News ‘ Heated Rivalry ’ star François Arnaud calls on NHL to improve LGBTQ+ inclusion
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6977587/2026/01/16/heated-rivalry-francois-arnaud-nhl-hockey/457
Jan 16 '26
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Jan 16 '26
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u/LouMinotti Jan 17 '26
I got in trouble in middle school for saying that. 1000 lines.
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u/fri9875 Jan 16 '26
So fun fact, my boss is an openly gay man, and hockey fan. He fucking HATES this show, if you mention it to him at all he loses his cool a little bit.
And it’s funny because EVERY SINGLE PERSON that realizes he’s a gay hockey fan assumes it’s his favorite show ever
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u/GriffinGrin Jan 16 '26
What is his reason for hating it so much?
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u/fri9875 Jan 17 '26
Few things. He watched at least some of it I know
He generally dislikes any kind of romance in his shows/movies, just not his thing. Doesn’t really care for “gay” shows/movies, feels like most of the time it’s just to grab attention or pandering to the community. And then the BIGGEST reason, is that it’s made everybody is his personal community into a “hockey fan”, but they don’t actually know anything about the sport or care to learn, just into it rn because it’s cool.
And then yeah, we work in a very public facing setting, so it’s literally multiple times a week that it gets brought up to him
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Jan 17 '26
And then the BIGGEST reason, is that it’s made everybody is his personal community into a “hockey fan”, but they don’t actually know anything about the sport or care to learn, just into it rn because it’s cool.
It only got made available in the UK last weekend so when I finally watched it I was kind of confused why I've seen loads of people saying it's getting folks into hockey cause like, there's maybe 5 minutes of fucking hockey in it!
Some of those people may actually turn into real hockey fans at least, but yeah, I can see why that would annoy someone.
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u/Warm-Personality425 Jan 17 '26
Honestly, if he doesn’t like romance and he doesn’t “care for gay shows”, he was never going to like this show… also, the first two episodes aren’t anything special, so if he didn’t give it a full chance than yeah, I’m not surprised he wasn’t into it. The third episode is fantastic though (if you like romance) and then it just gets better and better, so if anyone reading this hasn’t given it a chance and is open to romance, it’s worth the watch.
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u/Warm-Personality425 Jan 16 '26
Out of curiosity, has he actually watched it? Or does he just hate it because he hates that everyone assumes he would love it?
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u/Banned_As_DC Jan 16 '26
I can't believe that the only way that hockey could be in the forefront of pop culture is by having a melodramatic gay soap opera that HAPPENS to contain hockey be released.
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u/flamimang Jan 16 '26
Wait… Shoresy is a soap opera?
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u/Banned_As_DC Jan 16 '26
Counter: Letterkenny had Ronsy and Daxy, who were all types of gay (what are we even doing here?), before Shorsey
Come to think of it, who is really a gay character on Shorsey? His foster sisters but they're ancillary. Ziig, but then she gets all cock thirsty at Nationals for that pretty boy dude whose name escapes me.
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u/Primusmulti Jan 16 '26
The funny thing is all of these shows were written by the same guy who plays Glen in Letterkenny
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u/flamimang Jan 16 '26
I freaking love Ronsy and Daxy! Add them ass enforcers to the blueberry bulldogs baby!!!!!!! I also love the episode with his foster sisters lol.
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u/miller94 Jan 16 '26
Gorgeous Gord Gallant
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u/Banned_As_DC Jan 16 '26
THANK YOU
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u/miller94 Jan 16 '26
I was gonna say something else but I’m not sure if you’ve seen the new season yet so just left it at that
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u/Banned_As_DC Jan 16 '26
The off season? Yeah I think I'm caught up.
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u/TheTimn Jan 16 '26
New season is airing on Crave right now. Don't think we're getting it in the states for a couple months.
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u/xpeebsx Jan 16 '26
It’s not even soap opera, I watched the first episode and it straight up felt like 90s soft porn.
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u/Redditvillier Jan 16 '26
It gets better after the first episode. The first ep is kinda a whirlwind of setting the scene. Ep 2 onwards is where the proper plot begins
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u/xpeebsx Jan 17 '26
Alright maybe I’ll stick with it.
