WNBA debuts PRIDE, a ‘new national platform celebrating inclusion and equality’
By Jack Maloney
Yesterday, the WNBA officially announced their new campaign, PRIDE, a “national platform celebrating inclusion and equality.”
As part of this campaign, the league will also begin a new marketing campaign. This, from the press release:
"The WNBA will be the first professional sports league to establish an integrated marketing, media, grassroots and social responsibility program for the LGBT community including a new special site, WNBA.com/pride where league and team Pride content, events and schedules will be posted throughout the season. Information will also be shared on the league’s social media channels where the content will be aggregated with the hashtag #wnbapride."
There will also be PRIDE-themed games throughout the season in which the players will wear special shooting shirts–similar to the NBA’s FIT movement. Proceeds from shirts sold will go to GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network.
"In addition, WNBA teams will host Pride-themed games throughout June where players will wear commemorative Pride shooting shirts. WNBA Pride T-shirts designed by adidas, the league’s official oncourt uniform and apparel provider, will be available for purchase on WNBASTORE.com and NBA Store on Fifth Avenue in New York City. Proceeds will benefit GLSEN, a long-time WNBA partner."
Good for the WNBA. This is just another step towards making society supportive and accepting of homosexuals–something it sadly isn’t at this time, as evidenced by the widespread negative reaction to Michael Sam’s kiss during the NFL draft.