The New York Yankees announced details regarding a celebration of New York’s Legacy of Pride, which will take place Wednesday, June 21, at Yankee Stadium, prior to the 7:05 p.m. Yankees-Mariners game. The Yankees will also shine a spotlight on the 2023 recipients of the Yankees-Stonewall Scholarship Initiative, which on a yearly basis awards $50,000 worth of scholarships through five $10,000 college scholarships to one graduating high school senior from each of the five boroughs of New York City.
First awarded in 2019 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Inn Uprising, the annual scholarships celebrate student leaders who have demonstrated academic achievement, a commitment to equality and impactful support for the LGBTQ+ community. The awards are intended to provide resources to launch the honorees’ educational and career goals. This year is particularly special for the initiative as the inaugural 2019 class of honorees graduated from college last month.
As part of the festivities, the recipients of the 2023 Yankees-Stonewall scholarships will be guests of the Yankees for batting practice. They will also be recognized in a pregame ceremony along with representatives from the Yankees, The Stonewall Inn, New York City Department of Education, Major League Baseball and Athlete Ally.
The implementation of the Yankees-Stonewall Initiative aligns directly within the construct of the Yankees’ Diversity & Inclusion Committee, which identifies, engages and addresses issues related to equality, racial justice and inclusivity. The nomination process is initiated by the New York City Department of Education with each public high school able to submit one graduating senior for consideration. The selection process is conducted by the Department of Education in partnership with input from representatives from the Yankees, Stonewall Inn, Major League Baseball and Athlete Ally.
In 2019, a permanent plaque was dedicated to commemorate the inclusive spirit of Yankee Stadium and the 50th Anniversary of the events at the Stonewall Inn that sparked the modern LGBTQ+ Movement (a plaque image may be found by clicking here).
The 2023 Yankees-Stonewall Scholarship recipients are:
- Henry Mejia of the Bronx, (he/him), Health Opportunities High School, will attend NYU’s College of Arts & Science
- Amiya Gonzalez of Manhattan (she/her), Humanities Prep. Academy, will attend SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry
- Douglas Mu of Queens, (he/him), Benjamin N. Cardozo High School, will attend NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts
- Mario Ficalora of Staten Island, (he/him), Tottenville High School, will attend Wake Forest University
- Student requesting anonymity from Brooklyn
The students learned about the honor via Zoom on June 2, with congratulations provided by Yankees Senior Vice President and General Manager Brian Cashman; Yankees Senior Vice President of Corporate/Community Relations Brian Smith; Yankees Senior Vice President and Assistant General Manager Jean Afterman; Stonewall Inn Owner & Co-founder of The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative Kurt Kelly; Stonewall Inn Co-Owner & Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative CEO Stacy Lentz; Athlete Ally Board of Directors Member Robert York; NYC DOE Manager of LGBTQ Programs Kalima McKenzie-Simms; NYC DOE LGBTQ Community Coordinator Jude Schoenfeld; NYC DOE Office of Safety & Youth Development Executive Director Kenyatte Reid; NYC DOE Social Emotional Learning and Design Senior Administrator Dr. Susan Green; and NYC DOE Office of Safety & Youth Development Executive Director Dr. Robin Davson. Please find downloadable highlights of their Zoom conversation by clicking here. The conversation was also posted today on the @yankees Twitter account.
“I never cease to be inspired by our Yankees-Stonewall scholars, and we are thrilled to celebrate the accomplishments of the 2023 honorees, who have already demonstrated maturity and leadership far beyond their years,” said Yankees Senior Vice President and General Manager Brian Cashman. “These scholarships are awarded to individuals who will promote inclusion, compassion and understanding, which provide the environment in which all individuals can follow their hearts and pursue their aspirations. The Yankees-Stonewall Scholarship Program reflects the immense respect our organization has for the LGBTQ+ community, and everyone who comes to Yankee Stadium should know that it’s a place where you can be who you are without exception.”
“Pride month is a time to stand alongside members of the LGBTQ+ community to recognize how far inclusivity has come, and how far it still has to go,” said Schools Chancellor David C. Banks. “The Yankees-Stonewall scholarship winners are shining examples of our bold students breaking down barriers to create safe and inclusive spaces in their schools and communities. I am grateful to the New York Yankees and Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative for continuously uplifting our LGBTQ+ youth, and I’m so proud of their efforts to build a more equitable tomorrow.”
“This year it is more important than ever to have the support of the iconic New York Yankees in helping to create future leaders for the LGBTQ+ community,” said Stonewall Inn Co-Owner & Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative CEO Stacy Lentz. “'We are truly grateful for our continued partnership with the Yankees and their commitment to our community.”
“The support from the Yankees to give access to education to LGBTQ+ students year after year is so incredible, and it’s exciting to know that our inaugural class of 2019 Yankees-Stonewall Scholars are graduating from college this year,” said Stonewall Inn Owner & Co-founder of The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative Kurt Kelly.”
Joining the Yankees-Stonewall scholars in Wednesday’s on-field ceremonies will be:
- From the Yankees: Senior Vice President and General Manager Brian Cashman; Senior Vice President and Assistant General Manager Jean Afterman; and Senior Vice President of Corporate/Community Relations Brian Smith
- From the New York City Department of Education: Manager of LGBTQ Programs Kalima McKenzie-Simms (she/her); LGBTQ Community Coordinator Jude Schoenfeld (they/them); Executive Director, Office of Safety and Youth Development Kenyatte Reid (he/him); Executive Director, Office of Safety and Youth Development, Robin Davson (she/her); Deputy Chancellor of Family and Community Engagement Kenita Lloyd (she/her); Deputy Press Secretary Chyann Tull (she/her); Deputy Chancellor Chief of Staff Jermaine Robinson (he/him)
- From The Stonewall Inn: Stonewall Inn Owner & Co-founder of The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative Kurt Kelly; and Stonewall Inn Co-Owner & Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative CEO Stacy Lentz
- From Major League Baseball: Senior Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Billy Bean
- From Athlete Ally: Board of Directors Member Robert York
