The Miami Open presented by Itaú hosted OUT at the Open to welcome the LGBT community to Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, March 25.
“Through the new location of the Miami Open, we wanted to create an event and a space that would not only be welcoming, but additionally would unite the LGBTQ community,” Miami Open Tournament Director James Blake said. “Sports is a great equalizer, in terms of class, gender, sexual orientation, everything … it can bring people together. Through great relationships fostered by the Miami Dolphins diversity and inclusion initiative of Football Unites, we were able to reach out to some amazing organizations that shared the same vision, and together successfully create Out at the Open.”
FOOTBALL UNITES™ community partners including AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Aqua Foundation for Woman, Empower U, Gay & Lesbian Tennis Alliance, Hialeah Pride, Miami Beach Pride, Pridelines, SAVE and 4Ward Miami (Gay8 Festival) came together with the South Florida Tennis Club and Miami Mavericks Tennis to enjoy a live LGBT DJ performance from DJ Citizen Jane, private reception area with complimentary drinks and appetizers sponsored by the United States Tennis Association Diversity and Inclusion department as well as a chat with James Blake.
These efforts and initiatives align with the Miami Dolphins mission of Teamwork at Work — an effort to level the playing field through the power of teamwork to inspire a healthier, more educated and united South Florida community. Miami Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross and Dolphins players created the FOOTBALL UNITES™ program as a catalyst to bring positive social change, uniting groups of different races, genders, sexual orientations, identities, abilities and faith around the power of football.
Image Credit: Miami Dolphins