The Dallas Wings celebrate Pride Night, in recognition of June as national LGBT Pride Month, tonight (Friday, June 15), during their game against the Las Vegas Aces.
The game is at the Wings’ home stadium, College Park Center at the University of Texas in Arlington, 600 S. Center St. The game starts at 7 p.m.
But there will be pre-game festivities including a cheer led by David Taffet, longtime LGBT community activist and senior staff writer of Dallas Voice.
This is the fifth year that the WNBA is celebrating Pride month league-wide, with initiatives intended to “empower teams, players, fans and employees to share their voices and create a more inclusive environment for their communities,” according to the WNBA website.
WNBA President Lisa Borders said, “The WNBA is thrilled to unite with our players, teams, partners and fans during Pride Month to amplify our shared values of equality, inclusion and respect. Honoring the WNBA’s diverse community is always a highlight of our season.”
WNBA will have a float in the New York City Pride parade, set for June 24, again this year. As openly lesbian Baylor alum and current center for the Phoenix Mercury, Brittney Griner, points out in a video at WNBA.com/pride, the WNBA was the “first league to have a float in the Pride parade. It meant everything to me. It meant that our league — they’re behind us.”
The WNBA is also once again collaborating with GLSEN and Fanatics on an exclusive line of Pride apparel that includes Fanatics-branded WNBA T-shirts and New Era caps featuring league and team logos. The products are available on WNBA-Store.com, and all league proceeds benefit GLSEN (The Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network). Be sure to look for shirts and caps featuring the Wings’ mascot, Lightning, in rainbow colors.
GLSEN is also one of the beneficiaries of the WNBA’s Take A Seat, Take A Stand. For each ticket purchased through the program, the league will donate $5 to the beneficiary of the purchaser’s choice. Other beneficiaries in addition to GLSEN are Bright Pink, It’s On Us, Mentor In Real Life, Planned Parenthood and The United State of Women.
For information visit WNBAStore.com/TakeAStand.
— Tammye Nash
