History made as transperson throws first pitch at Blue Jays game
When Rachel Lauren Clark took the mound at Rogers Centre on Thursday night in Toronto she made some history. Clark threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Blue Jays’ game against the Orioles on behalf of the Pride Toronto board, and in doing so became the first transperson to carry out those honors at a major-league game.
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This historic occasion comes during Canada’s first-ever Pride Month, which culminates July 3 with the annual pride parade in Toronto. Clark hopes her pitch, and her presence at the ballpark, can help the LGBT community feel comfortable and accepted in places like a baseball game.
“I’d love to live in a world where there’s no more firsts in social concepts,” she said. “That would mean everyone is treated equally. No more first female to do this, first gay person to do that, first black person to do that.”
“I mean, who doesn’t love the Blue Jays in Toronto?” she said. “We have an opportunity to create a safe space for everybody and enjoy the things we love.”
Last year Breanna Sinclaire sang the “Star-Spangled Banner” at an Oakland Athletics game, becoming the first transperson to sing the national anthem at a professional sporting event in the United States.
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The sports world, and society at large, still has a long way to go though in terms of being completely inclusive to the LGBT community. Curt Schilling was fired by ESPN earlier this season after posting an anti-transgender meme on his Facebook account. It was less than four years ago when Yunel Escobar had a gay slur printed in Spanish on his eye black while playing for the Blue Jays.
With courageous people like Clark and organizations like You Can Play leading the charge, there is truly reason to believe that change is coming.
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Israel Fehr is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter. Follow @israelfehr
