NEWSLGBT SPORTS

Three more pro sports teams have contributed videos to the "It Gets Better" project: The Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball as well as D.C. United of Major League Soccer. Over 2,000 Change.org members signed petitions asking the Phillies and Rays to make "It Gets Better" videos, and more than 300 signed a petition toD.C. United.

The Phillies and Rays bring the total to 7 MLB teams who've made "It Gets Better" videos: They join the Giants, Cubs,Red Sox, Orioles and Mariners. The Twins and Nationals have also committed to make videos, though they have not yet been released. D.C. United is the first pro sports team from any league other than baseball to create an "It Gets Better" video (although players from the Seattle Storm, Sounders, and Seahawks also appeared in the Mariners' video).

The Phillies' video has particular meaning for Jerome Hunt, who started the Change.org petition asking the Phillies to join the "It Gets Better" campaign. A lifelong Phillies fan and former bullying victim, Hunt says that, "To finally see the Phillies It Get's Better Video is kind of surreal. I know in my heart that the Phillies have truly made a difference for some LGBT youth with this video. Hearing words of acceptance from someone you look up to and admire can really help you through a tough time."

The Tampa Bay Rays have announced their intention to film an “It Gets Better” video by late August, becoming the ninth team in professional sports to join the nation-wide campaign in taking a stand against anti-gay bullying and homophobia.

The Giants, Cubs, Red Sox and Orioles have all made “It Gets Better” videos after being petitioned by their fans to do so on Change.org, and the Phillies, Twins, Mariners, and Nationals have announced that they are making videos as well.

“We believe in the impact these videos can have upon LGBTQ youth in all communities,” said Brian Auld, Senior Vice President of Business Operations for the Rays. “The Rays are proud to join fellow baseball clubs in taking a stand against bullying.”

The Rays’ decision came after Jacksonville resident Ben Douthett started a petition on Change.org asking the Rays to make an “It Gets Better” video. More than 2,000 people -- mostly Floridians -- signed Douthett’s petition.

The Philadelphia Phillies announced last night that they will produce an “It Gets Better” video, becoming the seventh team in professional sports to join the campaign in taking a stand against anti-gay bullying and homophobia. More than 2,000 people -- mostly Phillies fans in the Philadelphia area -- signed lifelong Phillies fan Jerome Hunt’s petition to the Phillies, a campaign he was inspired to start in part due to his own experiences being bullied.

“Today, I am even more honored to wear my Phillies red because I know that this organization values and respects its LGBT fans, like myself,” said Hunt. “Straight allies do make a difference in creating an inclusive and welcoming environment and I am glad the Phillieshave once again shown why they are an elite organization who truly cares about the community.”

Hunt started his campaign after he saw that another Change.org petition led to the San Francisco Giants agreeing to become the first professional sports team in America to make an “It Gets Better” video. Subsequently, more than 2,000 people signed Hunt’s petition, and last night Philadelphia Weekly reported that the Phillies are in the process of creating an “It Gets Better” video:

“We are getting on board with the project and we’ve had some discussions with the project manager,” said Bonnie Clark, Vice President of Communications for the Phillies. “Based on the conversations we had with him, the time frame we’re looking at is probably going to be in conjunction with ‘Back to School.’”

UPDATE June 9, 2011: Great news! The Seattle Mariners announced they will join the Giants, Cubs, and Red Sox by making an "It Gets Better" video to fight homophobia directed at lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth. This comes after more than 3,000 fans signed Iraq War veteran Eric Williams' Change.org petition to the Mariners. http://news.change.org/stories/victory-the-mariners-announced-they-will-make-an-it-gets-better-video

Eric Williams is an Iraq War veteran, an adoptive Washingtonian, and a lifelong Seattle Mariners fan who grew up watching Ken Griffey, Jr. He believes that Seattle and Washington as a whole take pride in the diversity of their citizens. That’s one of the reasons he calls the Puget Sound home.

Since he recently completed his contract with the U.S. Army, Eric is also living as an openly gay man “without fear of punishment” for the first time in his life. Now, Eric has become a champion for those who may be bullied for being gay or being perceived as gay -- because he knows what it’s like to feel isolated as a child and to experience homophobia as an adult.

Inspired by news that the San Francisco Giants had responded to fan Sean Chapin’s petition on Change.org by becoming the first pro sports team to create an “It Gets Better” anti-bullying video, Eric came up with the idea to ask the Seattle Mariners to step up to the plate. In a short period of time, more than 2,000 people -- mostly Mariners fans -- have already signed Eric’s petition on Change.org.

The Boston Red Sox announced today that they will produce an “It Gets Better” video, becoming the third team in professional sports in a week to join the campaign in taking a stand against anti-gay bullying and homophobia. More than 9,000 people -- mostly Red Sox fans in New England -- signed 12-year-old Sam Maden’s Change,org petition to the Red Sox, which he started in honor of his Uncle Chris, who died unexpectedly in January at the age of 43.

"We are proud of dedicated Red Sox fans like 12-year-old Sam Maden who have taken the courageous step of publicly standing up against bullying of LGBT youth," said Susan Goodenow, Senior Vice President/Public Affairs and Marketing for the Red Sox, in a statement. "The Red Sox have frequently done PSA videos, or public service announcement videos, on important social issues. We are currently producing an “It Gets Better” video to support the It Gets Better campaign to stop bullying of LGBT youth and teen suicides. We hope that when it is released it will both reflect our continued commitment to be active participants in the community and help advance the efforts of Sam and others to stop bullying. Our team stands for respect and inclusion – there is no place for discrimination or acts of hatred in Red Sox Nation."

The Chicago Cubs will become only the second team in professional sports to produce an “It Gets Better” video, taking a stand against anti-gay bullying and homophobia, supported and led by Cubs owner Laura Ricketts -- who, along with Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks, appeared on the Cubs’ float in the Chicago Pride Parade last year.

"The Cubs applaud the Giants for their stand against anti-LGBT bullying. Bullying of anyone for any reason is unacceptable," said Laura Ricketts, Cubs owner and board member. "We are proud to join the Giants in taking a stand against bullying and encourage other professional sports organizations to do the same."

Two weeks ago, Cubs fan Joe Hinton was inspired by San Francisco Giants fan Sean Chapin, who encouraged the World Series champions to make an “It Gets Better” video. Like Chapin, Hinton started an online petition on Change.org after the Giants announced their video would be produced and following recent controversial incidents involving Atlanta Braves’ pitching coach Roger McDowell and basketball star Kobe Bryant. As fast as Joe’s petition was gaining attention in Illinois -- shooting up to more than 1,500 signatures quickly after its creation -- the Cubs were ahead of the curve, following the Giants’ lead even as they received emails from Cubs fans signing Hinton’s Change.org petition.