It’s that time of the year again — the LGBT community will be flocking to South Philadelphia later this month to celebrate the hometown boys of summer.
Gay Community Night at the Phillies will be celebrated Aug. 23 during the team’s match-up against the Houston Astros, which begins at 7:05 p.m. at Citizens Bank Park.
Larry Felzer, organizer of the event, said 530 tickets have already been sold out of a block of 800 that were reserved for the LGBT and ally communities. A portion of the ticket proceeds will go to benefit the Sean Halpin Memorial Scholarship, which is given to a local LGBT law student.
Felzer said the high attendance levels the theme night, presented by the Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia chapter of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association and now in its eighth year, has generated have helped fuel interest in LGBT nights from other sports clubs.
“It’s something that’s at least somewhat precedent-setting,” he said. “The Phillies were contacted in the off-season by another team who wanted feedback about setting up something like this and I even just got an e-mail from a fan in Florida who wanted to know how to start something like this. The Phillies weren’t the first to ever do this, but this is definitely a trailblazer.”
Guests are encourage to take their seats by 6:30 p.m. because prior to the start of the game, the Philadelphia Voices of Pride will sing the National Anthem, the first time the group has performed at the game.
Erika Grossman, president of the PVOP, said the approximately 35 members of the choir who will participate were thrilled when they learned of the opportunity, which typically rotates each year between LGBT choral groups in the area.
“When I announced at one of our last rehearsals this spring that we had the potential to do this — it wasn’t even definite then — everyone’s faces just lit up,” she said. “Everyone’s really happy and really excited. It’s a big thing for us and an incredible chance to get to sing in front of so many people and to have the support of our community and work with the Phillies like this, knowing they’re behind us.”
To kick off the game, Gloria Casarez, the city’s director of LGBT affairs, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
“I’m very excited, and I’m very terrified,” Casarez joked about her upcoming pitching gig.
Casarez started “training” this past weekend to gear up her pitching arm, similar to the practice she undertook before throwing out the first pitch at the opening game of the City of Brotherly Love Softball League’s season this spring.
“I threw out the ball for the beginning of the CBLSL season, but this is just taking it to another whole level. I’ve talked with a few folks who’ve thrown out the pitch at the Phillies game, and they treated it the same way I am, very seriously. I heard [the Hon.] Ann Butchart even had a pitching coach,” she said, cautioning, however, that she’s “not athletic in the least.”
“I’m thinking it’s a smaller ball [than the CBLSL softball], so that may be my only hope. But I wouldn’t expect any heat to come off my throw. My goal is only to not embarrass us.”
Joking aside, Casarez said she was honored to be chosen for the distinction.
“I was surprised and delighted,” she said. “I’m a hometown girl, so the Phillies have been the only baseball team I’ve ever rooted for. I have some family members coming, so it’s going to be tons of fun.”
Felzer said the organizers try to select a pitcher each year who’s been influential in generating interest in the event.
“Gloria’s helped to organize large groups of people to come to the game in the past, and we’ve always viewed the ceremonial first pitch as a way to say thank you to somebody for helping to make this a success,” he said, noting that Phillies officials said organizers of most theme nights use the same pitcher year after year and that they found the new faces “refreshing.”
Casarez, who will be sporting a Phillies jersey her partner ordered for her that has her name on the back, said Gay Community Night provides a unique LGBT social opportunity in what is usually considered a mainstream environment.
“The great thing about the game is that it’s not only a visibility statement but, regardless of who you go with and who you sit with, you’re going to know people. The first year I went, everyone was wearing the T-shirts so it was really cool to see that and to see people wearing them who weren’t in the gay section. It’s great for visibility for the community and just a great event all around.”
To order tickets, which are $20 or $28, visit www.phillygaydays.com or call (215) 463-5000. To order Gay Community Night T-shirts, visit the website.
Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].