The Los Angeles Dodgers will hold their seventh annual LGBT Night at Dodger Stadium at Friday night's game against the Philadelphia Phillies, which will include the official 2019 LA Pride kickoff party.
The party will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Right Field Plaza Bar and last until the first pitch at 7:10 p.m.
The Los Angeles LGBT Center will receive a Dodgers Community Hero Award for being the world's largest provider of programs and services for LGBTQ people.
Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss — who are part of the Dodgers ownership group — will throw ceremonial first pitches.
The national anthem will be sung by actress Nikki Blonsky, best known for starring in the 2007 movie musical "Hairspray."
The Dodgers' customary Friday night postgame fireworks show will be accompanied by a special music mix by DJ Bowie Jane, who has performed at tennis' Australian Open and regularly performs at several Los Angeles venues, including The Abbey in West Hollywood.
Fans will be invited onto the field to watch the show, which will take place before 11 p.m. and is subject to cancellation if the game lasts too long.
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The Military Hero of the Game will be retired California Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Bill Anderson. Anderson enlisted when he was 34 years old and served 21 years, seven with the 40th Military Police Company and 14 with the Headquarters Company 1-184th Infantry Regiment.
Anderson's awards include the Army Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal and Humanitarian Service Medal.
Anderson volunteers at the Los Angeles LGBT Center. He is one of the first members of the nation's only LGBTQ military veteran color guard detail.
The Dodgers are offering a ticket pack that includes a Dodgers LGBT-themed duffle bag, available at Dodgers.com/LAPride. A very limited number of ticket packs remain available and they are expected to sell out, a team official said.