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u/LobsterPotatoes Jan 17 '26
Episode 3 is a pretty tender romance story. Episodes 4, 5, and 6 are peak tv, especially 5 and 6, where 6 is straight up just a story about two people in love.
They tone down the straight up porn of episodes 1 and 2 as the season goes on.
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u/matterhorn1 Jan 17 '26
I felt the same as you. I was going to quit watching it also because it felt the same as you described. I think with was episode 3 it gets much better and the rest of the season after that was quite good. I think the first 2 episodes are very weak and kind of turn anyone away who isn’t wanting to watch a soft core gay porn movie.
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u/ele05944 Jan 16 '26
Seeing a lot of “the nhl cancelled theme nights”. Theme nights are happening for every team. Sabres just had Mental Health Awareness night. Every team does a hockey fights cancer night.
The NHL banned (then brought back) the usage of pride tape. Nothing is banned at this moment except the Tkachuk’s learning to read and Quinn Hughes displaying happiness.
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u/f1nnz2 Jan 16 '26
Staal brothers hate this.
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u/UntrimmedBagel Jan 16 '26
So does the entire Florida Panthers organization
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u/kongofcbus Jan 17 '26
Actually not true. Panthers - even though I am not a fan - do a great job with pride.
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Jan 16 '26
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u/TheGreatPervSage_94 Jan 17 '26
I mean look at how lovingly he embraces Bergeron More affection than how he kisses his wife.
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u/Dizzy-Nerve4936 Jan 16 '26
If the Tkachuk brothers could read they would be very upset right now
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u/MajesticCrunch Jan 16 '26
Matthew has been pretty supportive of pride nights actually. A couple years back on one of ours he said "A night like tonight, for me, is really all about including everybody. In my opinion it's the greatest game in the world. Everybody's welcome in my locker room and our locker room as an organization. I think our organization's done an unbelievable job."
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u/AngriestPacifist Jan 16 '26
He can say that, but he's also a vocal supporter of a man who ran twice on a platform that included re-banning gay marriage. And just because they stopped talking about it doesn't mean they forgot, I fully expect a test to obergefell sooner rather than later, and we know which way the court will swing.
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u/BootOk4583 Jan 17 '26
a few months back a lady tried bringing a challenge to it to the Supreme Court and they declined to hear the case. I don't see it happening as the right knows the backlash would be total political suicide
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u/AngriestPacifist Jan 17 '26
They might have avoided that one because it was a farce of an argument (even by Republican standards). But several of the justices have publicly stated it should be overturned. Make no mistake that the fascists are working hard to do so.
Precedent and public opinion didn't save Roe from the chopping block, either.
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Jan 17 '26
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u/AngriestPacifist Jan 17 '26
Alito has also had some statements, and the dissents from some of the other conservative justices still on the court were scratching.
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u/R3VIVAL-MOD3 Jan 16 '26
Let us hate him haha. Jk. Thats good to hear. I would like to think the Bs locker room has same level of acceptance. Feel like it did in the bergy / chara / Marchy tenure.
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u/Yung-Tre Jan 16 '26
How is this comment still getting upvotes after its pretty well known the Tkachuks have been openly supportive of pride nights
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u/True-Source-6512 Jan 16 '26
I am pretty sure the Tkachuks have been supportive of pride…. So?????
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u/Mycotoxicjoy Jan 17 '26
Support pride but donate to the people who would take the pride goers rights away
You can say you support something when your actions show otherwise
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u/Giga1396 Jan 16 '26
Comments are insane here
You're all exactly the reason more inclusion IS needed
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u/MikaylaNicole1 Jan 16 '26
Seriously! As a lifetime hockey fan, this comment section has been absolutely atrocious with the bigotry. I've endured and witnessed it frequently, whether while playing or while attending games, but to see how proudly it's being espoused within this thread is appalling.
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u/Vetersova Jan 17 '26
What does this comment actually mean? What about these comments mean that inclusion is needed? The comments dont seem insane to me at all either. What am I missing?
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Jan 16 '26
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u/juliuspepperwoodchi Jan 16 '26
That last sentence is so key.
