The LA Clippers continue to show the importance of diversity with Pride Night

The LA Clippers hosted Pride Night on New Years Day with great success. The team has continuously been showing the importance in diversity.

On New Years Day, we all had something to celebrate. We are given a new start and the feeling of a clean slate. For fans who attended the LA Clippers game against the Philadelphia 76ers though, there was something more.

The team hosted Pride Night, a time to celebrate and embrace the LGBTQIA+ community. Fans were treated to themed in-game entertainment with Brandon Stansell performing the national anthem and Snow Tha Product as the halftime show.

While those who attended the game surely enjoyed the night, the real treat was for the 100 individuals who were able to attend the Pride Night Panel hosted prior to the game.

The team hosted Wrestler and Activist Fred Rosser, Paralympian Angela Madsen, WNBA Head Coach Curt Miller and activist and speaker Dr. Julie Shaw who each spoke about their journeys and how it felt to be embraced, especially in the world of sports where being gay can come with a stigma.

Fred Rosser shared his story and how great it felt to have guys at the top of WWE stardom reach out and share their love. Per Clippers PR:

"Days after coming out publicly to the world, I saw the power of social media. I’m a ‘celebrity-athlete’ myself, but I got ‘giddy’, when Cher reached out to me. it was a lot of WWE Superstars like Randy Orton and the Big Show, who were the top guys to embrace me. They called me down to the hotel where we were staying at when I came out to TMZ, and they just embraced me with so much love, and that’s what it’s all about. I’m still in contact with a lot of these guys and we can laugh about our experiences from traveling on the road and being able to be myself meant the world to me."

Diversity Matters

Pride Night is a huge step in the right direction for not just the Clippers, but for sports in general. Under Steve Ballmer’s ownership, the Clippers have made great strides to promote diversity in the community.

Don’t believe me? Just take a second and look at the remaining events on the team’s Special Events Calendar. Almost everyone can find something to go and celebrate while enjoying a basketball game.

The team even made their jerseys represent diversity, partnering with Bumble as the team’s jersey partner. The announcement last season stated that the partnership was more than a patch due to the team’s commitment to diversity and gender equality.

This isn’t something that many, if any, other professional sports organizations do. Personally, it makes me even more proud to call myself a fan of the LA Clippers.

Hopefully more organizations take note and continue to embrace and promote every type of person that make up the world.