Yankees to celebrate New York's legacy of Pride

By | June 14, 2024

The New York Yankees today announced details regarding a celebration of New York’s Legacy of Pride, which will take place Tuesday, June 18, at Yankee Stadium, prior to the 7:05 p.m. Yankees-Orioles game. The Yankees will also shine a spotlight on the 2024 recipients of the Yankees-Stonewall Scholarship Initiative, which on a yearly basis awards $50,000 worth of scholarships through five $10,000 college scholarships to one graduating high school senior from each of the five boroughs of New York City.

First awarded in 2019 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Inn Uprising, the annual scholarships celebrate student leaders who have demonstrated academic achievement, a commitment to equality and impactful support for the LGBTQ+ community. The awards are intended to provide resources to launch the honorees’ educational and career goals.

As part of the festivities, the recipients of the 2024 Yankees-Stonewall scholarships will be guests of the Yankees for batting practice. They will also be recognized in a pregame ceremony along with representatives from the Yankees, The Stonewall Inn, New York City Department of Education, Major League Baseball and Athlete Ally.

The implementation of the Yankees-Stonewall Initiative aligns directly within the construct of the Yankees’ Diversity & Inclusion Committee, which identifies, engages and addresses issues related to equality, racial justice and inclusivity. The nomination process is initiated by the New York City Department of Education with each public high school able to submit one graduating senior for consideration. The selection process is conducted by the Department of Education in partnership with input from representatives from the Yankees, Stonewall Inn, Major League Baseball and Athlete Ally.

In 2019, a permanent plaque was dedicated to commemorate the inclusive spirit of Yankee Stadium and the 50th Anniversary of the events at the Stonewall Inn that sparked the modern LGBTQ+ Movement.

The 2024 Yankees-Stonewall Scholarship recipients are:

The students learned about the honor via Zoom on June 5, with congratulations provided by Yankees Senior Vice President and General Manager Brian Cashman; Yankees Senior Vice President of Corporate/Community Relations Brian Smith; Yankees Senior Vice President and Assistant General Manager Jean Afterman; Stonewall Inn Owner & Co-founder of The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative Kurt Kelly; Stonewall Inn Co-Owner & Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative CEO Stacy Lentz; Major League Baseball SVP of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Billy Bean; Athlete Ally Board of Directors Member Robert York; NYC DOE Manager of LGBTQ+ Programs Kalima McKenzie-Simms; NYC DOE Coordinator of LGBTQ+ Programs Jude Schoenfeld; NYC DOE Social Emotional Learning and Design Senior Citywide Director Dr. Susan Green; and NYC DOE Executive Director of Safety, Culture and Climate Dr. Robin Davson. This video will be posted on @yankees social accounts on Monday.

“Every year, our Yankees-Stonewall scholars impress and inspire me, and we are thrilled to celebrate the 2024 honorees, who have already demonstrated that they are on the path to making our world a more tolerant, compassionate and inclusive place,” said Yankees Senior Vice President and General Manager Brian Cashman. “Our efforts to nurture the next generation of LGBTQ+ leaders through the Yankees-Stonewall Scholarship Program reflects the respect our organization has for the LGBTQ+ community and the contributions and richness it brings to our world. Simply put, the Yankees are an ally to the LGBTQ+ community, and Yankee Stadium will always be a place where people can feel safe and encouraged to celebrate who they are.”

“I am excited to continue our meaningful partnership with the New York Yankees, and I am personally proud to continue the affirming work we’ve done with The Stonewall Inn in support of our amazing LGBTQIA+ students,” said Schools Chancellor David C. Banks. “This life-changing initiative grants graduating LGBTQIA+ seniors distinct opportunities to begin their paths to becoming impactful leaders. I look forward to each of these scholars handling every knuckleball, curveball, and slider that life throws at them with poise and grace as they help shape brighter and better futures for all of us.”

“We are truly grateful for the Yankees’ support in helping to create future leaders for the LGBTQ+ community,” said Stonewall Inn Co-Owner & Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative CEO Stacy Lentz. “These students amaze us every year — not only with what they have already done but with their future goals to help the LGBTQ+ community and society as a whole.”

“We can’t thank the Yankees enough for their ongoing commitment to the LGBTQ+ community,” said Stonewall Inn Owner & Co-founder of The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative Kurt Kelly. “These scholarships are so important by providing access to education for LGBTQ+ students, who will be future leaders of the community.”

Joining the Yankees-Stonewall scholars in Tuesday’s on-field ceremonies will be:

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