The New York Yankees paid tribute to New York City’s LGBTQ+ community with a special celebration of Pride at Yankee Stadium in a pregame ceremony honoring the 2025 recipients of the Yankees-Stonewall Scholarship Initiative.
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The event, held just before Monday's 7:05 p.m. Yankees-Angels game, brought together students, educators, LGBTQ+ advocates, and Yankees leadership in a powerful display of solidarity and support.
Now in its sixth year, the Yankees-Stonewall Scholarship Initiative awards $50,000 annually to five graduating seniors, one from each New York City borough, who have demonstrated academic excellence, leadership, and impactful advocacy for LGBTQ+ equality.
The scholarships were launched in 2019 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising and have since become a cornerstone of the team’s Pride Month celebrations.
“This event is also the middle of such a big week for us, and to be able to kick off by honoring these amazing students here on the field of Yankee Stadium is just so meaningful,” said Yankees co-owner Jennifer Steinbrenner Swindal. “For the Yankees, it goes beyond doing civic duty. It's a chance to help these deserving kids and help make the world a better place in the future. We are so proud to be able to do this.”
The students, whose names were announced earlier in June, were greeted with applause and recognition on the field alongside representatives from the Yankees, the Stonewall Inn, and the New York City Department of Education.
“For the Yankees as an organization, this is not being performative whatsoever,” said Stacy Lentz, co-owner of the Stonewall Inn and CEO of the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative. “The senior management from the top down sit in on these interviews with these students and meet with every single one of these kids. It's amazing what they do to help motivate our community. They are a great example of what brands and companies can do to help uplift the LGBTQ+ community. We are so proud to partner with this organization.”
Yankees Senior Vice President and General Manager Brian Cashman, who has been closely involved with the initiative since its inception, expressed deep admiration for the students.
“I had a chance to meet these amazingly talented individuals that make me feel so small because they're so smart, so driven, so determined,” Cashman said. “They're going to change the world, and I can see why, because they're just talented, gifted. Honoring these students every year is the most important event I've ever participated in anything I've done with the Yankees for the last 27 years.”
Kurt Kelly, co-owner of the Stonewall Inn and cofounder of the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative, praised the Yankees’ leadership.
“These scholarships facilitate access to education for LGBTQ+ students, which makes our community stronger,” Kelly said. “The Yankees’ continued commitment to the LGBTQ+ community and their public display of support are deeply meaningful.”
The scholarship nomination process begins with the NYC Department of Education and includes input from the Yankees, the Stonewall Inn, and Athlete Ally. The awards are designed to provide critical financial support to students as they pursue their educational and career aspirations, while also affirming their efforts to create more inclusive communities.
Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos called the initiative “inspiring,” saying, “This initiative opens doors for graduating seniors, giving them the tools and confidence to step into leadership and drive change. I can’t wait to see how these scholars rise to meet every challenge with strength and resilience as they shape a better future for us all.”
Legendary actress Lorna Luft, a longtime supporter of and adviser to the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative, threw out the first pitch before the game.
Lorna Luft throwing out first pitch at Yankee Stadium, June 2025Donna Aceto (provided)
