New York City Pride: Weekly basketball games in Brooklyn are a safe haven for the LGBTQ community

Crown Heights, Brooklyn (WABC) — A community center in Brooklyn provides a safe space for basketball players of all genders and sexual orientations to play without fear of being the target of slander or prejudice.

The game’s fast pace and teamwork are part of why Marion Lozano loves basketball.

But your worst enemy may not always be the player.

“This is pretty gender-discriminatory,” Lozano said. “Usually when you go to outdoor courts or indoor open gyms, they are already labeled as open gyms for men or open gyms for women. “go. “

That’s why Lozano helped launch a weekly pick-up basketball game at the Brooklyn Community Pride Center, providing a safe place for members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies to play, regardless of experience.

“Some people are given the opportunity to play, some people are given the opportunity to play for the first time,” Lozano said.

Jenny found out about this event through a friend.

“Sometimes you can play basketball elsewhere, but there’s a level of trash talk that includes bigoted slurs that you’ll never understand here,” Jenny said.

The Brooklyn Community Pride Center is Brooklyn’s only LGBTQ community center. This eliminates the need for people to leave the ward to receive services.

“Having safe and inclusive spaces for physical health and exercise, including sports leagues, is very important to our community,” said Omari Scott of the Community Center.

And for this group, the opportunity means more than basketball.

“We cheer each other on and give each other tips,” Lozano said. “It’s family.”

Channel 7 is home to pride. Join us for our special Pride 2023: Strength of Unity on Saturday at 7pm. Then, no matter where you look on ABC7NY, coverage of Sunday’s pride march will begin at noon.

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