Tickets for "Out at the Park" With Padres Now On Sale

San Diego - San Diego LGBT Pride has partnered with America's Finest Softball League and the San Diego Padres to present the annual Out at the Park event at PETCO Park. The event gives recognition to the LGBT community as well as a combined group of choruses scheduled to sing the national anthem at the summer game.

"Out at the Park" is scheduled for 7:05 p.m., Friday, July 11, at downtown's PETCO Park, where the Padres will take on the Atlanta Braves. Discounted tickets have been made available to the LGBT community on Pride's web site: SanDiegoPride.org.

In the weeks leading up to last year's Out at the Park, various conservative groups organized protests claiming that the presence of LGBT individuals at the game would be inappropriate for children as well as for adult baseball fans. San Diego Pride responded to the hate mongering through the national and local press as it turned its attention to the event.

"The game last summer generated national, increased awareness of the challenges the LGBT equal rights movement still faces in America. This is a great opportunity to celebrate Pride while enjoying a fun night of baseball in the heart of downtown San Diego," said Ron deHarte, executive director of San Diego LGBT Pride.

For this year's game, The San Diego Men's Chorus is organizing a group of combined choruses from within the LGBT community to sing the National Anthem on game night.

"America's Finest City Softball League is very excited to partner with San Diego Pride to make this year's Out at the Park with the Padres the biggest turnout yet. Our community has a large baseball fan base and we encourage everyone to join us and show support to Pride and the Padres," said Tom Abbas, AFCSL past commissioner.

Tickets are available online at www.sandiegopride.org, click events and then Out at The Park.

This year's 34th annual Pride celebration, titled "Live, Love, Be," is scheduled for July 19-20. The festivities include a Human Rights Vigil in Balboa Park on July 18, a mile-long parade down University Avenue in Hillcrest at 11 a.m., July 19, and a two-day festival on July 19-20 featuring multiple performance stages, 70 nonprofit organizations, the Wine Steals Grotto, expanded beverage gardens, free Ferris Wheel rides, a bloody Mary gospel brunch, and multiple dance areas.

For more information visit the Pride web site at www.SanDiegoPride.org or call 297-7683.

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