White Sox, Equality Illinois Continue LGBT Pride Night Tradition
CHICAGO (August 25, 2015) – The Chicago White Sox and Equality Illinois are teaming up again this summer for the third annual LGBT Pride Night: Out at the Sox game fundraiser on Saturday, August 29 at U.S. Cellular Field.
With a portion of select tickets sold benefitting the mission of Equality Illinois, the state’s oldest and largest advocacy organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Illinoisans, pro-equality baseball fans will have the opportunity to cheer on the White Sox as they face the Seattle Mariners, while contributing to the organization’s fight for full equality for LGBT citizens of Illinois.
“The Chicago White Sox welcome LGBT fans all season long, but this special evening gives us an opportunity to thank the team for its support and also give baseball fans a chance to support the work we do for equality,” said Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois.
On game day starting at 4 pm, guests will have the opportunity to socialize with other LGBT and allied sports fans over drinks, light bites, and White Sox giveaways at a Pregame Mixer hosted at Replay Lakeview, 3439 N. Halsted St., Chicago. Following the pregame mixer, attendees will travel together to U.S. Cellular Field and enjoy the 6:10 pm game and evening fireworks from a reserved section in the outfield.
Tickets to the LGBT Pride Night game are currently on sale for $45, including admission to the Pregame Mixer at Replay Lakeview, or a standard game ticket in a reserved section is available for $35. Tickets can be purchased online at: http://tinyurl.com/Sox-EQIL-
Last season’s Out at the Sox game generated a short video, “Take Me OUT to the Ballpark,” by award-winning Chicago filmmaker Sam Ciaramita in response to some homophobic comments posted on social media.
The film focuses on five Sox fans who happen to be LGBT or support LGBT rights. Ciaramitaro filmed them prior to attending the Sox/LGBT Pride game in August. In the film, the fans discuss how they just want to go to a baseball game, spend time with their friends, be accepted by others and live their lives the best they know how. The fans include Charlie Rice-Minoso, the son of the late Sox immortal Minnie Minoso, an emergency room nurse, and the mom of a gay son.
Working through Major League Baseball Productions, the White Sox, and Equality Illinois, Ciaramitaro obtained permission to shoot the documentary at the pre-game party and at the game.
View “Take Me OUT to the Ballpark” on YouTube http://youtu.be/VREDw4H5YzU, and Vimeo http://vimeo.com/