For years San Diego's LGBT community has supported the Padres. Now the Padres have decided to show support for the LGBT community.
On Tuesday, September 1, the Padres will host the first officially sanctioned Pride Night at Petco Park. Prior to the first pitch against the Texas Rangers the San Diego Gay Men's Chorus will sing the National Anthem, something they have not done at Petco Park in eight years.
In addition to a limited edition hat giveaway that night, $5 of every Pride Night ticket will be donated to San Diego Pride, GSDBA and San Diego Gay Men's Chorus (tickets for the event can be purchased at www.padres.com/sdpride).
Since 2007, San Diego Pride has organized the annual "Out at the Park" event (which has actually been around a lot longer that that) which draws close to 1200 fans to a Padres game and nearly 500 to a pre-game tailgate. That event has never been officially associated with the team or MLB. This new one will.
"San Diego has long bee a city that embraces its diversity," said Stephen Whitburn, executive director of San Diego Pride. "We are so pleased that the San Diego Padres are creating this opportunity to officially celebrate San Diego's LGBT community and its allies. We are looking forward to a fun night at Petco Park."
