OAKLAND–On Wednesday evening, the Golden State Warriors will become the first defending NBA Champion to host an LGBTQ night.
The Warriors’ second home game of the season is the second LGBTQ night in the franchise’s history, and its first since 2010, making it the first under current owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber.
Prior to Golden State’s contest against Toronto, head coach Steve Kerr addressed the importance of LGBTQ night to him personally, and explained why he’s proud to live and work in the Bay Area.
“I also want to acknowledge that tonight is LGBTQ night at Oracle which is an important night,” Kerr said. “I want to say first of all that I’m proud to be part of an organization and to live in a region, an area that really embraces diversity. There’s never been a more important time in our country to respect the person next to you regardless of their race, creed, color, sexual preference, sexual identity.”
Kerr said there’s never been a more important time to acknowledge and appreciate the diversity that makes the United States so great, and he said he’s been encouraged by the acceptance the younger generation has shown to people with various backgrounds.
“I’m really encouraged by my kids’ experience here in California and growing up in terms of acceptance,” Kerr said. “It seems like our young generation is learning more and more about how we’re all just are who we are, individuals and what makes our country great is our diversity. The fact that we can respect each other and work together and embrace each other, I think it’s an important night for us and we want to welcome everybody from the LGBTQ community.”
The Warriors’ fourth-year head coach also said that he hopes the franchise’s LGBTQ night gives fans in attendance on Wednesday night an opportunity to explain to their children why the event is important, and to show them that respect is paramount for every human being.
“Maybe if you’re coming to the game tonight and your child says, ‘What does that mean?’, explain it to them,” Kerr said. “Explain the importance of loving the person next to you and respecting them no matter who they are, where they come from, they’re human beings, we’re all human beings and we’re all in this together.”
