The Lakers logo had a makeover for Pride Night. | Photo: @Lakers/Twitter
A step forward for equality in sports as the Los Angeles Lakers will hold their first-ever Pride night next month.
The NBA team will play the Sacramento Kings in a preseason matchup on 4 October. The location is the STAPLES Center in Downtown Los Angeles.
We’re excited to announce that we will hold our first-ever Pride Night on Thursday, October 4 when the team plays the Sacramento Kings at STAPLES Center!!
Details: https://t.co/TgnLPBvjPH#LakersPrideNight pic.twitter.com/ASiuS6BWrc
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) September 21, 2018
The Lakers have announced the special event on their Twitter page.
‘We’re excited to announce that we will hold our first’ever Pride Night on Thursday, October 4 when the team plays Sacramento Kings at STAPLES Center!!’ they tweeted.
They also posted a picture of their logo in rainbow colors.
The guests
Pride night will be a special event of inclusivity and celebration of the LGBTI community.
Prominent LGBTIs and allies will be in attendance. The Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles will perform the National Anthem and LAMBDA (Los Angeles Gay Basketball League) will take part in a pregame basketball contest.
Moreover, former NBA referee Violet Palmer, the first openly gay referee in NBA history, will serve as the Lakers honorary team captain.
The Lakers will also present the Laces of Unity Award, recognizing individuals in the sports industry who have significantly contributed to the LGBTI community.
This year’s recipient will be Jason Collins. He came out in 2013 and became the NBA’s first openly gay active player. He has also continued to work with the league as an NBA Cares Ambassador on promoting acceptance and inclusion.
During the night, every fan will receive a Pride Night shirt.
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