‘Out in the Stands’ brings out LGBT fans

The Atlanta Braves won in a dominant fashion on Tuesday night, and for the approximately 200 supporters of LGBT equality who bought special tickets benefiting the state’s largest LGBT advocacy organization, Georgia Equality, last night was a chance to watch their hometown team beat up on a division rival in the company of other like-minded baseball fans.

For many of the gay and lesbian fans in attendance, the highlight of the night was not Brian McCann’s homerun in the sixth inning that secured a win for the Braves, but instead a short public service announcement focusing on raising awareness for anti-bullying efforts in schools.

The video was displayed on the massive outfield Jumbotron during the pre-game warmups and featured several of the team’s big names, including game-winner McCann, speaking about combating youth bullying.

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To view photos from “Out in the Stands,” click here.

Though not explicitly an “It Gets Better” video, the clip mentioned sexual orientation alongside religion and race as reasons to not bully someone.

The Braves are still in the final stages of securing partnerships that could see the PSA air on television channels with a national audience, according to Braves Media Relations Manager Meagan Swingle.

Swingle said the video was recorded within the last month but was mum on further details, including a public release date.

For now, the only place to catch the video is in the ballpark.

Dubbed “Out in the Stands,” the Sept. 13 ticket benefit for Georgia Equality came in the wake of controversy following pitching coach Roger McDowell’s anti-gay tirade in San Francisco earlier this year.

Georgia Equality and members of PFLAG (Parents, Families, & Friends of Lesbians and Gays) met with Atlanta Braves President John Schuerholz after McDowell was accused of using anti-gay slurs toward fans in San Francisco over Easter weekend.

McDowell allegedly shouted, “Are you a homo couple or a threesome?” at fans and imitated a sex act using a baseball bat.

He was suspended and publicly apologized for the incident.

 

Top photo: A group of women at “Out in the Stands” (by Ryan Watkins)