not to be OUTdone, the Oakland A's are also having a Gay Day, though I couldn't find it on their website. It's been organized by the same folks who did so 2 years ago; it appears to be one of those under-the-radar things. I don't know when it was announced but I just found out about it yesterday and the cutoff for buying tickets is tomorrow (7/30/04)! The game itself is Sat. Aug. 14th (A's vs Royals) Anyway, here's the link...

A's Gays

RGMike, this is the first I've heard about the A's Gay Day. I am a season ticket holder and already have a ticket for that game!!!! Can I exchange it or something?

Ms. De B, it was news to me too; as I said I think it is not an "official" A's event (unlike the Giants version, which is on their website). You might want to buy tix thru the link and sell your regular seats on Craig's List or eBay.

The last time they did this it was not that successful, glad to see them giving it another shot.

I followed the link on the A's event and it seems well-organized. It's being presented by a community paper, the East Bay Voice, and has six participating organizations (Marriage Equality California, Rainbow Community Center, Lavender Seniors, GSPPRNG, Rainbow Berkeley, Men's Associated Exchange (MAX))... and they are even selling t-shirts (some of which say "pitcher" or "catcher" or "pitcher catcher" for versatile players) wink

Thanks, canmark. The A's event 2 years ago involved the same organization. They bought a block of 600 tix and were only able to sell about 150; the other 450 went back to the A's who sold them to non-gay fans. So the section we were in wasn't an all-gay section and we were scattered around. (I was in a row with straight married couples and teenage girls.) Not the "community event" it was supposed to be, but then they didn't get any promotional support from the A's, either. Hope this one fares better.

Organizers of Out At Fewnway Park (Monday August 16th), have sold most of their 500 tickets and are raffling off the few that remain at Fritz on Sunday August 8th (7-9pm). There will also be a pre-game party on Monday August 16th, from 5-7pm, at Machine.

Um, I believe that's FENWAY Park, Mark wink Here's an article about the event in our local gay weekly, with some comments from Outsports' own Cyd Ziegler Jr.

[ August 05, 2004, 07:31 PM: Message edited by: redsoxbreath ]

And all this time I thought it was Fewnway! wink

Anyways, thanks for the link to the article redsoxbreath, as it mentions the Blue Jays event, including: "...the Blue Jays were approached with the idea for the event by members of Toronto's gay community..." Yeah, that was me! Previously, the Blue Jays had claimed that the idea came from their group sales department--with no mention of any community involvement.

Article in today's New York Daily News on gay days at the ballpark:

You forgot to mention the Media Whore Alert! wink

Just got back from Out at Fenway Park, attended by 498 glbt sports fans and friends.

Boston beat Toronto 8-4, and there were some exciting moments, including the ninth-inning appearance of none other than G*** K*****! The crowd went wild! Well ok, the section went wild... (Except for the lesbians, but what can you do?)

[ August 17, 2004, 07:00 PM: Message edited by: redsoxbreath ]

Just about 500 -- very good.

The Boston people were limited to the number of tickets they could get at the otherwise sold-out Fenway Park. Almost all of the tickets were sold to members of the gay sports leagues--only a handful of tickets were sold to the public. One of the organizers said he could have sold many more tickets if they had been available.

[ August 17, 2004, 04:51 PM: Message edited by: canmark ]

Right, Mark, and since the Red Sox required payment up front, he also had to find an "angel" willing to charge $13,000+ worth of tickets to his credit card. I don't know who that person was, but without his generosity and trust, the event wouldn't have happened.

At any rate, it was a fairly low-profile affair, since, as you point out, it wasn't advertised publicly to any significant extent. The group was announced as "PrideSports Boston", the name of the sponsoring organization, but there was no reference to "Gay Community Night" or anything of that nature. So it wasn't so much of a public relations-oriented event as it was just a chance for the local gay sports community to get together for a night at the ballpark. And to establish a relationship with the Red Sox organization.

One piece of good fortune was the fact that, seated in the outfield covered grandstand, we were protected from the rain and drizzle that fell through the whole game. 30 feet over our heads, the fans with the expensive tickets to the new right field deck were getting soaked. We were dry and happy in the "cheap" seats, thanks! ($27 is cheap at Fenway.)

When was it that the first contact was made with the Red Sox about ordering tickets? Is it possible that the process could begin earlier and more seats held for next season?

I believe contact was first made with the Red Sox in late April or early May. Of course contacting them earlier might help, as the last year the Phillies were contacted after the season started, but now that we (and Boston) have a working relationship with the team, plans can be made preseason. But the other large issue (which applies to all groups at Fenway) is having to pay for the tickets up front. If the Phillies had required payment up front, we would have never been able to set aside 1500 seats.

[ August 17, 2004, 07:37 PM: Message edited by: scottie ]