Flames' Pride Night slotted for March 28 vs. LA

[GullFoss]

A bit of a shame that players don't have the right to freedom of expression in this regard

Maybe they can wear pride socks? Or have pride face paint. Or pride jerseys. Or pride hair. Or pride mouthguards. Or pride ice. Or pride water bottles. Or pride pucks. Or pride flags.

I for one would love if they replaced the national anthem with I Will Survive and replaced the Canadian flags at the blue line with the rainbow flag. Play different gay pride anthems at every stoppage. Can get drag queens to do the ice cleaning. Can have a burlesque show in the intermission 1 and do lgtbq hockey in intermission 2. Turn pride night up to 11 and just go over-the-top with it. They should also ask season ticket holders to donate tickets for distribution to lgtbq fans. Ask the fans to show up in Rainbow gear. Hand out free pride shirts. Rainbow themed concessions. Paint the concourse floor in one large rainbow flag wrapping around the entire concourse.

[darockwilder]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

It was created in Edmonton. Andrew Ference as captain pitched it to the Oilers, who were the first team to adopt it.

Wasn't Okotoker his username here?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Yeah_Baby

The night the Oilers got eliminated from the playoffs I was at the (one) queer bar in town on a date. We made sure to kiss goodnight inside the bar before we left and gave them a hug as we were outside as the Oilers fans streamed out of Rogers Place and was flooded with anxiety and fear. I hated that and I still do thinking about it now. It's so hard to love something like this sport when you're not sure if the person walking out of the rink or sitting next you is going to verbally harass (or worse) you for just existing as yourself.

I don't think most folks, even well meaning ones, really understand what that feeling is fully like. Or the emotional load to constantly meet people where they're at figuratively sit at the same table with people who think we're mentally ill (I mean I am, but not just becasue I like to kiss people of various genders).

Oh...I think you're dead on. My experiences obviously do not mirror yours but I've learned over time to just try and treat people like people.

My thoughts and opinions on Homosexuality are vastly different now compared to when I was younger. We grow and we learn.

I deal with many homosexuals in my line of work because, and I know this might sound insane but...they're people. Like any other people.

I'll never forget sitting in a crowded pub in Chicago, theres almost no tables and this Gay couple invites my wife and I to sit with them and we're just chatting and one of the funniest parts of the conversation was concerning 'Gay Districts.'

Now, I am far from an expert on this subject, I know many cities have them, but I dont really think we do in Calgary and I said so.

"You dont have a 'Gay District' in Calgary? So where do the Gay people live?"

- Um...wherever they want?

Its come a long way, it just takes some understanding.

[Hackey]

From what I understand they're still going to have Pride night they're just not going to have players wear the jersey or tape. It seems like the NHL isn't against the cause, but they do want to avoid all the conflict it brings which seems somewhat fair. Some players don't want to wear the jersey, others probably don't want to but are scared of the backlash, others are indifferent, others genuinely want to support. I get that some people would like the individual to be able to make the choice, but that likely leads to the same controversy they're trying to avoid where if you don't participate you're viewed in a certain way. I think the players can demonstrate their support in numerous other ways if they want. This is only 1 day out of the year. I feel like the NHL is trying to appease both sides which some may view as cowardly, but I'm sure others would view as fair. At the end of the day you can't please everyone.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by Hackey

From what I understand they're still going to have Pride night they're just not going to have players wear the jersey or tape. It seems like the NHL isn't against the cause, but they do want to avoid all the conflict it brings which seems somewhat fair. Some players don't want to wear the jersey, others probably don't want to but are scared of the backlash, others are indifferent, others genuinely want to support. I get that some people would like the individual to be able to make the choice, but that likely leads to the same controversy they're trying to avoid where if you don't participate you're viewed in a certain way. I think the players can demonstrate their support in numerous other ways if they want. This is only 1 day out of the year. I feel like the NHL is trying to appease both sides which some may view as cowardly, but I'm sure others would view as fair. At the end of the day you can't please everyone.

Why should conflict be avoided?

[Jiri Hrdina]

I’m perfectly comfortable not pleasing the homophobes and other bigots

[MRCboicgy]

Originally Posted by Locke

Oh...I think you're dead on. My experiences obviously do not mirror yours but I've learned over time to just try and treat people like people.

My thoughts and opinions on Homosexuality are vastly different now compared to when I was younger. We grow and we learn.

I deal with many homosexuals in my line of work because, and I know this might sound insane but...they're people. Like any other people.

I'll never forget sitting in a crowded pub in Chicago, theres almost no tables and this Gay couple invites my wife and I to sit with them and we're just chatting and one of the funniest parts of the conversation was concerning 'Gay Districts.'

