Dodgers to host seventh annual LGBT night May 31 at Dodger Stadium

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers will play host to their seventh annual LGBT Night at Dodger Stadium, presented by Blue Shield of California, on Friday, May 31, the team announced today. A special event ticket package that includes a game ticket for the Dodgers’ May 31, 7:10 p.m. game against the Phillies and an exclusive Dodger LGBT-themed duffle bag (image attached) is available for purchase now by visiting www.dodgers.com/LAPride.

For the third consecutive year, the Dodgers have partnered with LA Pride and will host the official 2019 LA Pride kickoff party at Dodger Stadium beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Right Field Plaza Bar and lasting until first pitch at 7:10 p.m. Produced by non-profit organization Christopher Street West, LA Pride is Southern California's biggest LGBTQ+ celebration, with the LA Pride Festival and LA Pride Parade taking place in West Hollywood on the weekend of June 8-9. The festival, which celebrates the LGBTQ+ community and its straight allies through music, art, and culture along with community activations and signature events, will feature Grammy-winning superstar Meghan Trainor and British electronic pop trio Years & Years as its headliners. This year’s powerful theme, #JUSTUNITE, recognizes that the work the LGBTQ+ community does together is ultimately what will make it stronger and more resilient than ever before.

LGBT Night at Dodger Stadium will feature ceremonial first pitches by Dodger Owners Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss. King and Kloss co-founded the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative, which addresses inclusion and diversity issues in the workplace. The couple also are founding board members of the Elton John AIDS Foundation and both serve on the executive committee of the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF). Founded by King in 1974, WSF works to advance the lives of girls and women through sports and physical activity and has awarded more than $80 million in educational and cash grants since its inception. King and Kloss also have been longtime owners in World TeamTennis at both the league and team levels.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2019, the Los Angeles LGBT Center will be will be honored during pregame ceremonies with a Dodgers Community Hero Award. Today—as world’s largest provider of programs and services for LGBTQ people—the Center’s nearly 700 employees, along with thousands of volunteers and supporters, are an unstoppable force in the fight against bigotry and the struggle to build a better world; a world in which LGBT people can be healthy, equal, and complete members of society. Learn more at lalgbtcenter.org/50.

The national anthem will be performed by singer, actor and strong supporter of the LGBT community Nikki Blonsky, who is best known for her roles in Hairspray, Geography Club and This is 40. The Dodgers will also welcome the cast and creator David Collins of Netflix’s hit show Queer Eye, and former Dodger Billy Bean, who currently serves as Major League Baseball’s Vice President & Special Assistant to the Commissioner, as special guests on LGBT Night.

“We are once again excited to work with so many incredible partners for our seventh annual LGBT Night at Dodger Stadium,” said Dodgers’ Senior Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Broadcasting Erik Braverman. “We look forward to creating a fun and memorable night as we strive to grow this annual event into the largest in all of professional sports. The Dodgers, with a long and well documented history of diversity, recognize the value of an inclusive environment.”

The Dodgers will welcome back many partners for this special night, including:

• Outsports, a sports news website focusing on LGBT issues and personalities in amateur and professional sports. Outsports is the world's leading gay-sports publication.

• Varsity Gay League (V.G.L.) is the nation’s largest LGBT Recreational Sports league, established in 2007. With thousands of members, V.G.L. is committed to connecting players of all ages and skill levels, gay or straight, with new ways to socialize and play. A pregame kickball game with select members of V.G.L. will take place in the outfield following the Dodgers’ and Phillies’ batting practice on May 31.

• The Greater Los Angeles Softball Association (GLASA) is a gay and lesbian slow-pitch softball league committed to providing an opportunity for both gay and non-gay participants to compete in an environment conducive to the gay community.

• Hi Tops Sportsbar, a casual sports bar with an LGBTQ focus in West Hollywood.

LGBT Night on May 31 will also include Friday Night Fireworks presented by Denny’s and will feature a special music mix by DJ Bowie Jane. Fans are invited on the field immediately following the game for the fireworks show.

For more information, please visit www.dodgers.com/LAPride.