NHL implements ban on player-driven Pride activities
The NHL has been on a "Hockey Is For Everyone" campaign for quite a few years now. Unfortunately, the league backtracked rather quickly following a handful of players refusing to participate in the NHL's annual "Pride Night" activities last season. Some of the more notable names included Ivan Provorov, Eric Staal and even former Leafs netminder James Reimer.
Following all of the backlash the league received from those players refusing to participate in the initiative, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told Sportsnet in June that teams will no longer wear specialty sweaters during warmups because "it has become a distraction." The NHL also shared a memo with all clubs stating the following; "Players shall not be put in the position of having to demonstrate (or where they may be appearing to demonstrate) personal support for any special Initiatives. A factor that may be considered in this regard includes, for example, whether a Player (or Players) is required to be in close proximity to any groups or individuals, visibly or otherwise, clearly associated with such special Initiative(s)."
Paraphrasing the above, it essentially says that players that are uncomfortable in supporting special initiatives should not be put in a position where they feel they are being targeted by fans and the media during special initiatives in which their teammates are participating. That means that players are not even allowed to have rainbow tape on their sticks to show their own individual support for the LGBTQ+ community.
There are several Maple Leafs who have really stepped up in recent years and displayed their support for the LGBTQ+ community very publicly and in a very respectful manner. The NHL stripping players of the ability to show their own individual support is a huge violation of their freedom of expression. No matter which side of the argument you're on, when someone's freedom is stripped from them, it's a problem.
This is not the first time in recent memory the NHL has decided to go against its own "Hockey Is For Everyone" campaign, as they have refused to work with The Hockey Diversity Alliance on multiple occasions since it was formed in June of 2020. To the media, the NHL continues to say that they are inclusive, and focused on growing the game, but their actions over recent months have demonstrated otherwise and that the "old boys club" is still firmly in control.
| POLL | ||
10 OCTOBRE | 109 ANSWERS NHL implements ban on player-driven Pride activities What do you think of the NHL pulling its support from the LGBTQ+ community? | ||
| A huge step backward for the NHL | 40 | 36.7 % |
| I don't mind it. Keep hockey about hockey | 57 | 52.3 % |
| Don't care either way | 12 | 11 % |
| List of polls | ||