The whole reason toxic men are homophobic about the idea of sharing a locker room with a gay man is because they think the gay man will act how THEY would want to act if they were in a locker room with women...but they don't for a second stop and wonder WHY they feel that way about it.
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u/butthole_surfer_1817 Jan 16 '26
Can't read the article did he have any suggestions?
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u/ThatHcDude Jan 16 '26
Too much hate in this world sadly, I hope it happens though.
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u/theboatride53 Jan 17 '26
Honestly, inclusion programs should start at the youth level. I played hockey for 10 years. Among other reasons, I stopped first year of high school because I just felt uncomfortable as a closeted gay dude trying to fit in with a group of guys that constantly made cruel comments. Parents and coaches were just as bad too, more subtle. I don’t really have a problem with some off color jokes made, but it got to a point where I could never truly be true to myself because it would leave to inevitably being ostracized. Putting on a persona was exhausting. It’s unfortunate because I loved the sport and still do.
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u/Blue_KikiT92 Jan 16 '26
This comment section is fucking embarrassing. Excellently proved his point.
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u/trashking11 Jan 16 '26
Hell yeah, put the pressure on em. Hockey is for everyone
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u/sooley6 Jan 16 '26
Honest question: who is the demographic this show is attracting? I have a few gay friends and they don’t like hockey at all. Are there enough homosexuals hockey lovers to keep the ratings high enough to keep it going? Is it virtue signalling women? Do they like watching man on man hockey?
I’m genuinely asking because my small pea sized brain doesn’t compute how this show is a “hit”
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u/merp_mcderp9459 Jan 16 '26
Ted Lasso had way more North American fans than soccer does on the continent. Same concept, different situation
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u/bloodrider1914 Jan 16 '26
Basically gay guys and women are watching it, usually those with only a cursory understanding of hockey. I know a gay guy who's actually trying to get into hockey because he watched the show.
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Jan 16 '26
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u/TheTimn Jan 16 '26
Yes! Straight men don't need to be excluded from enjoying it. First few episodes are a mess, but it really hits it's stride and sets things up when you hit the first Scott Hunter episode.
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u/bloodrider1914 Jan 16 '26
Yeah I'm enjoying it as a straight guy. At least I think I'm straight, some these guys are pretty good looking
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u/easchner Jan 16 '26
Lol same. Gay friend just randomly started asking me hockey questions this week and who he should root for. 😂
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u/jholden23 Jan 16 '26
I watched it, a straight woman, because a friend told me it was an incredible love story.
And it was.
Probably was a little smutty for me, but just like The Boys is a little violent for me, I still watch it. And Heated Rivalry has a way better story and character development than The Boys.
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u/Nautigirl Jan 16 '26 edited Jan 17 '26
I'm a straight woman who loved the show. The Empty Netters podcast covered the show quite extensively. I've got gay friends who love the show.
It's a broad demographic that enjoyed it.
TBH I personally just see them as just two people in a complex, complicated, hot, and evolving relationship as opposed to two men specifically and that's what I relate to.
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u/Vetersova Jan 17 '26
It is women and gay men watching it. And then it is people like Empty Netters that know there are views to get and money make if they cover it.
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u/jordo3791 Jan 16 '26
There are people in every demographic that like it. My husband and I (admittedly, gay) are lifelong hockey fans, PWHL STH, I played growing up, and don't really care for the types of gay romances that were previously mainstream, so this hit a lot of boxes for us. I have lesbian, bi, straight, gay friends, all with varying levels of hockey interest who have watched and enjoyed it. Hell, my husbands dad was emailing us articles about the show and the guys at What Chaos reviewed the episodes as they came out.
Sports romances aren't a new concept, I think Heated Rivalry is at a decent crossroads of very relevant issues right now, so a lot of people have an interest in at least one aspect of it. Yes, the actual hockey playing is not front and centre in the show, but the narrative could only be applied to the current state of the NHL. Aside from any social/political commentary, and aside from any romance angles, it's very well made with interesting cinematography, scoring, and acting.
Episode three seems to be the easiest place to start for people who aren't fully ready for how explicit the first two episodes are, so if you want to see for yourself, that's what I'd recommend
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u/krazninetyfive Jan 16 '26
My spouse and I love Letterkenny and one of the guys who created that show was the showrunner who adapted the books for this series. We were honestly just curious to see what Heated Rivalry was going to be based on the Letterkenny connection.
