Pride nights have become a popular event in professional sports leagues, including the National Hockey League (NHL). These events aim to celebrate and welcome the LGBTQ+ community, a historically marginalized group in sports. However, in recent years, some NHL teams have been under scrutiny for their handling of Pride night events. From insensitive tweets to lackluster support, the spotlight has been on these teams and their commitment to inclusivity. In this article, we will explore the controversies surrounding Pride night events in the NHL and what these incidents reveal about the state of LGBTQ+ inclusivity in sports.
National Hockey League (NHL) teams have held Pride nights annually for several years to show support to the LGBTQ community. However, the events have become a controversial topic following several high-profile incidents this season, including players refusing to participate in pregame warmups that included Pride-themed jerseys. Recently, Eric and Marc Staal of the Florida Panthers declined to participate in such warmups, citing their Christian beliefs. Hockey teams’ decisions to wear Pride-themed warmup jerseys also came under question. The Chicago Blackhawks decided against having players wear Pride-themed warmup jerseys for their upcoming Pride night, citing anti-LGBTQ laws in Russia, which could jeopardize the safety of their Russian player and two others with connections to Russia when they return home. The New York Rangers and the Minnesota Wild also decided not to wear Pride-themed jerseys during warmups after advertising that they would do so, but neither team specified the reason for the change.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict and the anti-gay law signed by President Vladimir Putin in December have made the situation more complicated for the NHL and its 32 teams. No North American professional sports league has as many Russian players as the NHL. Currently, 45 Russia-born players are spread across 28 teams, including some of the league’s best athletes, with the top five highest-earning Russian players receiving an average annual salary of $11.1 million US this season.
The You Can Play Project, which advocates for LGBTQ participation in sports, expressed disappointment at the players’ decision to boycott the event. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said the boycotts were not about accepting bigotry, stating that not choosing to make a statement on behalf of a cause affirms itself does not necessarily make a person a bigot. The league declined to comment on the Blackhawks’ decision.
The controversy surrounding Pride nights may continue to divide players and teams, with upcoming games forcing teams to decide whether or not to wear Pride-themed jerseys during warmups.
As the NHL community continues to grapple with the recent controversies surrounding Pride night events, it is important to remember that inclusivity and diversity should always be at the forefront of our minds. While this spotlight may be unwanted by certain individuals, it is necessary for progress and growth. It’s time for the NHL to take a stand and lead the way in creating a safe and welcoming environment for all fans, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Let us work together to make sure that Pride night events are truly inclusive and accessible for everyone, and that the message of love and acceptance is spread throughout the entire hockey community.
