The Yankees, MLB's only team without a Pride Night, announces plan to honor LGBTQ community
In the past few years, as Major League Baseball and society as a whole have gotten more inclusive, most baseball teams have adopted a Pride Night to celebrate their local LGBTQ communities. Right now, there is only one team that hasn’t yet added a Pride Night to its schedule: The New York Yankees.
On Friday, the Yankees took a step toward embracing their LGBTQ fans, but it wasn’t by adding a Pride Night for 2019. Rather, they announced the Yankees-Stonewall Scholars Initiative, a $50,000 program that aligns with the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Inn uprising — a moment that is regarded as the beginning of the “pride” movement in the U.S.
The Yankees still haven’t announced a Pride Night for 2019, but they did say that other LGBTQ-friendly activities will be announced next season.
The rise of Pride Nights in MLB
Over the years, 28 teams have held Pride Nights in MLB, according to a tally by Outsports. Some even held more than one — the Chicago Cubs had two. That’s a lot of growth, considering the Cubs are believed to be the first team to hold a Pride Night back in 2001.
These nights are not without conflict, of course. We all know how divisive the issue can be in this country, and as teams have adopted Pride Nights, there’s also a group of fans who are offended at the notion. Still, Pride Nights have grown year-by-year in MLB, not the other way around — with teams offering special ticket packages and gear for their LGBTQ-friendly fans.
This year, the Angels and the Yankees were the only teams not have a Pride Night. The Angels, however, announced plans for their first Pride Night to be held in 2019, leaving the Yankees as the lone holdouts.
Why the Yankees haven’t had a Pride Night
It’s been well documented that the Yankees don’t have a Pride Night, which has been a point of contention among some gay fans. The Yankees have defended themselves by saying that they show their commitment to inclusion in other ways — much like they are now with their scholarship program.
Consider this from a 2017 New York Times article by Billy Witz:
The Yankees have in recent years largely shied away from promotions with an ethnic or cultural flavor, although there are regular instances when they honor a cause with a brief pregame ceremony, such as last year’s Puerto Rican Day Parade.
And while the Yankees have chosen to refrain from holding a gay pride event at Yankee Stadium, a team spokesman, Jason Zillo, said there had been involvement behind the scenes
Among the examples he cited: the work by General Manager Brian Cashman and the assistant general manager Jean Afterman with organizations that assist lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youths; a pregame ceremony last year to acknowledge those killed in a mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla.; and an invitation to Billy Bean, the gay Major League Baseball executive who promotes inclusion, to speak with Yankees players on the major and minor league levels.
“Everyone of every nationality, religion, ethnicity or sexual orientation and/or preference is welcome at Yankee Stadium every day,” Zillo said in a statement. “We are a long-term believer in diversity and inclusion, and have always looked to create a safe and supportive environment for all fans to enjoy their experience here.”
How the Yankees are honoring the Stonewall Inn uprising
In June 1969, police in New York City raided Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village. That led to a series of protests by the gay community. It became a seminal moment in the history of gay rights in the U.S. In 2019, the WorldPride event is coming to New York City. It’s one of the largest pride events in the world and this will be the first time it will be held in the U.S.
To align with that, the Yankees announced on Friday their Stonewall Scholars Initiative, which will award five $10,000 scholarships — one to a student in each of New York’s five boroughs. According to the Yankees’ announcement, the scholarships will go to “graduating seniors who have demonstrated academic achievement, a commitment to equality and impactful support for the LGBTQ community.”
“Through this initiative we are proud to recognize the profound historical impact of Stonewall and celebrate the many meaningful contributions of the LGBTQ community,” said Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner. “The Yankees wholeheartedly support equality for all individuals and applaud any efforts which make our society more inclusive and tolerant. It is our hope that this scholarship program will serve as a springboard for young LGBTQ student community members and advocates as they continue the pursuit of their dreams, ambitions and livelihoods.”
The response to this news was mostly positive, save for the usual social-media trolls you expect to get upset about this kind of thing. Some Yankees fans still asked if a Pride Night would be coming, to make 30 out of 30 MLB clubs.
The Yankees didn’t specifically address that, only announcing: “During 2019, the Yankees will hold other LGBTQ community-themed commemorations, the details of which will be announced during the 2019 season.”
Regardless of what they announce in 2019, it seems like a big step in the right direction.
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Mike Oz is a writer at Yahoo Sports. Contact him at mikeozstew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @MikeOz
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