In a city known for its historic support of the LGBTQ+ community, the San Francisco Giants and SF Giants CEO Larry Baer, have made a historic decision by proudly announcing the first-ever LGBTQ+ Pride Month Celebration in the history of Major League Baseball, to the delight of fans who have cheered on the decision all over social media.
The team proudly announced its decision to support San Francisco’s vast and diverse LGBTQ+ community by incorporating Pride flag colors into the team’s official logo on on-field custom caps and jerseys during Pride Month, while also decorating Oracle Park in Pride flag colors to commemorate the month of June and its significance to the local LGBTQ+ community.
“We are extremely proud to stand with the LGBTQ+ community,” declared Larry Baer as the team announced its decision to honor pride month beginning on Saturday, June 5 at their first home game in June against the Chicago Cubs as the team sported its new Pride Logo attire for the first time.
On that date, in support of their local fan base and the many individuals within it that identify as part of San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ population, and in honor of the city’s history as a safe haven for this community since the very beginnings of the Pride movement.
The team tweeted its announcement prior to the game, explaining the meaning of the 11 colors of the Pride flag as follows: “The 11 colors of the new Pride logo are emblematic of the Progress Pride Flag and signify inclusion and progression with the six pride colors – red (life); orange (healing); yellow (sunlight); green (nature); blue (serenity); purple (spirit); and black and brown to recognize LGBTQ+ people of color and light blue, pink, and white to recognize people who are transgender.”
The new logo and its appearance on the field was cheered by fans and supporters not only in San Francisco, but on social media accounts across the entire world. Amid a slew of celebratory reactions, one fan enthusiastically responded to the team’s announcement on Twitter by tweeting, “The BEST & most compassionate ballpark EVER! God Bless! Love wins!” Another fan inquired as to the possibility of purchasing one of the new caps after the game.
Special guest Billy Jean, MLB’s Vice President and Special Assistant to the Commissioner, who is also a history-maker as the first Ambassador for inclusion in the MLB sat proudly in the bleachers at Oracle Park to celebrate the occasion.
Baer referred to Pride month as “One of the best annual celebrations in San Francisco,” and announced that the Giants would be “Paying honor to the countless achievements and contributions of all those who identify as LGBTQ+ and are allies of the LGBTQ+ community.”
While players are sporting colorful new logos on their caps and jerseys throughout June, Oracle Park is also bedecked in Pride colors, as the scoreboard will be gleaming with rainbow flag colors during the entire month. The trunks of the stately palm trees in Willie Mays Plaza have also been wrapped in rainbow colors for the duration of Pride month, and a photo of the colorful display appeared on Oracle Park’s Twitter feed to commemorate the occasion. Oracle Park will also be hosting Pride Movie Night on June 11 and 12, showing movies that are relevant to the LGBTQ+ community as part of the month-long celebration.
This historic decision on the part of Larry Baer and his entire staff is a testament to the Giants’ integration and support for its home city, as San Francisco has long been an icon within the national LGBTQ+ liberation movement, and the city has played a pivotal role in the history of Pride celebrations and Pride month.
While the Giants are the first Major League team to come out in support of Pride month, their High-A affiliates, the Eugene Emeralds, made history in 2019 as the first minor league team to sport Pride jerseys.