At the White Sox’ “Game Changers: Cultivating the LGBTQ Sports Community Through Leadership” panel on Tuesday, July 23, the influence at the front of the room extended beyond Chicago.
The panelists — Billy Bean, Aleshia Ocasio, Modesto “Tico” Valle, Tierna Davidson and Sergeant Micah Merrill — come from various industries and backgrounds, each with the same objective: to use their platforms to cultivate and advocate for the LGBTQ community.
Billy Bean, former major-league outfielder and current vice president and special assistant to major league commissioner, Rob Manfred, is an ambassador for MLB’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee, MLB’s ‘Shred Hate’ bullying prevention program and a ground-breaking educational youth campaign and partnership with ESPN.