WNBA Pride Month Presented By Deloitte Supports, Celebrates LGBTQ+ Community
Tuesday, June 1, 2021 at 02:23PM NYSJ Sports-Entertainment Business News Service
June 1, 2021: June is National Pride Month — and June 28 is Pride Day, celebrating the day when the first Pride march was held in New York City in 1970.
It also marks the day on June 28, 1969, when police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club in New York’s Greenwich Village, which resulted in bar patrons, staff and neighborhood residents rioting outside on Christopher Street.
To support its on-gong effort, the WNBA said that WNBA Pride presented by Deloitte would “promote initiatives that advocate for, support and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and its allies throughout the month of June, and will continue throughout the year with league and team initiatives and events."
Deloitte is one of the league’s Changemakers, “embracing change in many forms (and) helping the WNBA unlock possibilities and guide transformation at the league level, from short-term operational planning to long-term business strategy.
“We believe people can only achieve their full potential if they can be their authentic selves every single day,” Stacy Janiak, managing partner, chief growth officer, Deloitte, said via the company.
“When we champion inclusivity, we give courage to those who need it and call upon the world to do better and be better. That is why we are so excited to join with the WNBA in celebrating Pride, this month, and all season long.”
There will be ten nationally televised games dedicated to Pride throughout the month of June across ABC, the CBS Television Network, ESPN and ESPN2 (see list below).
Team activities will also be showcased on WNBA social media channels with the hash tag #wnbapride.
Among other activation, in partnership with Athlete Ally, the WNBA said it would conduct league and team ally education sessions on trans inclusivity.
The WNBA said that teams would offer special ticket packages, in-arena experiences and Pride-themed games and community events during the month. Additional information on team events and celebrations can be found at WNBA.com/pride.
Throughout June, the WNBA will offer with GLSEN and Fanatics at the WNBA online store an exclusive line of Pride apparel, including WNBA T-shirts from Fanatics Brands, with all WNBA proceeds benefiting GLSEN.
GLSEN said it “works to ensure that LGBTQ students are able to learn and grow in a school environment free from bullying and harassment.”
Apart of the overall platform, WNBA/WNBPA Social Justice Council said it has identified three key priorities for The Justice Movement, the league’s social justice platform, to focus on during the WNBA’s historic 25th season.
The priorities this season are health equity, LGBTQ+ advocacy with a focus on trans rights, and civic engagement.
“The WNBA’s commitment to equity, justice, diversity and inclusion is year-long, but this month is a special celebration of the LGBTQ+ community,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said via the league.
“We also wanted to specifically voice our support of the trans community as our WNBA/WNBPA Social Justice Council continues to focus on rights for non-binary and trans people. We are honored to collaborate with WNBA Changemaker Deloitte to continue to shine light on combating inequities and promoting advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights.”
2021 WNBA Pride presented by Deloitte (schedule subject to change)
• June 1 Phoenix at Chicago ESPN
• June 1 Indiana at Seattle ESPN2
• June 5 Las Vegas at Washington ABC
• June 5 Chicago at Los Angeles ABC
• June 15 Chicago at Minnesota ESPN2
• June 19 Connecticut at Chicago CBS
• June 20 New York at Los Angeles ESPN
• June 26 Washington at Dallas CBS
• June 27 Seattle at Las Vegas ESPN
• June 29 Connecticut at Washington ESPN2
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