[Locke]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Yeah. It stands to reason that most male-dominated sports would have a lower percentage of LGBQT people. Not because those people aren't made for contact sports, but because they have very likely been weeded out through attrition of harassment and/or exclusion. This includes the use of derogatory terms not just directed at those people but their use at all. If your teammates constantly use f*g or gay as insults, why would you ever come out to these people? How could you feel comfortable around them? So, unfortunately, I would think many leave fairly early on.

This is definitely getting better, but kids still use the language of their parents and people in their early 30's and 40's with young kids in sports aren't beyond using these words and thinking it's not a big deal.

There are probably at least a few in the NHL by now, particularly younger folks. I would imagine we see a people start to come out within the next few years.

Here's the thing. I understand the need to come out to show support for others struggling, but at the same time I really don't care to know. If Matt Tkachuk showed up at the Pride parade with a boyfriend, I would hope it barely gets a mention beyond "Tkachuk and partner David, seen here". I think the big potential media firestorm around it, as positive as it would likely be, is something that deters people more than fear of discrimination from their teammates at this point

I would guess most gay athletes are very well known to be gay by their teammates.

Its a tough road, but by all accounts progress is being made but the change of lockerroom attitudes, not just in the NHL but in sport in general, is likely going to be measured in generations.