Quote:
Originally Posted by butterfly
Well, maybe he should quit then. If you work for the police, an airline, Starbucks, McDonalds, the military, the San Jose Sharks...they will tell you what the uniform is. Wear it or quit and do something else.
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Except uniforms changing for religious expression/rights has been a major issue for years and continued to be.
The police allowing Sikhs to wear turbans and women to wear Hijabs as part of the uniform being two recent examples. I assume most people on this board were in support of these examples (Probably a relatively inverse relationship to this thread if I was guessing)
I am neither part of the LBGT nor religious community so I am not positioned to comment either way, however from the outside I think Riemer (and previous players) and the NHL have handled this perfectly.
99% of the leagues players show they are in full support while the players who religious beliefs preclude them from participating are allowed the right to opt out as well.
The fact players are allowed to opt out (although I would imagine the peer pressure to not opt out heavily influences some) makes the gesture much more meaningful and less a corporate inclusivity grandstanding act. It isn't a" The company is forcing me to pretend to be inclusive" initiative - The players actually have a choice and they are choosing to show their support.
And if it's just an excuse for Riemer and he is actually a bigot? Why do you want that bigot forced to wear the pride jersey anyways and add to their hatred of that group? Does the LGBT community want people not believing in their cause to be forced to support (I assume not?) under threat of loosing their job.
We are already seeing religion start to change their views on LBGT members.
And we have seen people turn away from religion for the existing view on these groups.
However until there is a full thought change within the church there are a lot of people who deeply believe in their religions, and that fact needs to also be understood that this is what they have been taught since birth and that religion isn't just a 'choice' for them, it is their life.