These are some of the 10 best Pride Month efforts from major sports leagues and companies
Sports leagues, teams and companies across America embrace the LGBTQ community for Pride Month. Who stands out? The post These are some of the 10 best Pride Month efforts from major sports leagues and companies appeared first on Outsports.
The sports world in the United States is celebrating Pride Month in 2024. This comes even as some anti-LGBTQ people try to push many sports teams, leagues and corporations to abandon Pride and the LGBTQ community.
That is not happening.
Instead, many of them are going further. Witness the Jacksonville Jaguars. And good for them.
No one should be shamed for reaching out to the LGBTQ community, which has been so marginalized in sports for so many decades.
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MLB was the only Big Five league to change its social-media avatar for Pride on June 1
Major League Baseball was the only one of the Big Five pro sports leagues in the U.S. to adopt a Pride rainbow as its avatar on June 1. MLB was not shy about its embrace of Pride Month.
Last year, Outsports tracked which teams and leagues across North America switched its social-media avatar on X to a Pride Rainbow. There were nearly 100, including MLB.
The league that employs out gay former pro baseball player Billy Bean has done it again. Thank you MLB!
US Soccer put Pride Progress rainbow numbers on players
The US Women’s National Team on June 1 wore jerseys including numbers inspired by the Pride progress flag. That’s a great step to see on U.S. soil, even if US teams have worn Pride rainbow numbers before.
The #USWNT jerseys being worn in Denver today could be a first in international football – with the shirt numbers in Progress Pride flag colours
(am I right?)
Story for @outsportshttps://t.co/dun65idWz3
Raising money for @YouCanPlayTeam
Bidding is live for #Pride-themed jerseys, benefitting @YouCanPlayTeam!
Bid below— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) June 1, 2024
NHL and NHLPA united to celebrate Pride
After a tumultuous 2023 for the NHL, which saw commissioner Gary Bettman endorse homophobia, the league and the NHLPA have come together to celebrate LGBTQ Pride in 2024. The NHLPA is the players’ union.
The NHL boasted $75,000 in donations to LGBTQ organizations, in an effort to demonstrate support.
Interestingly, the NHLPA changed its X avatar to Pride colors on June 1. The NHL did not.
The NHLPA and the @NHL are proud to celebrate Pride Month throughout the month of June. Together, we continue to work toward a culture where everyone feels welcome at the rink. #NHLPride pic.twitter.com/DW0A9i5cJS— NHLPA (@NHLPA) June 1, 2024
Frankly, Outsports would love to see that number tripled in 2025. But it’s a good start for a league that has turned its once pro-gay profile to one synonymous with homophobia. We’re here for the effort.
National Women’s Soccer League embraced Pride with video, other outreach
The National Women’s Soccer League didn’t hold back at the start of Pride Month. The league has joined with Athlete Ally to elevate LGBTQ inclusion in women’s soccer. In addition to multiple other efforts, the league shared this video.
The NWSL told Outsports the Pride Plays Here spot “will air during all June NWSL matches and across NWSL+, all social platforms and on NWSLSoccer.com.”
Under Armour features Byron Perkins
Under Armour features gay Black HBCU player Byron Perkins in their Pride line. Perkins was the first publicly out gay football player at an HBCU.
Los Angeles Dodgers embrace Pride Month a year after LGBTQ controversy
The L.A. Dodgers are again supporting Pride Month in a powerful way. We hear their Pride Night night could sell as many as 20,000 tickets. That would have the Dodgers eclipse the team’s previous record-setting Pride Night sales. It’s quite an accomplishment for a team that last season went through it.
And good for the Dodgers. With out exec Erik Braverman, we’re here for all of it! The Dodgers have established themselves as one of the most LGBTQ-inclusive teams in the world. You can get your Dodgers Pride Night tickets here.
Jacksonville Jaguars amongst first to embrace Pride Month
It’s the power of coming out.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have the only publicly out coach in the NFL. Kevin Maxen has said repeatedly that the Jaguars organization has been widely accepting. That includes team owner Shad Khan.
In an area — Northeast Florida — that is considered more conservative, it’s great to see the area’s highest-profile pro sports team embrace their out gay coach.
And it’s great to see the team embrace the LGBTQ community on social media.
#DUUUVAL is for everyone
NFL teams in Los Angeles share pro-LGBTQ Pride messages
The Los Angeles Rams and L.A. Chargers both shared pro-LGBTQ messages on the first day of Pride Month.
MLS teamed up with Adidas to create a Pride line
While reactions are mixed, MLS has teamed up with Adidas to create a rainbow-inspired Pride line to celebrate the LGBTQ community. Recently, the designer chatted with GayCities about their inspiration.
The league has also celebrated Pride on social media.
We've always been here.
As Pride Month kicks off, we're honored to celebrate the LBGTQ+ community in our soccer. pic.twitter.com/FWX6li7ozH— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 1, 2024
NBA and WNBA have very little social media Pride presence, rely on 52-week commitment
The NBA and all of its teams have opted to not change their social-media avatars in the first couple of days of Pride Month. Though the NBA shared this message from NBA Cares:
Happy Pride Month!
pic.twitter.com/NazB7obEYS— NBA Cares (@nbacares) June 1, 2024
A few WNBA teams, like the Minnesota Lynx and the Dallas Wings, chose to add a rainbow-inspired avatar to their social media handles.
Regardless, as Outsports has written extensively, the NBA and WNBA have combined to create the most LGBTQ-inclusive culture in all of pro sports.
Related
How the NBA and WNBA created sports’ premier culture of inclusion
The WNBA is the most represented league on the Outsports Power 100. The NBA has the most men’s sports execs.
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The post These are some of the 10 best Pride Month efforts from major sports leagues and companies appeared first on Outsports.
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