Yankees are finally stepping up to the plate for LGBTQ rights
The Yankees are the last team in MLB not to host a night promoting rights for the LGBTQ community, but that’s going to change in 2019.
Earlier this season, the Yankees justifiably received a lot of criticism for being the only team in MLB not to hold some sort of event to promote the rights of the LGBTQ community. Fortunately, the organization has plans to remedy that failure during the 2019 season.
Sources close to the team indicate the Yankees are planning a series of events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in New York City next season. The riots, which took place in 1969, came in response to a police raid at the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Manhattan. Many consider the Stonewall Riots a significant precursor to the modern LGBTQ movement.
The Yankees certainly deserve criticism for waiting so long to make a stand on this important social issue. In fairness, the team did hold a small on-field ceremony in 2016 to honor the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting, but that didn’t go far enough to properly address the issue.
It’s clear Brian Cashman and company want to do something more meaningful than simply having a standard LGBTQ rights night during a random game. Tying the event to something that has historic significance to the larger New York community should help spark more authentic interest and discussion around the various issues facing the LGBTQ community.
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Expect the Yankees to conduct a series of events commemorating the riots as opposed to just utilizing a single game. As always, the proof will be in the execution. It’s encouraging the organization seems to be taking the issue seriously despite waiting so long to address it. Time will tell whether or not the wait was worth it.