ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—The Tampa Bay Rays and Tampa Bay Rowdies are two of three sports teams to sign on to an amicus brief filed with the U.S. Supreme Court stating that LGBTQ+ people are – and should be – protected from discrimination. The brief speaks to a trio of cases in front of the Supreme Court arguing that the current Civil Rights Act, which bars discrimination in the workplace, at schools, in healthcare and housing on the basis of race, religion and sex, should be interpreted to include gender identity and sexual orientation.

The Rays and Rowdies join more than 200 businesses in signing the landmark “friend of the court” brief.

“Signing the brief was not only the right thing to do, but is also best for our business,” said Rays President and Rowdies Vice Chair Brian Auld. “We encourage other sports teams and organizations to support this protection for fans, employees and their families.”The brief was first presented to the Rays and Rowdies by Athlete Ally, a non-profit organization working to end homophobia and transphobia in sport. It was organized by a coalition of civil rights organizations, including Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal, Out Leadership, Out and Equal and Freedom for All Americans.

“At this critical moment in the fight for LGBTQ equality, these leading businesses are sending a clear message to the Supreme Court that LGBTQ people should, like their fellow Americans, continue to be protected from discrimination,” said Senior Vice President for Programs, Research and Training for the HRC Foundation Jay Brown. “With so much progress on the line, we are grateful that so many major American companies are standing up for the rights and dignity of their LGBTQ employees, family members and customers.”