2023 Pride Meet Photo Gallery | 2022 Pride Game Photo Gallery
The George Mason University athletic department and the Mason LGBTQ+ Resources Office joined forces to host the first annual George Mason University Pride Game in 2019. That women's lacrosse event laid the foundation for a strong partnership in which the two departments meet regularly throughout the year to craft policy and plan the annual Pride Game.
In 2022-23, the George Mason track & field program hosted the Pride Game for the first time in school history. Activities included:
• T-Shirt giveaway featuring the George Mason Athletics "Philly Flag" pride logo
• New "Northern Virginia Is For Lovers" Progress Flag T-Shirts for the track & field student-athletes and VIPs
• The National Anthem performed by a member of the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington D.C.
• Presentation of the 2023 Mason Athletics Equality Impact Award to track & field student-athlete Josh Walker
• LGBTQ+ Trivia Contest Prize Wheel
• Pronoun button and LGBTQ+ flag giveaways for fans in partnership with University LGBTQ+ Resources Office
• In-game Pride playlist featuring songs with inclusive messages
HISTORY
The George Mason Athletic Department and the Mason LGBTQ+ Resources Office held its first annual Pride Game in 2019. A total of five editions have been held since the event's founding.
2019 - Women's Lacrosse
2020 - Men's Volleyball
2021 - Women's Soccer
2022 - Softball
2023 - Track & Field
The 2020 Pride Match was held in conjunction with the men's volleyball team's match vs. Harvard and was the first to feature expanded, in-game programming.
2020 Pride Game activities included:
• T-shirt giveaway featuring the George Mason Athletics "Philly Flag" pride logo
• Information tables on the concourse for the George Mason LGBTQ+ Resources Office and the Mason LGBTQ+ Student-Athlete Group
• The National Anthem performed by a member of the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington D.C.
• A ceremonial first serve, featuring a Molten rainbow game ball, presented by men's volleyball players to a member of the LGBTQ+ Student-Athlete Group
• Rainbow whistle lanyards worn match referees
• In-game Pride playlist featuring songs with inclusive messages
* LGBTQ+ T-shirt toss led by members of the George Mason Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC)
The 2022 edition was held in conjunction with the softball team's March 26 contest vs. Siena.
The programming included:
• The first ever Pride Game performance by George Mason's Green Machine. The Green Machine is ranked as the No. 1 pep band in the nation by NCAA.com.
• A ceremonial first pitch from 2022 Athletics Equality Impact Award Recipient Jester Hutchinson
• The National Anthem performed by Gay Men's Chorus of Washington member and Mason alum Brad Rinaldo
• Pride Bingo for all fans, with prizes including preferred seating for Mason's 2022 Pride Week drag show, as well as Patriot prize packs
• The annual Mason Pride T-Shirt Giveaway for fans
• Tabling from Mason's LGBTQ+ Resources Office, which featured information on campus LGBTQ+ offerings, preferred pronoun buttons, Pride flags, Pride Week information and more
