Bay athletes, CSN team up for ‘You Can Play’

In March of this year, the San Francisco Bulls made a splash at the end of their inaugural season by becoming the first ECHL team to join the You Can Play Project, a young non-profit dedicated to fighting against homophobia and other descrimination in sports.

Now, the rest of the Bay Area sports empire is joining them.

Comcast SportsNet Bay Area announced this week they too have joined forces with You Can Play, creating a public service announcement to show their support in the fight for equality in sports, “ensuring equality, respect and safety for all athletes, without regard to sexual orientation.”

“You Can Play” president Patrick Burke said of the new PSA:

“All of us at You Can Play are overwhelmed by this message from the Bay Area’s professional male athletes through Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. Letting every young LGBT athlete, coach, or fan know that they are welcome in every Bay Area arena shows tremendous heart, leadership, and character…”

Not a single sport is left out of the mix, as members of six of the Bay Area’s pro teams make an appearance in the new PSA.

The minute-long spot features: Giants pitcher Barry Zito, Athletics outfielder Coco Crisp, Warriors guard Klay Thompson, 49ers tight end Vernon Davis, Raiders fullback Marcel Reese, Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski, and Sharks forward Joe Thornton.