June 2, 2024: MLB, NHL, WNBA, NWSL, WTA, MLS, U.S. Soccer, adidas and Reebok are among the pro leagues and national brands participating in Pride Month, with activation throughout June on-field, in stadiums and arenas, multi-media marketing, via financial and other backing of organizations and at retail with products to support the LGBTQ+ community.
This month will also see the opening of the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center in New York.
On June 1, President Joe Biden wrote in a declaration from the White House, “During Pride Month, we celebrate the extraordinary courage and contributions of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI+) community.
“We reflect on the progress we have made so far in pursuit of equality, justice, and inclusion. We recommit ourselves to do more to support LGBTQI+ rights at home and around the world . . . To the entire LGBTQI+ community — and especially transgender children — please know that your President and my entire Administration have your back.
Across MLB, 28 of the 32 teams have scheduled Pride Month events in June — the San Diego Padres held theirs on April 19 and the Texas Rangers are not planning one, according to OutSports.
The defending World Series champion Rangers, however, are hosting the 2024 MLB All-Star Game (July 16),the Home Run Derby (July 15) and surrounding events in Globe Life Field and around Arlington.
The Seattle Mariners are holding two Pride games: June 1 and June 13.
According to the team, “The Seattle Mariners are committed to making sure that our communities are a place where all feel welcome and loved. To those who work tirelessly toward this goal, Pride Month is a time for us to recognize those efforts and have some fun, too.
See a full list of MLB Pride Month events here, via OutSports.
The NHL, heading toward the Stanley Cup Final and with most of its teams done for the season, held “Pride” events during the season.
According to the NHL, “The league, the NHL Players Assn. and all 32 NHL clubs are committed to making hockey more accessible and enjoyable for all fans and unite in their celebration of the LGBTQ+ community.”
“Members of the LGBTQ+ community have made, and continue to make, enormous contributions to the game of hockey,” Kim Davis, NHL senior evp-social impact, growth initiatives and legislative affairs, said via the league.
The NHL’s plan for diversity this season initially came with adversity.
This past October, the NHL first restricted and then rescinded its ban on players using rainbow-colored Pride Tape and wearing Pridejerseys, along with all “specialty jerseys.”
According to Forbes, “The NHL in October sent a memo to all 32 teams which offered guidelines for dress at all specialty events such as the NHL’s BlackHistory Night, Military Appreciation Night and Pride Night, and which stated on-ice uniforms and gear cannot be altered for themed nights.”
A subsequent statement from the league itself offered, ”After consultation with the NHL Players' Association and the NHL Player Inclusion Coalition, players will now have the option to voluntarily represent social causes with their stick tape throughout the season.”
The NHL said it invested more than $75,000 this season to nearly 100 LGBTQ+ organizations, programs and hockey tournaments in the U.S. and Canada.
Pride Tape, an NHL partner since 2016-17, received financial support to provide rainbow hockey tape to numerous hockey tournaments.
The Professional Women’s Hockey League, which concluded its inaugural season in May with Minnesota claiming the championship, hosted Pride Nights among its teams during the season.
U.S. Soccer is partnering with theYou Can Play Project for the sixth consecutive year to celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community during Pride Month in June.
The You Can Play Project is an organization “dedicated to ensuring equality, respect and safety for all athletes, coaches and fans no matter their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.”
Special edition number packs will be worn at all four USMNT and USWNT matches in June that U.S. Soccer controls.
U.S. Soccer will then auction off signed, player-issued Men’s and Women’s National Team jerseys with rainbow-themed numbers inspired by Pride, with all proceeds going to You Can Play “to help promote a safe and inclusive environment for the LGBTQ+ community.”
People can bid on items now through June 30.
In addition, a portion of proceeds from Pride items sold on theU.S. Soccer Store, presented by Visa, will benefit the You Can Play Project.
You Can Play partners also include the NHL, NHLPA, WTA and the PGA Tour.
The WNBA celebrates LGBTQ+ Pride Month throughout June with special event games, activities and initiatives that “empower players, teams, fans, and employees to share their voices and create a more inclusive environment around the game and in their communities.”
A portion of all proceeds from the sales of the WNBA Pride Unity Collection will be donated to LGBTQ+ charitable organizations, including Athlete Ally, an organization “dedicated to eradicating the exclusion of LGBTQ+ people in sport.”
