Pride Night has been well-received, but that's not to say we didn’t get a lot of hate mail. "I don’t think you can hate someone for who they are, so to use our platform for good is important. "We like to push things a little bit, using our business and the team to spread a message that, as Chris Singleton says, 'Love is stronger than hate,'" said Benavides. The organization Eugene Pride lent the Emeralds its portion of the Sea to Sea Pride Flag, created by original Pride Flag designer Gilbert Baker, and it flew outside PK Park's home plate entrance. In addition to the Matthew Shepard Foundation, the Emeralds worked with nonprofit organizations such as the HIV Alliance and Eugene-based TransPonder. It just feels good to have something specific for the LGBTQA+ community."
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When the focus is Pride Night, it lets people know that they are supported by the broader community in being their full selves. "We should start at the edge of the circle and work to bring everyone closer to the center.
"One thing I like to say is, 'Think of the entire community as a giant circle,'" said Trieger. Among them was Lane County Commissioner Laurie Trieger, who represents South Eugene's District Three. These jerseys ??️? #GoEms x #SFGiants /ZcEPRymlb6- Eugene Emeralds June 26, 2021Ī number of local politicians attended the ballgame, eager to support the Emeralds and their message. "It was a big night with a big crowd - we were at capacity - and lots of engaged fans." The Pride jerseys were flying off the shelves," said Emeralds general manager Allan Benavides. We learned from that and ordered a whole lot more this time around. " was some of the best-selling merch we had in 2019. The first 1,000 fans in attendance received team logo Pride flags, and the Emeralds released new Pride-themed merchandise in conjunction with the event. The bases and jerseys (including one autographed by former Giants star Will Clark) were auctioned off online, with proceeds benefiting the Matthew Shepard Foundation. The team's uniforms included a rainbow team script, uniform numbers and logo patch. Friday's Pride Night ballgame featured hand-painted rainbow bases on the playing field. The Emeralds, currently in their first season as a San Francisco farm club, went bigger and bolder in 2021. In doing so, they became the first Minor League team to wear Pride-themed uniforms.Įvery day we're honored to be an affiliate, but having been the first affiliated team to wear custom #PRIDE jerseys back in 2019, today we feel just a liiittle more honored seeing this news ?įlashback: #GoEms x #SFGiants /A0fDnSqbzG- Eugene Emeralds June 1, 2021 That team is the Eugene Emeralds, who, in 2019, wore jerseys featuring a rainbow flag team logo. When the San Francisco Giants became the first Major League team to take the field wearing Pride colors earlier this month, they were following in the footsteps of their High-A affiliate.