CLEVELAND — Editor's note: the video in the player above is from the June 1, 2022, episode of the Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show.
The arrival of June means the start of Pride Month and the Cleveland Guardians are preparing to celebrate the LBGTQ+ community.
“As part of our on-going efforts to become a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization, we are thrilled to work in partnership with the LGBT Center, Plexus, and other community organizations to authentically celebrate Pride month,” Cleveland Guardians Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Matt Grimes said in a statement. “While we seek to uplift the voices and experience of our LGBTQ+ community 365-days a year, we know that flagship events like Pride allow us to intentionally spotlight the collective stories of hope, struggle, and opportunity that make our city and team better.”
As a part of the Guardians' festivities, members of the team's front office will march in Cleveland’s Pride Parade on Saturday, June 4. The Guardians' mascots will also join the front office members during a portion of the Pride in the CLE festival on Malls B & C.
Three weeks later on Saturday, June 25, the franchise will host a Pride Night at Progressive Field as the Guardians face the Boston Red Sox. The team describes the event as "an educational and inclusive experience celebrating all fans" and will include a member of the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.
There will also be Pride-themed photo opportunities throughout the concourse, Guardians Pride items handed out to random fans and in-game content highlighting LGBTQ+ resources on the scoreboard. Fans who purchase a Special Ticket Package for the June 25 contest will receive a limited-edition Guardians Pride t-shirt, with a portion of the proceeds from each Special Ticket Package benefitting the Plexus Education Fund -- a Northeast Ohio based non-profit that "supports the LGBT business community and advances economic equity through the provision of educational programming, workshops and trainings, and Employee Resource Group development and support."
“We are proud to partner with the Cleveland Guardians and support their work to ensure baseball is a game for all,” said Plexus Executive Director Amanda Cole. “Pride nights are a simple step for our hometown teams to support the LGBT community.”
Guardians Pride t-shirts are only available via the Special Ticket Packages, which can be purchased at CLEGuardians.com/specials.