You don’t have to embrace queer issues to wear those jerseys. They were a symbol to recognize that queer fans are welcome and queer players are welcome in the sport. The players who refused to wear the jerseys sent a message that those fans and players aren’t welcome.
I can pretty much guarantee that at least one of the players who refused to wear the jersey has or will have a queer son, daughter, niece, nephew, brother, or sister that saw their family member take a stand that told them that they aren’t safe being their authentic themselves around the family member that they probably admire the most. That message will be heard loud and clear by that queer person. To this day, I remember when my friends signed a petition to keep gay marriage illegal. It sticks with you.
Hockey has a very deep history of homophobia in the locker rooms and on the ice. It is been at every level of the game. So much of the hazing that happens at various levels is rooted in homophobia. They force each other to do sexual stuff to each other because it is doing gay stuff is considered to be the most shameful things that you can do as a young straight person.
As the face of hockey for most people, the NHL needs to be pushing forward on these issues but they’ve decided to essentially stand on the sidelines. It’s pretty sad.
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