Connecticut Sports Proud
The Connecticut Sports Proud Jersey and T-shirt came from a Collaborative Idea
In June 2025, the Hartford Gay Men’s Chorus (HGMC) was scheduled to sing the National Anthem during Pride Night at the Hartford Athletic and the CT Sun games. I sing with the HGMC and the choir enjoys singing the National Anthem at all the arenas and stadiums. On this night, the choir had to split and go to two separate events at the Hartford and to Mohegan Sun.
In speaking with the Hartford Athletics CEO and her assistant, I found out the teams didn’t always coordinate their scheduling for Pride games. I decided I’d like to change that.
I contacted marketing representatives for the Yard Goats, Bridgeport Islanders, Hartford Wolfpack, CT Sun, and of course the Hartford Athletic and set up a lunch so we could all have a conversation. All but the Islanders were able to attend—they had another obligation asked for feedback from the meeting.
Everyone jumped on board and helped. Today, we have a beautiful jersey and T-shirt for sale.
There’s nothing better than the state of Connecticut and its sports teams’ community support!
How It Started
The history of the logo on the Jersey and T-shirt
The jersey and T-shirt design was created to create a sports-proud feeling in the state of Connecticut supporting all its teams.
The dark blue and light blue background quilt is Connecticut’s quilting pattern. Connecticut’s emblem is on the upper left shoulder. The logo “CT sports proud” signifies Connecticut’s pride in its sports teams, and “1874” is when the first pro team started in Hartford, CT.
The stars on the T-shirt represent the three teams that played here in Connecticut and now are gone—the Hartford Whalers from 1974 to 1997, the Connecticut Defenders from 2003 to 2019, and the New Haven Ravens from 1994 to 2003.
The five stars in the logo stand represent the teams that are here in 2026—Hartford Athletic, Hartford Yard Goats, Hartford Wolfpack, Bridgeport Islanders, and the CT Sun.
At the bottom of the jersey, you will notice all the arenas and stadiums where our teams play to represent the state of Connecticut. The vacant blue space is an area where you can add the patches of the CT Teams.
The CTGLC logo on the left sleeve is the collaborative effort working with the Connecticut Gay and Lesbian Chamber
The Partnership
Coordination, Not Competition
Connecticut Sports Proud represents a year-round commitment to coordinated inclusion across all five teams. Here’s what that means:
Pride Nights Done Right:
Each team hosts a Pride Night with the full Hartford Gay Men’s Chorus performing at each venue. No more splitting community resources—every celebration gets the full power of our community’s voice.
Year-Round Heritage Celebrations:
The coordination extends beyond Pride Month to Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and Native American Heritage Month. When we coordinate these celebrations, community organizations can fully participate in each one.
Better Fan Experiences:
LGBTQ+ fans and families don’t have to choose between competing events. They can celebrate with all five teams throughout the year.
Business Opportunities:
CTGLC members gain access to partnership opportunities, networking events at games, and community event participation across all five organizations.
A National Model:
Connecticut is showing the country what’s possible when sports organizations choose collaboration over competition.
The Partnership
Coordination, Not Competition
Connecticut Sports Proud represents a year-round commitment to coordinated inclusion across all five teams. Here’s what that means:
Pride Nights Done Right:
Each team hosts a Pride Night with the full Hartford Gay Men’s Chorus performing at each venue. No more splitting community resources—every celebration gets the full power of our community’s voice.
Year-Round Heritage Celebrations:
The coordination extends beyond Pride Month to Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and Native American Heritage Month. When we coordinate these celebrations, community organizations can fully participate in each one.
Better Fan Experiences:
LGBTQ+ fans and families don’t have to choose between competing events. They can celebrate with all five teams throughout the year.
Business Opportunities:
CTGLC members gain access to partnership opportunities, networking events at games, and community event participation across all five organizations.
A National Model:
Connecticut is showing the country what’s possible when sports organizations choose collaboration over competition.
Sponsorship & Partnership Opportunities
Connecticut Sports Proud creates unique partnership opportunities for CTGLC members and allied businesses:
Pride Night Sponsorships:
Coordinate sponsorship across multiple teams’ Pride Nights, maximizing visibility across Connecticut’s sports landscape.
Business Networking Events:
Exclusive networking opportunities at games and special events throughout the year.
Community Engagement:
Participate in coordinated heritage month celebrations and community initiatives.
Mission Kit Jersey Partnership:
Associate your business with the Connecticut Sports Proud Mission Kit Jersey—a symbol of unity launching January 2026.
Year-Round Visibility:
Benefit from coordinated marketing campaigns across all five teams and the CTGLC network.
Interested in partnership opportunities?
Contact John Vincent Pica-Sneeden, john@ctglc.org CTGLC Executive Director, to explore how your business can be part of Connecticut Sports Proud.
Phone: (860) 612-8351