Now, I am far from an expert on this subject, I know many cities have them, but I dont really think we do in Calgary and I said so.

"You dont have a 'Gay District' in Calgary? So where do the Gay people live?"

- Um...wherever they want?

Its come a long way, it just takes some understanding.

TIL that us gay folks are supposed to pay income tax. Who knew?


But yeah, it's one thing that flummoxes my friends from all over the world that we don't have a 'gaybourhood' or a variety of bars, or even a decent pride store - in a city this size. It makes it harder to have a sense of community, that's why inclusive events matter.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by Eb0la11

Do we have heterosexual event dates on the calendar too to celebrate that? Should we be trumpeting that as well and getting a special tape? I’m confused why this community feels the need to trumpet their choice. Live your life, be respectful of others and stop trying to influence others into your choices.

HNIC aired a Straight White Pride segment between the first and second periods for 38 years.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by MRCboicgy

TIL that us gay folks are supposed to pay income tax. Who knew?

But yeah, it's one thing that flummoxes my friends from all over the world that we don't have a 'gaybourhood' or a variety of bars, or even a decent pride store - in a city this size. It makes it harder to have a sense of community, that's why inclusive events matter.

Huh. Thats interesting.

First of all...you knew that because I do taxes for your friends!

Secondly...I actually though that the lack of...a 'gaybourhood' (term I just learned just now) was actually a negative thing.

I figured that it was a positive that they ostensibly seemed welcome anywhere.

I guess its all about staying open minded.

[KelVarnsen]

Since the NHL decided to disallow Pride symbols of any kind during warmups and games, the organization that makes Pride hockey tape in support of the 2SLGBTQ+ community has been inundated with calls from people who want their rainbow tape.

And that includes “a number of NHL players,” says Pride Tape’s co-founder, Dr. Kristopher Wells.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article...ont-back-down/

[wittynickname]

I do love that a sport that touts its toughness, that players will battle through broken bones and busted teeth and fractured sternums, those same players are too afraid of having to answer questions from the press about their supposedly deeply held beliefs. They're afraid someone online might call them a bigot.



I'm sorry, the people that are supported and bolstered by Pride are dealing with way, way worse than a few tough questions from a reporter or a few mean words online.

[butterfly]

Would have been amazing if Crosby and Bedard faced off with pride tape sticks. What a way to shut this down.

[iggyloob12]

No doubt this ban was someone’s idea at the NHL to avoid future controversies around players not wearing pride jerseys. Well done!

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by kipperiggy

Dang, Ras is one of my favourite players but that's a bunk response.

I would never give that response

[MRCboicgy]

Originally Posted by Locke

I actually though that the lack of...a 'gaybourhood' (term I just learned just now) was actually a negative thing.

I figured that it was a positive that they ostensibly seemed welcome anywhere.

I guess its all about staying open minded.

We love our portmanteaus!

It's a positive from a living standpoint - never feeling like any part of Calgary was outwardly problematic or unwelcoming; though it was always anxiety-inducing applying for apartments never knowing how the landlord would be.
But, the lack of a central LGBTQ area does make it harder to foster the community that other cities have. It's normal for anyone living in a neighbourhood to spend most of their time there, so if all the hyper-local activities are centered around kids or sports or church or whatever, you can feel like an outsider on your own block, or always feeling like you have to code-switch, which is exhausting in its own right.
It'd be great if all community associations had some dedicated events, but I doubt Royal Oak is going to slot in Cooking with the Queers between Parade of Garage Sales anytime soon...


Anyway, that's a wall of text to talk about why not having a centralized community can be a negative, but it also points out why big tent inclusive events are important too.

[MoneyGuy]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1711898143221006690

[taxbuster]

Originally Posted by MRCboicgy

TIL that us gay folks are supposed to pay income tax. Who knew?

People like me who have been in the tax biz for 40+ years?

JK.....

[taxbuster]

I'd love to see a CP (and wider!) opposition form to challenge this and support the players who wish to in doing so...in some way indicating to these zillionaire owners that they don't run the world.

My personal opinion is to tell them all to eff off. But my wife tells me that's a bad approach. Sigh.

(Can you imagine if any player...anywhere...refused to support the US military on THEIR nights?)

[MRCboicgy]

Originally Posted by taxbuster

People like me who have been in the tax biz for 40+ years?

JK.....

40 years in accounting? Who placed that curse upon you as a small child and how many hours do you have to spend on the phone with the CRA until the spell is broken?

[ben voyonsdonc]

One of the many cool things about this thread is that it demonstrates that there is a pretty reasonable base of gay Flames/sports fans here. Within the very disparate queer community in Calgary, its tough to find other die hard sports fans and it can be a little bit isolating when you don't share common interests with others in your community.