Many in the sports world have come to embrace Pride Nights as a way to demonstrate support for the LGBT community. Of course, these events also sell tickets, which is the give-and-take relationship the LGBT community has always had with businesses.
Here we chronicle those events, where the sports world specifically invite in the LGBT community to their stadiums and arenas.
These events have been going on for almost two decades. The Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs were three of the first to hold events like this (they may have been the first).
Most of these events, until recent years, were at MLB games because those teams simply have more games and more tickets to sell. Few NFL teams have had events like this because, well, the NFL often sells out games.
Get off the sidelines and into the game
Our weekly playbook is packed with everything from locker room chatter to pressing LGBTQ sports issues.
If we’ve missed an event, feel free to shoot us a message and let us know.
Devils mascot wore Pride jersey on the ice, players used Pride Tape, at NHL Pride Night
By Cyd ZeiglerDevils players wore colorful Pride jerseys as they entered the Prudential Center, with Devils and Oilers players using Pride Tape.
Rangers finally won a World Series. Now they need to do a Pride Night
By Rafael McDonnellThe Texas Rangers are baseball champions and they now need to be champions of inclusion with their first Pride Night, a Dallas LGBTQ advocate says.
2023 World Series is an LGBTQ mismatch as Rangers hold out against Pride Nights
By Ken SchultzThe Diamondbacks have made LGBTQ inclusion a significant part of their team culture. The Rangers haven’t. Here’s the 2023 LGBTQ World Series Preview.
IMPACT Wrestling to host major televised pro wrestling’s first Pride Night
By Brian C. BellIMPACT Wrestling will become the first major televised pro wrestling promotion to host a Pride Night on July 16 in Windsor, Ontario.
It’s time for the Chicago White Sox to hold Disco Appreciation Night
By Ken SchultzFor decades, the White Sox have been associated with the anti-gay Disco Demolition Night. Pride 2024 would be the perfect opportunity to correct that.
Orioles dedicate their entire Twitter feed to LGBTQ community for Pride Night
By Ken SchultzIn addition to onfield celebrations, the Orioles commemorated Pride by turning their Twitter over to LGBTQ resources, facts, and statistics.
Texas Rangers employees speak out against team’s refusal to host a Pride Night
By Ken SchultzAs testimony from several Rangers employees shows, the team’s front office is a difficult place for LGBTQ people to work.
In DC, the WNBA shows what local leadership means to a nation during Pride month
By Shelby WeldonThe Washington Mystics and their fans celebrated Pride Night, and welcomed Brittney Griner, on Friday.
Pride uniforms are an issue for some athletes. At least one league is pulling back.
By Cyd ZeiglerMLB has made it harder for teams to wear Pride rainbow logos. Their reasoning has merit.
The LA Dodgers deserve an award for courage, and the LGBTQ community should rally around them
By Cyd ZeiglerNo pro sports team has taken as much grief for supporting the LGBTQ community as the LA Dodgers.
Drag performers, nuns take center stage at Pride Night of Giants and Angels
By Jim BuzinskiOne even threw out the first pitch, as the teams offered a refreshing change from the hate directed at drag performers in parts of the country.
San Francisco Giants wore Pride hats, used Pride bases and it went off without any hate
By Jim BuzinskiThe Giants showed out to do Pride Night right, complete with a drag queen tossing the first pitch.
Sean Doolittle offers unequivocal support for the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence
By Ken SchultzDoolittle and the Washington Nationals step up for LGBTQ baseball fans to enhance MLB Pride.
French Open celebrates Pride Day and 10 years of marriage equality
By Cyd ZeiglerRoland-Garros will light up courts and fans with rainbow Pride lighting and temporary tattoos.
All 21 LGBTQ-led or Pride-themed pro wrestling events during 2023 Pridepri
By Brian C. BellFrom the San Francisco Bay to the U.K., pro wrestling and Pride are mingling for some superb pro wrestling shows highlighting the LGBTQ community.
Clayton Kershaw’s criticism of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence overlooks the reasons behind their drag
By Ken SchultzThe Dodgers All-Star misses all the great work the Sisters have done because he can’t get over their nuns’ costumes.
Cubs pitcher Marcus Stroman tweets support for Pride Month in baseball, donation to charities
By Ken SchultzStroman’s words of encouragement could not come at a better time.
29 MLB teams support their LGBTQ fans with Pride Nights in 2023
By Ken SchultzAt a time when Pride celebrations are under siege, baseball is almost unanimous is celebrating our community. Hopefully all of them go well.
As a gay man I support Dodgers Christian Faith Day, and my born-again aunt and uncle
By Cyd ZeiglerWelcoming people to the ballpark doesn’t mean you agree on everything, whether it’s Pride Night or Christian Day.
Sorry Newsmax, there’s a lot that’s gay about baseball—and it’s amazing
By Ken SchultzRight wing pundit Greg Kelly got all hot and bothered about Dodgers Pride Night. He won’t be the last.
Bill Donohue, Catholic League raise tens of thousands of dollars for drag nuns
By Cyd ZeiglerDonations have flooded into the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence since Donohue and Marco Rubio attacked them and the Dodgers.
