A First In Mets History

It was announced this week during a press conference that the New York Mets will host a Pride Night for the first time this coming summer. The event is scheduled to take place at Citi Stadium on August 13, 2016 where the Mets will play the San Diego Padres.

This will the first time ever a major New York sports franchise has hosted a Pride event. It is expected that more than 5,000 LGBT fans and their families will be in attendance for this historic moment in Mets history.

The night itself will be more than just a baseball game. There will be a Pride in the Plaza gathering before the game and a postgame concert. Commemorative t-shirts are also now available for purchase and a portion of the proceeds from tickets sold through www.mets.com/pride will go towards benefiting the LGBT Network. The organization is responsible for anti-bullying programs in Long Island and city schools. LGBT Network CEO, David Kilmnick, released a well versed statement on why events like this are necessary in today's world.

"Events like pride night ... serve a critical role in letting our young people know that they are OK. Bullying is not acceptable and perhaps they grow up one day and live their dream of being a major league baseball player - and be able to do so by being out as LGBT" 

Even if you don't like baseball you have to give the Mets props for being first in New York sports to put on such an amazing event. Fellow MLB teams, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants, put on similar events last season, and the Chicago Cubs have been hosting Pride nights since 2001.

While I'm not a baseball fan, I love seeing news like this. To see inclusion from all kinds of organizations gives me hope that the next generation won't know the struggles that face LGBT youth today because they'll grow up knowing early on that it is ok to be themselves.