Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Robbie Rogers Throws Out First Pitch At L.A. Dodgers’ LGBT Night

Also at Dodgers Stadium: Jason Collins, Michael Sam, and former NFLer Esera Tuaolo.
From: NewNowNext
On Friday, the L.A. Dodgers hosted their fourth annual LGBT night, with out soccer player Robbie Rogers throwing the ceremonial
first pitch.













Rogers makes his living in a sport where you can’t use your hands, but he was no slouch on the pitching mound.



Both Michael Sam and Jason Collins were at Dodger Stadium, where former NFL player Esera Tuaolo sang the National Anthem. (Tuaolo came out in 2002, after retiring from football.) Out college basketball coach Julie Shaw and Mitch Eby, the first openly gay player in college football, were also listed among the VIPs.

In fact the only professional sport not represented, ironically, was Major League Baseball.

At least not by a player: Erik Braverman, the Dodgers’ VP of marketing, came out in December.

Others in attendance included Lance Bass, Leslie Jordan, The Real O’Neals’ Noah Galvin, Rich Kids of Beverly Hills star E.J. Johnson.
A photo posted by Esera Tuaolo (@nfljock98) on

A photo posted by Lance Bass (@lancebass) on



And special rainbow-colored Dodgers tank tops were available for sale.












LGBT Night is one of many themed nights at Dodgers Stadium—others include Hispanic Heritage Night, Yoga Day, Sinatra Night, Filipino Heritage Night and Military Appreciation Night.
A photo posted by Los Angeles Dodgers (@dodgers) on


Of course there were the usual howls of “when is Straight Night?”, to which one commenter had the perfect reply

“The answer is every other day the Dodgers play.”

…You will never know the importance this game has for a young fan that has no idea that’s there’s a world out there that’s full of possibilities.


Robbie Rogers should be proud. He’s man enough to be public and put himself in a position where he’s ridiculed by complete strangers that have no idea what he had to go though to now be here throwing the first pitch at a major league baseball game.


He’s more courageous than most of you will ever be—also he’s more successful than you. #eatit
A photo posted by Los Angeles Dodgers (@dodgers) on



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