OAKLAND, Calif. - The Oakland A's will celebrate the Bay Area's LGBTQ community during their fourth annual Pride Night on Friday, June 8, when the team hosts the Kansas City Royals for a 7:05 p.m. matchup.
The team will welcome transgender rights activist Gavin Grimm to the Oakland Coliseum for an appearance and pregame recognition. Grimm, a Berkeley resident, sued his Virginia school for discrimination four years ago when they wouldn't allow him to use the bathroom that aligned with his gender identity. His case gained national attention, sparked several bathroom bills around the country, and received a statement of support from President Obama. On May 22, 2018, a federal judge sided with Grimm and ruled that the school board violated his rights.
A's Pride Night will begin with a pregame party in The Treehouse beginning at 5 p.m. The pregame party will include music, giveaways from The Herd, and Drag Queen Bingo from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. The party is free and open to all fans with a game ticket.
San Francisco Pride Parade Community Ambassador Kin Folkz will throw out the ceremonial first pitch, and Oakland East Bay Gay Men's Chorus will sing the national anthem prior to the game and Take Me Out to the Ballgame during the seventh inning stretch.
Fans with a special event ticket will receive an A's wearable rainbow flag when they enter through A Gate. Special event tickets are available at athletics.com/pride. Additional A's wearable rainbow flags will be available for purchase through MLB's Ballpark app on the day of the game. Five dollars from every sale will benefit the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center.