Blue Jays celebrate Pride Weekend at The Ballpark on June 3 & 4

The extended two-day event features a rainbow towel giveaway; special pregame festivities; community involvement and givebacks; themed activities; and photo opportunities

June 2nd, 2022

The Toronto Blue Jays are thrilled to celebrate 2SLGBTQ+ Pride Month with the long-awaited return of Blue Jays Pride Weekend presented by TD on Friday, June 3 (7:07 p.m.) and Saturday, June 4 (3:07 p.m.) as the team hosts the Minnesota Twins. Back in-stadium for the first time since 2019 and extended to two days, Pride Weekend proudly celebrates Canada’s 2SLGBTQ+ communities. Tickets are available now at bluejays.com/tickets.

In addition to Pride-themed activities and festivities around the ballpark, 160 community members from nine local 2SLGBTQ+ organizations (listed below) will be participating in pregame celebrations. TD and Jays Care Foundation are together donating a total of $42,000 to these organizations, including a $10,000 donation and partnership with The 519, a Toronto charity that facilitated a training workshop for Blue Jays employees, to help staff continue to foster an inclusive ballpark experience for all fans.

Pride Weekend Event Details

  • The first 15,000 fans that enter the ballpark on Friday receive a Blue Jays rainbow towel giveaway, presented by TD (image here)
  • 160 members of Toronto’s 2SLGBTQ+ communities presenting a large Blue Jays Progress Pride flag on the field, with a total of $42,000 donated together by TD and Jays Care to the following organizations:
  • AIDS Committee of Toronto, BLOOM trans housing, Casey House, FIFE House, Friends of Ruby, LGBT YouthLine, Pride Toronto, Sherbourne Health, and The 519
  • Ceremonial first pitches thrown by Tariq from Sherbourne Health (Friday) and a member of the Cabbagetown Group Softball League (Saturday)
  • National anthems performed by Forte – Toronto Gay Men’s Chorus (Friday) and drag queen Jessie James (Saturday)
  • Pride-themed activities, photo opportunities, drag queens, and celebratory décor and atmosphere in the WestJet Flight Deck, including the TD Paint The Corners fundraising activation, where fans can designate their organization of choice for a capped donation by TD
  • In-game video feature on Brian Zapp, a Blue Jays Baseball Academy Showcase athlete from Ontario who is the first active NCAA Division-I baseball player to come out as bisexual
  • Bud Light Pride beers and Blue Jays Pride merchandise available at the stadium during the month of June
  • To offer a more inclusive experience for fans during Pride Weekend, the Blue Jays have converted additional washrooms on each concourse level to gender neutral bathrooms

Media Opportunities

  • Interviews available with Michelle Seniuk, Vice President, Fan Experience & Concessions, Toronto Blue Jays
  • Blue Jays Pride Progress flags hung outside Rogers Centre Gate 8 for the month of June, as well as behind-the-scenes shots of Pride activations and rainbow décor, including Pride jewelled bases, dugouts, and “LOVE” chalk out behind home plate