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polly7

(20,582 posts)
Mon Apr 15, 2013, 09:54 AM Apr 2013

NHL Takes 'Historic Step' for LGBT Equality

By Dave Zirin

Source: Edge of Sports

Monday, April 15, 2013

“Welcoming—not begrudging, not tolerant—welcoming.”

—Patrick Burke

There is an old expression in social movements that sometimes it takes years to make days worth of progress but sometimes it takes only days to leap ahead years. In the fight for full citizenship for our LGBT friends and family, it certainly seems like every day another year mercifully moves forward.

As for the sports world, that longtime bulwark of homophobia, heteronormative socialization, and “no homo” jokes, we seem to be making decades of progress by the hour. We’ve seen NFL players stand up and organize for marriage equality. We’ve seen other players criticized by the league and media for what used to be accepted homophobic slurs. We’ve seen legitimate efforts to try and lay the groundwork for an out-and-proud active gay male athlete. We’ve seen new organizations and voices rise to the occasion to try and actually remake jock culture so it’s a force for LGBT inclusion instead of its historic opposite. And today, in a first for a major sports organization, we have the National Hockey League taking a stand against anti-LGBT bigotry in their sport.

The NHL and the NHLPA announced that they would be joining in a formal partnership with the You Can Play Project, whose mission is ending homophobia in the locker room and on the playing field. The league will adopt tough non-discriminatory language, have educational seminars for rookies, and confidential outreach support for closeted players. In the words of You Can Play founder Patrick Burke, “Today marks a historic step for LGBT equality in sports. The NHL and the NHLPA [NHL Players' Association] are stepping up to ensure that the hockey community is welcoming -- not begrudging, not tolerant -- welcoming to LGBT players, coaches, management or fans. Now with the culture of the hockey community behind us, we can do the important educational outreach to help everyone know how to be accepting. The NHL has long had a slogan – ‘Hockey Is For Everyone.’ We will work alongside our partners in the NHL and the NHLPA to continue to make that true.”

For those unfamiliar with the story of the origin of You Can Play, the Burke family is hockey royalty. Patrick’s father Brian Burke is a longtime, greatly respected hockey executive who became an impassioned advocate against homophobia when his son Brendan told his family he was gay. The following year, Brendan died in a car accident at the age of 21. After Brendan’s death, Patrick started You Can Play, in honor of his brother’s memory. They have been doing individual public service announcements and educational events with athletes for several years. Their work is also timely as rumors persist that an NHL player will come out in the months ahead. It makes sense that even Gary Bettman, perhaps the worst commissioner in the history of sports, would see the writing on the wall and understand that partnering with You Can Play makes sense for the league.

Full Article: http://www.zcommunications.org/nhl-takes-historic-step-for-lgbt-equality-by-dave-zirin

The Fifth Estate did a great interview with Patrick Burke on his brother, Brendan. http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/2010-2011/thelegacyofbrendanburke/patrickburke.html On edit, I just rewatched this and it's part (the most important part, imo) of the full interview I'd seen a while ago. For anyone interested, the full documentary is here: http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/2010-2011/thelegacyofbrendanburke/

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NHL Takes 'Historic Step' for LGBT Equality (Original Post) polly7 Apr 2013 OP
Recommended. William769 Apr 2013 #1
Of course, my first thought is that I think hockey players joeybee12 Apr 2013 #2
It's because their good with their stick! William769 Apr 2013 #3
They know how to use them! joeybee12 Apr 2013 #4
Oohh you're on thin ice for that one! Fearless Apr 2013 #5
 

joeybee12

(56,177 posts)
2. Of course, my first thought is that I think hockey players
Mon Apr 15, 2013, 12:54 PM
Apr 2013

have the cutest players of all the professional sports.

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