Portland Trail Blazers Become First NBA Team to Formally Endorse Marriage Equality

The Portland Timbers and the Portland Thorns FC—two Portland-based professional soccer teams—recently announced their support for a ballot measure that’d bring marriage equality to Oregon, the Portland Mercury reports. And then, in response to an e-mail from the Portland Mercury, the Trail Blazers did the same, making them the first NBA team to formally endorse marriage equality: “Michael Lewellen, VP for communications of the Trail Blazers sent this statement a few minutes ago, in response to my question to him this afternoon: ‘The Portland Trail Blazers are in support of the Freedom to Marry and Religious Protection ballot initiative. We do so as believers in individual choice as a fundamental right of all people.’ The Trail Blazers are now the biggest pro sports team, apparently the first from a big four pro league, to formally endorse a marriage equality ballot measure.”