![]() Last year, when teams stopped requiring players to wear Pride Night jerseys, Prokop said that it felt “like a step back for inclusion in the NHL.” Two years later, it’s still just him and he has had to watch while the league that he one day hopes to play in becomes increasingly hostile towards people like him. When Luke Prokop came out in 2021, he became the NHL’s first openly queer prospect player. They’ve had two openly gay active players (2021) North America’s four biggest pro sports leagues have been around a combined 398 years. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) Julio Aguilar/Getty Images TAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 08: Carl Nassib #94 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on during warmup prior to a game against the Indianapolis Colts at Raymond James Stadium on Decemin Tampa, Florida. But there is another group of LGBTQ+ people that will feel the chilling effect of this ban, too: those in the locker room. The NHL has sent a loud and clear message to LGBTQ+ fans that they don’t care to support them and that the sport is not safe for them. The league clarified that the new restrictions “don’t interfere with players’ ability to support in other settings,” but the damage done by this new policy will be great. On X, a Philadelphia hockey writer posted a quote Wednesday from Flyers player Scott Laughton: “you’ll probably see me with the pride tape on that night anyway.” “If they want to say something, they can.” The league said this new ban was to stop teams and players from using the tape as an “end around” the new uniform policy that doesn’t allow uniforms or warmups to be altered for “specialty” theme nights. A spokesperson for Pride Tape has told media that since Tuesday’s announcement, NHL players have contacted them about getting the tape. The makers of Pride Tape said they are “extremely disappointed” an NHL spokesperson told ESPN that the tape had been permitted in years past as an exception to stick tape restrictions (which allow players to use only black and white tape). ![]() The NHL called the jerseys “a distraction.” ![]() Some players refused to take part in warmups when their teams wore Pride Night jerseys some Russian players or their teams have expressed concerns about those players running afoul of Russian anti-LGBTQ laws. This new policy comes on the heels of both the NHL and Major League Baseball advising teams to halt the wearing of Pride-themed jerseys for team Pride Nights last season after some players expressed discomfort, saying the jerseys were against their religious beliefs.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |