Victory! Chicago Cubs Leading Wave of “It Gets Better” Videos by Pro Sports Teams

by Joe Mirabella · 2011-06-03 17:54:00 UTC
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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.

Additional baseball teams, including the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers are currently being petitioned by their fans on Change.org to join the Giants and the Cubs to produce “It Gets Better” videos and take a public stand against anti-gay bullying and homophobia in sports.

Currently, there are no openly gay athletes playing in any of the four major pro sports, as the New York Times recently highlighted in an article about New York Rangers hockey player Sean Avery announcing his support for marriage equality in New York state.

More than 10,000 “It Gets Better” videos have been produced since syndicated columnist Dan Savage and his partner Terry Miller launched the project in September 2010, in response to an epidemic of teen suicides by gay kids and kids perceived to be gay. Through “It Gets Better” videos, President Barack Obama, Secretary Hillary Clinton, and corporations like Apple, Google, Microsoft, Pixar and other major organizations and leaders have provided hope to kids struggling with sexual orientation and gender identity.

In addition to participation in last year’s Pride Parade, the Cubs have a long history of supporting the LGBT community. The Chicago's Windy City Times’ Pride Day will be held at Wrigley Field again in September of this year. The team has donated to and served many organizations serving the LGBT community including Cubs Care Courts, the gymnasium at Lake View's Center on Halsted ($30,000 in 2011) and the AIDS Foundation of Chicago ($50,000 in 2009).

Joe Mirabella is a Change.org Organizing Manager for LGBT rights.
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