From The Editor: We’re All In The Game

You probably never heard of TJ House. That is, unless you’re a serious baseball person.

In December, the former Major League Baseball pitcher came out as a gay man. He did so by announcing his engagement to his partner. That makes him the third former Major Leaguer to come out – after the late Glenn Burke and current MLB executive Billy Bean.

In the past decade or so, we witnessed a number of athletes to come out before, during, and after participating in sports. While it would be great to feature Sheryl Swoopes, Megan Rapinoe, Carl Nassib, Jason Collins, and many others who have come out as LGBTQ, we are fortunate to present former ballplayer Ila Borders in this issue.

Borders is one of many groundbreaking athletes we should be celebrating. She is why we are engaged with sports. That is why we also participate in our LGBTQ sports leagues.

There are some of us who would rather feign ignorance about sports. Even though you attended a Minnesota Wild game during their Pride Night last season, you post on your social media how much you disdain a ritual that is part of Midwest society.

However, I am proud to say that I am a sports fan. Not just the usual professional team sports, yet that was my indoctrination into being an LGBTQ sports fan.

My mother was one who introduced me to baseball. Her history goes back to her fandom of Hank Greenberg – a hero to us of the Jewish faith who played for the Detroit Tigers in the 1930s. She took us to see my hometown Los Angeles Dodgers at Chavez Raine plenty of times. She bled Dodger Blue, alright. I didn’t. Not while Tommy Lasorda was their manager.

Since I moved to this state, I rooted for our Minnesota Twins. The big reason is that, in turn, they support us. One of the prime reasons why comes from our Day In The Life subject Chelsey Falzone, who plays a huge part in the ballclub. Plus, the Twins put on one of the best Pride Nights in Major League Baseball.

I also find some comfort knowing that my other favorite teams also hold Pride Nights for their fans. These include the Wild, the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx, and Major League Soccer’s Minnesota United FC. You can also add the University of Minnesota’s Women’s Basketball team to that list!

While we’re at it, please put this on your radar: The Twin Cities is hosting the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance’s Gay Softball World Series later this summer. We will have an issue dedicated to this big LGBTQ sports event in late August.

Hopefully, this gives you a taste of what to come in these following pages. For what we do in our sports leagues and in the stands, our presence is undeniable. Honor and celebrate us as we celebrate sports in this issue!