[News] NHL Makes LGBT History

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

I can't wait till the first player comes out. I know I know that currently there is an active gay rugby ref that is internationally ranked, and Gareth Thomas came out after his retirement.

Rugby is such a badass sport. Played by gentlemen. You can't even raise your voice to a rugby official without being carded. I can only imagine what would happen if a player brought derogatory remarks about orientation to the pitch

[cubistcastle]

Originally Posted by pylon

Maybe classy is a better word? I dunno. I look at how my average single bachelor dude friends and myself lived over the years, and how the couple gay friends I have live, and it is totally different. We were such train wrecks, and on the other hand, their places are typically spotless. They always have such nice clothes. They always seem to have great food around. They are usually incredibly fit. And gay guys always seem to have incredible taste in cars for some reason. Any time I am doing up the paper work with an openly gay guy, they are always buying such an awesome ride.

Yes, none of this is backed by statistics, but it is stuff I have always noticed. I can't change the fact I like women, but I wish I could nail down the life skills my gay friends have.

Do you know what anecdotal means?

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by cubistcastle

Do you know what anecdotal means?

Came to post just that. I don't think pylon is a bigot, far from it. But he's using anecdotal evidence to form his thoughts when he's quite wrong.

[Kjesse]

This is a good thing for the NHL to do. When players start actually coming out, that will even be better, and its only a matter of time. The societal goal should be, its not even news because nobody cares and it doesn't matter. Now people do care because it would be novel and thus newsworthy.

As for you all jumping on Pylon, what he said is widely believed, whether its true or not.

It made me think of all the gay people I know (at least those I know are gay), and with one very notable exception (I have a gay cousin who fits the description of redneck more than anything), my own observations aren't far from what Pylon said. There could be lots of reasons for him "observing" that (he could be observing wrong, as could I) and I don't support stereotyping, but to jump all over someone for talking about their own observations is a form of bullying.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by RobotTalk

I dunno, I'm gay and have loved hockey since I was a kid. The guy I'm dating is a huge hockey fan, unfortunately he's also a Canucks fan. One of my best friend's boyfriends is a bigger hockey fan than many of the guys on this site. I can name at least five other guys I know who are also rabid hockey fans. Beyond that, many guys I know are interested in other sports besides hockey. Admittedly, many gay guys are not into sports but a very significant percentage are.

Also, I live in Van and there's a gay hockey team here, one of many across the continent. Also, a fully gay soccer league, softball league, and triathlon club. Point being, lots of gay guys do love sports.

Affirmative. The best sports bar in the city, Scores, is on Gayvie. Probably the second best one as well.

[Lanny'sDaMan]

I am so very happy to see this gaining steam. My only beef is in this being called "Gay Rights" or "LGBT Rights". Let's call it what it is, HUMAN rights. I've always felt that the second you begin to name something in a segregationist manner you hurt the people you are fighting for. It's not Gay marriage, it's Marriage. Two people who love each other in a committed and loving relationship.

My feelings, mayhap not yours.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by Lanny'sDaMan

I am so very happy to see this gaining steam. My only beef is in this being called "Gay Rights" or "LGBT Rights". Let's call it what it is, HUMAN rights. I've always felt that the second you begin to name something in a segregationist manner you hurt the people you are fighting for. It's not Gay marriage, it's Marriage. Two people who love each other in a committed and loving relationship.

My feelings, mayhap not yours.

You are right re: human rights.

Categorizing people by race, orientation or religion is dehumanizing them.

This is much better and I think society is making progress. I am encouraged by seeing how my kids react to this stuff. They seem way more accepting and a lot of this acceptance stuff is just assumed by them these days. It's like a minimum standard.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Lanny'sDaMan

I am so very happy to see this gaining steam. My only beef is in this being called "Gay Rights" or "LGBT Rights". Let's call it what it is, HUMAN rights. I've always felt that the second you begin to name something in a segregationist manner you hurt the people you are fighting for. It's not Gay marriage, it's Marriage. Two people who love each other in a committed and loving relationship.

My feelings, mayhap not yours.

Well said that human

[RobotTalk]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

That's all fine and dandy, but at this point I'm far more interested in how you dress and what kind of car you drive.

Also, can you recommend a stylish pair of jeans these days?

Well, colour skinny jeans are all the rage, red, yellow, or green if you really feel wanna be trendy. As far as cars go, I'm a student so mine is a pos old Ford Focus, nothing fancy there.

