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The latest Major League Baseball teams to participate in the It Gets Better Project (the award-winning grassroots video effort started by Dan Savage) designed to give hope to struggling LGBT youth are the Tampa Bay Rays and the Philadelphia Phillies. From the site:
Last Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Rays hosted a community taping at Tropicana Field where fans could participate in the video. The Phillies premiered their video last Friday night at their LGBT community night at Citizens Bank Park.
The Phillies’ video includes former AL Cy Young pitcher and ten-time All Star Roy Halladay, five-time All-Star second baseman Chase Utley, two-time All-Star outfielder Hunter Pence, outfielder John Mayberry Jr., and pitcher Mike Stutes.
The Rays’ video features two-time All Star outfielder Johnny Damon, outfielders BJ Upton and Sam Fuld, second baseman Sean Rodriguez and manager Joe Maddon. In the video Damon shares a story about how he was consistently bullied when he was younger for stuttering but was able to overcome it.
The videos…
42 Comments
pam! yay for the phillies and the rays for stepping up
what teams have not made an it gets better video?
Pam!
Welcome to FDL! I have enjoyed your posts over at Pandagon in the past and look forward to seeing what you have to say here.
Go Phillies Go Phillies Go Phillies (insert accompanying dance move)
It Gets Better has to be one of the greatest campaigns ever, and one that prolly has changed many many many futures. It’s marvelous and moving.
Is this thing turned on or did I break it again? Seems like I did that last night as well.
Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs for starters
PAM!
I like the it gets better campaign. Too bad it’s a librul plot…
perhaps it’s that too old spice you got there
Especially give the widespread embrace by such a variety of public and not so public figures. It really gets the point across in a powerful way.
Seattle Mariners
Well, I am certainly “too old.” ;-P
Houston Astros
more than one has had me pulling out my embroidered hankie
Why doesn’t that surprise me? How about Dallas?
the san francisco giants haven’t made one? they should have been amongst the first who did
I’m old enough for Tabu
oh stupid me
they were one of the first
I was giving names of ones who DID make the vid /slinks over to the stupid corner
Dallas has a team?
(Sorry, regional humor)
A couple had me misting up a bit, as well. I know from my students how important such affirming messages can be for them. Sometimes it means even more when it comes from those of us who are not part of the LGBT community.
*whew* thanks ellie – i had hoped they had
They used to, but I see on checking that they no longer do. Something else Dubya destroyed.
Oh! Me too…that is hilarious.
I better get to bed kids, I have an early call
nighters!
*waving hi and bye to CE*
M’eh. Like most baseball teams, both the Astros and the Rangers have several special home games that they play for Jesus every year. I doubt they’re likely to say anything that might offend those types and apparently nothing offends those kind of “Christians” like denouncing hatred.
Hi and bye dear!
Night Ellie!
Night!
“Its luscious oriental floral composition starts with fresh citrus and spicy notes. The spices in the heart accentuate the beauty of exuberant flowers: jasmine, narcissus, rose and ylang-ylang. Warm oriental base includes amber, resins, civet and precious woods – sandal and patchouli.”
srsly g’bye
No offense, but it is Texas after all.
OMG, I loved this perfume at 16. Thanks so much for the description.
None taken. I live here after all.
I’d forgotten about Tabu but there was at least one year when everybody was wearing that stuff.
I know. I am sorry, though it is certainly no better in most places here in Montana. Missoula is one of the few real sanctuaries and we draw folks from all over the state and the surrounding region.
Hey Margaret,
I have been away much of the summer…how are you and how is work? I miss hearing from you.
Thanks Pam, For my friend Johnny it never got better. My wife and I still lament allot his death every time we visit Richmond, Va. Being Gay in the Black community then and to some extent now is unacceptable.
Time for me to toddle off. I am back to corrupting young minds and tomorrow is the first meeting of my theory seminar. Take care all.
Best of luck DrDick…I have six new grad students.
I haven’t been around much either because work keeps me busy. It’s a bit late for the whole story right now though. I’ll have to catch you up later. I’m out too. Oya pups!
Catch me up sometime — maybe FB.
Johnny Damon is cool. I’m a huge Yankees fan but they are stuck up snots. Down here in FL, spring training is a time for fans to get close to the players, right? When the Yankees come to town, they arrive in a bus with windows blacked out. It pulls up right to the clubhouse door, they go in, ignore the waiting fans, come out on the field and don’t even acknowledge the fans much less sign autographs. One exception was Johnny Damon (he used to play for the Yankees) He would come over to the railing and autograph just about everybody’s stuff and while he was doing it he would look for the little kids or kids who got pushed out of the way. If one of the other kids tried to hand him something to sign he would say “Little kid first” or “Him first.” (didn’t notice any girls; so it was alwaYS “him”). So, this doesn’t surprise me. Damon is a class act. Still popular in NY even though he hasn’t played there in a couple years.
and, of course, the Yankees haven’t done an “It Get’s Better” video. Love my yankees, but they suck. I just checked this out and there was a petition online but it’s done. I’ll write them myself.
Very pleased that my beloved Fightin’ Phils took part. In addition to LGBT kids, I would hope that those who bully them get to see Chase Utley and Roy Halladay stick up for LGBT youth and perhaps reconsider the next time they go to harrass somebody