It was a busy weekend for LGBT Pride events this weekend and 17 teams from five pro sports took part in games and a parade.
In Major League Baseball, the Blue Jays, Cubs, Reds, Red Sox, Rays, Dodgers and Athletics held Pride nights. The Red Sox kicked it off with their event Thursday, while the Cubs finished up Sunday.
In Major League Soccer, the Columbus Crew, Chicago Fire and San Jose Earthquakes held their Pride nights, while the Philadelphia Union marched in that city’s Pride parade . In Portland, Timbers player Zarek Valentin wore a ribbon in his hair to raise money for LGBTQ youth groups.
In the WNBA, the Los Angeles Sparks held their Pride night, while the NBA’s 76ers marched in the Philadelphia Pride parade. The NHL’s Bruins participated in Boston’s Pride parade, the Capitals in the DC parade and the Oilers in the Edmonton parade.
Here are some images from sports and Pride this weekend:
MLB
Boston Red Sox:
Toronto Blue Jays:
Chicago Cubs:
Chef Art Smith and his husband Jesus Salgueiro wear the Chicago Cubs Pride Day hats before the #Cubs face the #Pirates at Wrigley Field: https://t.co/kRKepbMhqx pic.twitter.com/PPLcEiPmW0
— Brian Cassella (@briancassella) June 10, 2018
Cincinnati Reds:
Pride Night at Great American Ballpark was a huge success! Were you one of the lucky ones who pre-ordered the much sought after limited edition @reds Pride ballcap? Tag us in your photos @cincinnatipride! #cincypride2018 #cincypride #cincinnatipride #pridemonth #pride pic.twitter.com/3Z8j0O04WA
— Cincinnati Pride (@CincinnatiPride) June 9, 2018
Tampa Bay Rays:
#Pride Night looking 🌈. pic.twitter.com/Q1PRnf8tGn
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) June 8, 2018
Dodgers:
It’s LGBT Night at Dodger Stadium! #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/dqxeCVVhw1
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 9, 2018
Welcome to Dodger Stadium, @TomDaley1994! #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/OxpemmMJXH
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 9, 2018
Oakland Athletics:
Thank you Oakland A's for the @997now suite at #Pride Night. Let's Go Oakland! ⚾#OaklandAthletics #LetsGoOakland #AtTheColiseum #997NOW #RadioLife pic.twitter.com/5anAjbBgjN
— Alex Harmon (@alex_harmon) June 9, 2018
MLS
Columbus Crew:
Chicago Fire:
San Jose Earthquakes:
#SoccerForAll 🏳️🌈 pic.twitter.com/Yz3GpJesIO
— San Jose Earthquakes (@SJEarthquakes) June 10, 2018
I thought losing a bet was supposed to make you less cool. @ZarekValentin #RCTID #PORvSKC
— Stumptown Footy (@StumptownFooty) June 10, 2018
📸 – @BennettDewan pic.twitter.com/Sx3nyfO2ys
Above, Zarek Valentin of the Timbers wore a ribbon to raise money for LGBTQ youth.
Philadelphia Union:
We’re at #PhillyPride2018 today 🏳️🌈#OneUnion | #SoccerForAll pic.twitter.com/82KawajsAu
— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) June 10, 2018
WNBA
Los Angeles Sparks:
For today’s game, we’ll be having Pride Night themed specials for sale throughout @STAPLESCenter!🙌 Get your Rainbow Cake @ Spotlight, Skyline, 104 Outtakes and Rainbow Sangria @ Spotlight, Skyline and Impact Bar & Grill! #GoSparks #All4LA pic.twitter.com/3hhZ62MvIp
— Los Angeles Sparks (@LA_Sparks) June 8, 2018
NBA
Philadelphia 76ers:
Proudly supporting the local LGBT community & participating in the annual Philly Pride Parade!#HereTheyCome x #PhillyPride pic.twitter.com/UPBAdgTMLt
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) June 10, 2018
NHL
Boston Bruins:
Celebrating #BostonPride. 🏳️🌈 pic.twitter.com/mzfIeYStqO
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) June 9, 2018
Washington Capitals:
Honored to take park in today's @CapitalPrideDC's #Pride2018 Parade! #ALLCAPS #RockTheRainbow pic.twitter.com/vuM0PcpGp0
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) June 10, 2018
Edmonton Oilers:
Photo gallery from #yegpride on Saturday! 🌈 https://t.co/1Etm2VghOx pic.twitter.com/D1u7TRVGI3
— Oilers Foundation (@Oil_Foundation) June 11, 2018
These events by pro sports teams are a positive development, despite some online bitching — the Dodgers recognized an opposite-sex marriage proposal on the Jumbotron (Why that was bothersome to some is beyond me. I thought love was love?); the Reds didn’t promote their event enough (It was their first, so give them a break, and their hats rocked); the Timbers player’s hair ribbon was too muted (Who cares? He raised a lot of money for a worthy charity).
Story updated with Bruins’ participation in Pride.