Seriously though, good on the NHL for being so forward when it comes to LGBT Rights. It especially poignant given the revelations (or rumours) about the Minnesota Vikings coaching staff that have come to light in the last few days.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by RobotTalk

Seriously though, good on the NHL for being so forward when it comes to LGBT Rights. It especially poignant given the revelations (or rumours) about the Minnesota Vikings coaching staff that have come to light in the last few days.

What?

[Loyal and True]

I have to admit, I opened this thread thinking there might be a politcal correctness war. I am satisfied.


Lighten up, posters here are frequently guilty of the occaisional "sexist" type comments regarding wives and girlfriends and that gets a pass. Stereotypes are everywhere and we are all guilty of it now and again (not saying its right). Obvious that Pylon supports LGBT.


On that note, I can't wait for the first figure skater to come out. That should really smash down some barriers (rimshot oops... not sure if that is double entendre?...never mind get me out of this thread...)


Moving on to Pylon's accurate statement that bullying and homophobia has likely pushed many sport loving men and women away from some sports. I hope programs like this will change that, so one day there are just as many gays in hockey as there are in ballet fashion design armwrestling kung-fu politics engineering ... you know what I'm trying to say...

[irrevocable]

Originally Posted by Lanny'sDaMan

I am so very happy to see this gaining steam. My only beef is in this being called "Gay Rights" or "LGBT Rights". Let's call it what it is, HUMAN rights. I've always felt that the second you begin to name something in a segregationist manner you hurt the people you are fighting for. It's not Gay marriage, it's Marriage. Two people who love each other in a committed and loving relationship.

My feelings, mayhap not yours.

You nailed it bud, awesome post.

[RobotTalk]

http://deadspin.com/i-was-an-nfl-pla...-an-1493208214

A piece written by former Vikings punter and outspoken LGBT rights advocate Chris Kluwe. In it he claims to have been forced off the team by Special Teams Coach Mike Preifer with the tacit acceptance of former Head Coach Leslie Frazier. It's kind of a long read but basically Kluwe claims that after he refused to stop publicly supporting gay rights, another punter was brought in to replace him and he was blacklisted from the NFL. This, despite posting similar punting stats to the rest of his career that put him middle of the pack amongst all NFL punters and one of the best all time Vikings punters.

All of this is based purely on Kluwe's word of course, but perhaps the worst part is what he claims Priefer said in one special teams meeting:

"We were laughing over one of the recent articles I had written supporting same-sex marriage rights, and one of my teammates made a joking remark about me leading the Pride parade. As we sat down in our chairs, Mike Priefer, in one of the meanest voices I can ever recall hearing, said: "We should round up all the gays, send them to an island, and then nuke it until it glows." The room grew intensely quiet, and none of the players said a word for the rest of the meeting."

[Trailer Fire]

Originally Posted by Lanny'sDaMan

I am so very happy to see this gaining steam. My only beef is in this being called "Gay Rights" or "LGBT Rights". Let's call it what it is, HUMAN rights. I've always felt that the second you begin to name something in a segregationist manner you hurt the people you are fighting for. It's not Gay marriage, it's Marriage. Two people who love each other in a committed and loving relationship.

My feelings, mayhap not yours.

I've tried explaining this before. Some people, who support and advocate for the LGBT community, don't really get it sometimes.

[Poe969]

And to show their support, the flames have announced that they won't score a goal until all leagues are more accepting!

[Volica]

Originally Posted by pylon

I wouldn't say the league is 100% hetero, but if the average frequency of homosexuality in the real world is 10%, I would bet that it is maybe 1/3 of that in men's pro sports. I think a big chunk of it would have to do with the fact that they were bullied out of the sports at an early age, and also, homosexual men, typically are more interested in the arts, than pro sports which IMO is probably a far more fulfilling and intelligent thing to be into.

Good gravy.

Some people need to stay away from certain topics or keyboards in general.

[JiriHrdina]

Having been on this site for a long time (over 10 years I think - some guys go back way longer) I find it very encouraging to see how even on here attitudes towards LGBT rights have changed in the last decade quite dramatically.
The ignorant voices are now few and far between and treated with the appropriate amount of ridicule that they deserve.
We are one site - but I think it is a positive sign that society is moving in the right direction.

[Gunkle]

Straight....gay....whatever.

I could honestly care less.

Drop the puck.

[MRCboicgy]

Originally Posted by Gunkle

Drop the puck.

But not the soap, amirite?

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by Gunkle

Straight....gay....whatever.

I could honestly care less.

Drop the puck.

---Obligatory "How much more less can you care"?