The entire Seattle Mariners organization wants to assure Seattle's LGBTQ community that we are proud to be hosting our first official Pride Night at Safeco Field and we are looking forward to what should be a fun night at the ballpark.
However, we know that this event has been overshadowed by an incident last weekend that has caused members of the LGBTQ community to question whether you are welcome at Safeco Field. For that we apologize. We are taking this opportunity to ask ourselves how we could have handled the situation differently; how we can use this to learn, change, grow and do better.
The Mariners organization is proud of our longstanding commitment to inclusion. We value the diversity of our community and our fan base. Our goal is to create an atmosphere at Safeco Field that is respectful and welcoming to all persons regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
We are excited about partnering with the Greater Seattle Business Association on what should be a great night at Safeco Field. However, we know that our commitment to fairness and diversity is about more than just one night and we look forward to continuing to deepen our connection to GSBA and our fans in the LGBTQ community.
We are honored that Billy Bean, Major League Baseball's "Ambassador of Inclusion," is coming to Seattle to be part of our Pride Night celebration. We hope that you will join us on August 19 for what should be a special night at Safeco Field.