The Mets will hold an official LGBT-themed Pride Night this season, which they are touting as the first ever hosted by a major sports franchise in New York. The date will be announced at a news conference Tuesday at Queens Borough Hall featuring team officials, local politicians and LGBT Network CEO David Kilmnick.
This comes a year after Mets general manager Sandy Alderson invited former major leaguer Billy Bean, now Major League Baseball’s vice president for social responsibility and inclusion, to participate on the field in the Mets’ spring camp. At the time Alderson said it was important to him that the organization be proactive in baseball’s project to be more inclusive and welcoming to the LBGT community.
Officials estimated that more than 5,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender fans will be at Citi Field for the event.