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L.A. Rams Become First NFL Team In History To Sponsor Gay Pride Event

Venice_Pride_2016.jpg
Venice Pride 2016 (Photo via Venice Pride/Instagram)

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The Los Angeles Rams are making NFL history by being the first team to sponsor a gay pride event.

"During the month of June, the historic Venice sign will light up the night with rainbow colors in support of equality," a press release from the team announced. "The colored lights will shine as a symbol of inclusion over Venice Beach, CA. The Los Angeles Rams have joined Venice Pride as a sponsor and have adopted 14 blue lights in the 'C' letter of the VENICE sign for the 2nd annual pride celebration."

"We are proud to work with Venice Pride and to stand in alignment with the LGBT community that is such an important part of the fabric of Los Angeles," Molly Higgins, Vice President of Community Affairs for the Rams, added. "Inclusion has always been a valued part of our organization and we see this as a unique way to publicly celebrate the diversity that makes this community so special."

The Los Angeles Chargers have also joined Venice Pride as sponsors, making them the second NFL team in history to support a gay pride event.

"We are thrilled that the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers have chosen our celebration to make this welcome and historic overture of inclusion to the LGBT community," Grant Turck, executive director of Venice Pride, said in a statement.

In 2014, the Rams broke another NFL first by drafting Michael Sam, the first openly gay player in the league's history.

LAist reached out to both the Rams and Chargers for this piece, but neither was available for immediate comment.

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