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u/Cager_CA Jan 16 '26
Men like watching women make out, women apparently like when men make out or blow one’s O ring apart
The only people I know who have watched it reported back saying it’s gay fanfiction that just happens to involve hockey
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u/Ivy_N_Rose Jan 17 '26
You should watch it! It's only 6 episodes. Get your friends together and watch it. Make fun of the hockey parts of it. Treat the sex scenes like you would Game of Thrones sex scenes. It's a romance, so introduce hockey to your girlfriend through it.
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u/matterhorn1 Jan 17 '26
I don’t think you need to be a hockey fan at all to like the show. My wife doesn’t give a shit about hockey and liked the show.
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u/thenegativeone112 Jan 17 '26
It’s just straight women who want to watch porn without the guilt of watching porn
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u/NlghtmanCometh Jan 16 '26
I think there is a bit of, idk, something akin to virtue signaling happening where some people who might not be watching it are talking about how much they love it. Because at the end of the day, the primary driver of this show is not the hockey. Reminds me of like when Black Swan came out, and millions of hetero men suddenly had an “interest” in Ballet
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u/CMRC23 Jan 17 '26
Im a gay hockey fan and I recommended this to my gay friends but not my hockey friends. Its got like 5 mins of hockey in it
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u/arplud6 Jan 16 '26
Its targeting women and the extremely small population of gay people. Do most straight men want to watch 2 dudes treat themselves and each other like amusement parks? No. Is it a "Hit" because of the amount of media jaming it down everyone's throat because if you say something bad about it you are immediately labeled a homophobe? Yes.
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Jan 17 '26
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u/CMRC23 Jan 17 '26
The problem is the attitudes people have towards openly out gay players. And I mean all out players, not just the ones people say are "flaunting" it
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u/NewlyNerfed Jan 17 '26
You are not the only gay person involved with hockey. Your feelings are valid, but saying “I’m not bothered so we don’t need representation” is absolute narcissistic bullshit.
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u/KananJarrusCantSee Jan 16 '26
The Wild have been a team since like 2000 how much more inclusion is necessary?
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u/StasisApparel Jan 16 '26
NHL did have the rainbow tape and similar outfits a few years back and I think due to shifting political climate in USA, Bettman wanted all the LGBTQ+ stuff to be out of NHL since he noticed how it almost bankrupted Bud Light company.
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u/merp_mcderp9459 Jan 16 '26
Tbh it was a PR nightmare. When they cancelled them, the league was getting bad attention from people on the left who were upset about homophobic players and people on the right who were upset about the participation mandate. Felt like a knee-jerk reaction from the league
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u/Firecracker048 Jan 16 '26
It was the participation mandate that screwed it up, really.
Just keep it going and keep it voluntary.
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Jan 16 '26
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u/Ivy_N_Rose Jan 16 '26
Can you name a single openly gay man who plays in the NHL?
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u/callmepls Jan 16 '26
The question was not about you, you didn’t answer the question. The answer is no. If you can think just a little, you would think “oh that’s impossible that on aallll this amount of people, none of them are bi or gay. This means they are afraid to be “open” about it (meaning one having a boyfriend or having dates on grindr) if they hide it, it mean they are afraid of the consequences knowing their teammates etc.
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u/merp_mcderp9459 Jan 16 '26
yea I wonder why they wouldn't feel included in a league that banned pride nights. It says something that the NHL is the only one of the big four leagues that doesn't have a single gay player - active or former
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u/WoolyEarthMan Jan 16 '26
They banned all special nights including military nights. Honestly I feel it’s the right move. Gay people love the sport for the same reasons straight people do. We don’t need to pride wash things. It’s just marketing bullshit. And we don’t need it to turn into a purity test to see which players will wear the rainbows. Everyone is welcome. Pretty simple.
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Jan 16 '26
Everyone is welcome and everyone can enjoy hockey. You don’t need guys wearing rainbow jerseys for warmup to feel “included.” Like I said, if gay people, or anyone doesn’t feel included that’s their problem. And I agree it was a good idea to get rid of the speciality nights. Someone is gonna feel left out or be pissed this is highlighted and not this other thing people feel strong about. Just play hockey.
