The Los Angeles Dodgers and UCLA, two storied pillars of diversity and inclusion in the world of sports, will present and host Outsports Pride in Los Angeles, in conjunction with Vox Media, June 6-9, 2019.
Outsports Pride brings together athletes, coaches, executives, fans and members of the media for a weekend of camaraderie, learning and celebration about LGBTQ participation in sports. It will be held during LA Pride weekend.
The theme for this year’s Outsports Pride is “Inspiring Generations” — highlighting voices across the generations of LGBTQ people in sports, in honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall riots, which ignited the modern-day LGBTQ-rights movement.
You can register for Outsports Pride here.
Outsports Pride and the LA Dodgers
As part of the Dodgers’ presenting sponsorship, the team will host a “field day” at Dodger Stadium Saturday, June 8. Outsports Pride Attendees will have exclusive access to the field at the stadium to play kickball, throw a Frisbee, soak in some rays or other activities.
“The Dodgers are very proud to be a part of Outsports Pride 2019,” said Senior Vice President, Marketing, Communications and Broadcasting Erik Braverman, who will be a featured voice during Outsports Pride. “The Dodgers have a long and proud history of diversity and inclusion, and we are delighted to welcome so many LGBTQ athletes, coaches, sports executives and fans to Los Angeles and Dodger Stadium for a weekend of the celebration of courage.”
The Dodgers’ partnership with Outsports Pride continues a long-standing dedication to diversity and inclusion for the franchise that brought Jackie Robinson to Major League Baseball in 1947. The Dodgers have also built the largest annual Pride Night in all of professional sports, attracting over 7,000 LGBTQ fans and members of the community each of the last two seasons. This year’s Dodgers Pride Night will be held May 31.
Outsports Pride and UCLA
UCLA will host tentpole events during the weekend, most notably the Outsports Pride Summit on Friday, June 7, which will be held at historic Pauley Pavilion. It will be the perfect backdrop for the summit, which features community-building engagement and speakers including high-profile athletes, coaches, referees, executives and members of the sports media.
“We look forward to hosting the 2019 Outsports Pride Summit at UCLA,” said UCLA Associate Athletic Director Ashley Armstrong. “UCLA has been a longstanding leader on issues of diversity and social justice, always striving to create an inclusive environment. This event is a great opportunity to bring visibility to a minority group of athletes, coaches, administrators and fans, and promote the value of LGBTQ inclusion in sports.”
UCLA is the collegiate home of Jackie Robinson, who won varsity letters in four sports while he was a Bruin. A statue honoring Robinson’s iconic No. 42 stands outside the athletics department. UCLA also counts various out LGBTQ athletes, coaches and administrators as Bruins, including Kirk Walker, assistant coach of the nation’s No. 1 NCAA softball team, who is helping to host Outsports Pride.
Outsports’ 20th anniversary
Outsports Pride will also celebrate Outsports’ 20th anniversary. Outsports.com was founded in 1999 by Cyd Zeigler and Jim Buzinski. In those two decades, Outsports has been a beacon of hope for many, sharing the courageous stories of many LGBTQ people in sports. It has also been key in advocating for inclusive policies across the sports world.
Registration is now open for Outsports Pride. Registration prices currently range from $20 to $50 for the entire weekend and includes access to all of the weekend’s events, including:
- Thursday night: Welcome party at Hi-Tops in West Hollywood
- Friday: Outsports Pride Summit at UCLA
- Friday night: Celebration party
- Saturday: “Field Day” at Dodger Stadium
- Saturday afternoon: Beach, hike or free time
- Sunday: LA Pride parade
The host hotel for Outsports Pride is the Hilton Garden Inn in Hollywood, which is offering a special discounted rate of $192/night (occupancy up to four people) for Outsports Pride attendees. Visit the hotel’s website and input group code: vox.
We hope you’ll join us!
If you have any questions about being part of Outsports Pride as a participant or sponsor, contact Cyd Zeigler at [email protected].
