Nice when a team really 'gets' it

Little by little, more and more professional teams in the United States are recognizing the value and importance of being LGBT-friendly in their marketing. Kudos to the San Francisco Giants for not only being one of the first, but being one of the most sincere in their efforts.

For nine years. the Giants have had an LGBT Night. In 1994, they became the first pro team to hold an annual benefit for AIDS, the "Until There's a Cure Day." And this year they became the first pro team to make an "It Gets Better" video in the campaign against bullying.

Other teams have drawn criticism for ejecting same-sex couples expressing affection at the ballpark. In contrast, as the Bay Area Reporter noted this week, during this year's Giants LGBT Night at AT&T Park, two same-sex couples were highlighted by the "kiss cam" during the game:

...despite a one-hour delay in getting the commemorative hats to the scheduled distribution spot, the promotional event was a smashing success. The 1,500 block tickets sold out weeks in advance. The San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band played on the field before the game and during the seventh inning stretch and received a rousing ovation. Bevan Dufty's daughter Sidney Goldfader-Dufty got to shout "Play Ball!" which was shown on the big screen. The LGBT crowd was acknowledged repeatedly on the scoreboard and was panned by the cameras with regularity – including at least two same-sex couples during the eighth-inning kiss cam. And the entire crowd cheered the showing of the team's "It Gets Better" video – the first one made by any Major League Baseball team.

So, pretty cool.

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-San Francisco), who is leading the fight to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, was in attendance and waved when she was acknowledged on the big screen. She was joined by her daughter, San Francisco Superior Court Presiding Judge Katherine Feinstein and they sat with team officials.