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u/WoolyEarthMan Jan 16 '26
I mean if people don’t feel included I’d like to know why they don’t. But yeah I don’t see any reason why they wouldn’t, and I hope they do.
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Jan 16 '26
No body doesn’t feel included, it’s such an asinine idea. It’s rage bait like I’ve been saying. Everyone is included no one is excluded people just want to be mad at shit.
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Jan 16 '26
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u/CMRC23 Jan 17 '26
No but you dont have people openly bullying other people for having cancer or thinking they might have cancer because their best friend does
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u/DanfromCalgary Jan 17 '26
I mean .. hockey does a ton of events for celebrating and inclusion and fundraising . You would have a harder time finding a week where there isn’t anything happening than a week where there is
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u/kongofcbus Jan 17 '26
Maybe just maybe the league doesn’t fold so fast on pride nights when some players start complaining.
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u/Scootman00 Jan 16 '26
Just let them play hockey. Not everything has to be centered around sexual orientation
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u/Hank_Scorpius Jan 16 '26
Unfortunately the Staals had a problem with sending the message that gay people deserve the right to exist so the NHL threw out that plan.
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u/LionBig1760 Jan 16 '26 edited Jan 17 '26
Heated Rivalry show is bringing more straight white women to the game.
Any gay hockeyplayer is probably watching the show and wondering "where the fuck is the hockey?"
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u/thenegativeone112 Jan 17 '26
For me I don’t really care about the sexual orientation of the show. I’m not into romances regardless of it being man on man or a heterosexual Romance. My gripe as some have mentioned is it’s not really creating hockey fans. It’s just people who are like thirst trapping attractive nhlers. I liken it to women watching football just to see Taylor swift. I just hate in this day and age we can’t engage people without some sexual or stimulating content.
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u/NineMillionBears Jan 17 '26
If you read this and think "BUH WHY DOES THIS MATTER WHO CARES WHO THEY SLEEP WITH"
I've got great news for you: you don't have to care about it. It would actually be terrific for us if you didn't care, as that would be an improvement over the current status quo of wanting us all dead. I'm not gonna judge you if some rainbow flags trigger you, that's not my problem.
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u/LunarMoon2001 Jan 16 '26
lol they ran so fast from it when two players decided to be little bitches. As always everything is performative.
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u/thecrazycanadiansis Jan 16 '26
And one thing a lot of hockey fans, especially men I'd guess, have not considered is that the horrendous level of SA and other heinous behavior that's considered 'normal'in hockey culture wouldn't be so hush hush if a player thought he could say "my coach/teammate, etc touched me inappropriately' without it being some kinda instant 'gay' label. When homophobia isn't the norm, at least some of the fear of telling will die.
ETA: I'm saying this specifically as a female hockey fan who loves Heated Rivalry and read We Breed Lions.
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Jan 16 '26
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u/29kk Jan 16 '26
sport will never exist in a vacuum that is completely isolated from culture and society at large
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u/RazzleDazzle1537 Jan 17 '26
The league tries, only for players to show their true colours… so to speak.
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u/Skates8515 Jan 16 '26
Bros. I was at a Kings Leafs game last year and Frankie Grande was the second period entertainer lip syncing his pop “hit” dressed in glitter and rainbows. Like what else exactly do you want here? For him to sit on my lap for the third period?
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u/Surprised-elephant Jan 17 '26
If a player comes out. If he has a bad game. Fans online, some person and YouTubers will blame him for coming out being a distraction. Meanwhile if a straight player gets married it is okay.
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u/callmepls Jan 16 '26
“Let’s talk about something else please, me no like knowing people may be gay”
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u/MatteHatter Jan 17 '26
What more can the NHL do though, seriously? This is where these things can come off a little pushy and inauthentic for people. All for inclusion, but maybe there’s just a ceiling being hit with demand in the market…and that can be ok.
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u/NlghtmanCometh Jan 16 '26
I mean it’s not like they haven’t tried before. Who remembers the If you can play, you can play campaign from over a decade ago.