On June 1, the Indiana Fever hosted the Chicago Sky in the first game of the 2024 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup, with Indiana rookie Caitlin Clark facing Sky rookies Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso.
It also was the Fever’s “Pride Game presented by Salesforce,” with the first 3,000 fans in attendance receiving a limited-edition Fever Pride belt bag, “perfect for attending our future games.”
Among other WNBA teams, Pride Month events include Atlanta Dream Pride Night June 2, Chicago Sky Pride Night Presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois June 27, Connecticut Sun June 8, Dallas Wings June 9, Las Vegas Aces June 11.
Los Angeles Sparks partner Urban Decay high-performance color cosmetics company will host Pride Night this week in Crypto.com Arena. “The partnership celebrates the intersection of beauty, athleticism, and inclusivity.”
Minnesota Lynx Pride Night hosted by Stonewall Sports is June 22, New York Liberty Pride presented by RMA New York June 22.
Phoenix Mercury June 16 presented by Hornitos Tequila, with a local campaign featuring stars Diana Taurasi and Breanna Stewart.
Seattle Storm June 29 Pride Night Presented by Amazon.
And Washington Mystics Pride game presented by Giant June 22, “an unapologetic celebration and uplift of the LGBTQ+ community.”
The NWSL said it “once again champions Pride throughout the month of June,” including events, partnerships, and a new "Pride Plays Here" brand campaign.
“Pride Plays Here” invokes the words of two-time Olympic gold medalist Abby Wambach and is voiced by NWSL legend and LGBTQIA+ advocate Megan Rapinoe.
‘This game doesn't make us who we are,” says Rapinoe, quoting Wambach.
“We bring who we are to it. Our style, our passion our quirks, our light. And when we bring who we are, it invites you to as well as any invitation to be yourself. Well, that's what is all about. Pride plays here.”
The Pride Plays Here spot will air during all June NWSL matches and across NWSL+, all social platforms and on NWSLSoccer.com
The league’s anchor event will be “NWSL Talking Pride” presented by Google Pixel, a panel featuring former NWSL athlete Ali Krieger and other leaders in the LGBTQIA+ community in the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center in New York — the first event at the center ahead of its grand opening on June 28.
The event will stream live on NWSL+ and the NWSL’s YouTube channel.
MLB, NFL, NHL, NBA, WNBA, USTA, and PWHL are also among the supporting partners of the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center, which is the first LGBTQ+ visitor center within the National Park Service and the “first national monument to share the story of the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights.”
On June 24, 2016, President Barack Obama officially designated the Stonewall National Monument (51 Christopher Street).
“The NWSL has always been an inclusive place for all of our players and fans, it’s part of our DNA, and Pride month gives us a great platform to celebrate our entire LGBTQIA+ community,” Julie Haddon, NWSL chief marketing and commercial officer, said via the league.
“To be able to host the first ever event at the Stonewall Visitor Center is so meaningful to us, but it’s just one part of all that we are doing to champion the community on and off the pitch.”
NWSL players will again be wearing custom Pride jerseys throughout June as well as custom pre-match Pride tops before the club’s individual Pride matches. For the first time, special edition Pride jerseys will be available at the league's online shop.
In May, adidas unveiled its official 2024 Pride collection, co-created with Brazilian drag superstar Pabllo Vittar.
As part of the collection, in celebration of Pride Month, MLS and adidas partnered to release the 2024 edition of the pre-match Pride Top.
A new Pride campaign features such LGBTQ+ athletes as British diver Tom Daley and WNBA star Layshia Clarendon.
Adidas also continues its year-round partnership with Athlete Ally.
“Our year-round collaboration with Athlete Ally works towards addressing the barriers to sport — fostering a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive world where everyone has access to participate,” Ashley Czarnowksi, senior director of adidas global purpose, said via the company
Among others, Nike, Brooks, Converse and Reebok have unveiled Pride Collections for 2024.
“We believe it’s important to give the LGBTQIA+ community a platform to shine — both within the walls of Reebok and beyond,” Portia Blunt, Reebok svp-global product, told Footwear News.
“We are constantly inspired by the creatives and the athletes within the community and are honored to play a small part in helping amplify their stories,.”
