Bill Gubrud among inductees into rebranded LGBTQ Sports Hall Of Fame

Bill Gubrud – the Chicago-based sports fan who brought the idea of “Out at Wrigley” to the Cubs in 2001, leading to a worldwide trend of Pride Night at countless pro sports games – will be among the class of 2025 inductees into the rebranded LGBTQ Sports Hall Of Fame, the same hall of fame he launched in Chicago in 2013.

Formerly the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall Of Fame, the new version is spearheaded by the Sports Equality Foundation, which will honor and celebrate the contributions and achievements of LGBTQ people in sports.

Gubrud, GoPride.com has learned exclusively, joins the class of 2025 that includes Erik Braverman, Layshia Clarendon, Pat Griffin and Kirk Walker, with more members to be announced in the coming weeks.

The Sports Equality Foundation will hold the induction ceremony in Las Vegas on August 10.

“I thought it was cool that they reached out to me last year,” to revive the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall Of Fame, which inducted members in 2013, 2014 and 2015, but has been dormant ever since, Gubrud said.

Gubrud, 52, learned February 24 that he was being inducted.

“It’s hard to put into words … it’s kind of, surreal,” he said. “I was never expecting (to be inducted), especially since I long said that I would not be inducted while still involved (with the hall of fame).

“It’s nice to be recognized and to be lumped into a group of people who have done so much for LGBT sports. It’s a tremendous honor. This is total disbelief; I’m very excited.”

Gubrud is pleased with the new-look LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame. “I’m elated it’s coming back,” he said. “It will be a tremendous honor to be (inducted) and I’m extremely excited to be (included) with so many amazing people in LGBT sports. It’s a mind-blowing experience.”

When asked who will induct him, Gubrud said he is not sure. He added, perhaps someone from the Cubs organization, such as Laura Ricketts.

Previous inductees range from Glenn Burke and Greg Louganis to Tom Daley and Brittney Griner. There are 49 members of the Hall Of Fame.

Gubrud was a pioneer in pro sports, of sorts, in 2001. He was the editor of the now-defunct Chicago Free Press and worked with the Cubs to develop the nation’s first gay day at the ballpark, then called Out At The Ballgame, later just Out at Wrigley, which had a 22-year run – and hundreds of similar Pride Nights have popped up over the past two decades at baseball, basketball, hockey and soccer games. At the major league and minor league level.

After the inaugural Wrigley event, Gubrud received messages from across North America as others wanted to follow suit.

Gubrud said the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall Of Fame “was something that was very needed, not just for closeted gay athletes, but also for sports fans in the LGBT community … their story had to be told.”

Gubrud added: “If you have a dream, a passion or simply want to do something, go for it, even if someone says it’s not worth it. My whole life, what I’ve done to get here, (came about) from people telling me it’s not worth it, it’s a waste of time. I didn’t believe them; I didn’t listen to them.

“There are a lot of people to thank, including Lisa Neff, Jackie Weinberg, Tim Hite, Ken Brown, Doug Opicka, Lionel Smith, Grab Magazine, Chicago Pride, and many, many more.”