UConn Huskies Will Wear Pride Stickers At Their Next Football Game

The University of Connecticut announced the school's football team will host its first LGBTQ+ Pride Game when it plays Middle Tennessee State University this Friday, October 22!

The Huskies will wear special stickers on their helmets depicting their namesake mascot silhouetted against a rainbow-striped background. The game will be nationally televised on the CBS Sports Network.

"We are happy to host the first Pride Game in our history," David Benedict, director of athletics, said in a statement.

Coaches and other staff will wear special Pride pins, and the first 500 fans through the gates will receive a free rainbow headband. The Hartford Gay Men’s Chorus will sing the national anthem before the game.

Courtesy: UConn Athletics

According to Outsports, UConn's opponent Middle Tennessee had its own gay football player. Alan Gendreau was the team’s kicker from 2008-11 and never hid his sexuality from his teammates. Gendreau was a popular player on and off the field.

"Everyone just saw him as a football player," teammate Josh Davis revealed to Outsports in 2013. "He was just one of the guys. The fact that he proved himself on the field, there was a respect for him. He’s a good guy."

Football has become more accommodating for the LGBTQ+ community in recent years. The Raiders' defensive end Carl Nassib famously came out as gay during Pride Month earlier this year and has quietly set about helping his team on the field, including forcing a key turnover in overtime that led to a dramatic come-from-behind victory.

Benedict indicated that Friday’s Pride Game will be just the beginning for the university.

"UConn athletics aspires to promote an inclusive environment for all of UConn Nation and we plan on hosting additional pride games in the future," Benedict said.

RELATED | Carl Nassib Confirms He Has a Boyfriend