The Seattle Mariners released an “It Gets Better” video against anti-gay bullying on Thursday, becoming the fifth Major League Baseball team to do so. The Mariners’ video is the first to include players from the NFL, MLS, and WNBA. To date, the MLB is the only pro-sports league in which teams have produced “It Gets Better” videos.

Players from all four of Seattle’s major sports franchises -- the Seattle Mariners as well as the Seahawks, Storm, and Sounders -- participated in making this latest “It Gets Better” video. NFL Seahawks wide receiver Mike Williams, WNBA Storm center/forward Lauren Jackson and forward Swin Cash, MLS Sounders forwards Mike Fucito and Roger Levesque, and the Mariners’ relief pitcher Brandon League and infielder Brendan Ryan all make appearances.

"As far as we can tell, this is the first time a community's professional sports teams have joined together to take a stand on this important issue,” said Seattle Mariners President and COO Chuck Armstrong in a statement. “We are proud to be part of it.”

“We are hearing about too many LGBT teens who feel hopeless and alone,” said Storm center/forward Lauren Jackson in the video. Mariners pitcher Brandon League added, “Well, you’re not alone. There are a lot of people in this world who care about you.”

The message has particular resonance for Eric Williams, who started petitions on Change.org asking the Mariners, Sounders and Storm to make “It Gets Better” videos. An adoptive Washingtonian and lifelong Mariners fan, Williams recently completed a contract with the U.S. Army. He’s now living as an openly gay man “without fear of punishment” for the first time in his life.

“I think this video is an awesome accomplishment,” said Eric Williams. “It shows the city of Seattle that we're the first city to have all our sports come out in favor of equality -- this just solidifies the reason I live in Washington State.”

Williams went on to say that he hoped teams in leagues besides the MLB and cities besides Seattle would follow suit: “I hope that other cities will come together like this. That should really be the goal for other cities, other teams, other leagues -- to let all of their fans know that they’re supported.”

The momentum behind these videos and participation of NFL, MLS, and WNBA players in the Mariners’ video is especially notable as there are currently no openly gay athletes playing in any of the four major professional sports.

"We congratulate the Mariners, Sounders, Storm, and Seahawks for their contribution to the It Gets Better Project,” said Eden James, Director of Organizing at Change.org. “We couldn’t be happier that Eric Williams was able to use the Change.org platform to attract the attention and support of three of his favorite teams.”

More than 20,000 “It Gets Better” videos have been produced since syndicated columnist Dan Savage and his partner Terry Miller launched the project in in Seattle in September 2010 in response to an epidemic of teen suicides by gay kids and kids perceived to be gay. Through “It Gets Better” videos, President Barack Obama, Secretary Hillary Clinton, and corporations like Apple, Google, Microsoft, Pixar and other major organizations and leaders have provided hope to kids struggling with sexual orientation and gender identity.

For more information, visit ItGetsBetter.org.