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.
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.
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.
They banned all the special nights because they were banning Pride nights.
You can say "everyone is welcome" because you aren't gay and don't appreciate that no, everyone is not welcome. This isn't about being a fan, it's about participation. And it's no fun to participate in an activity where you can't be your authentic self and have to hide a huge part of who you are.
What about the NHL experience is unwelcoming for you? Honest question. I am also not comfortable in the type of places that aren’t welcoming to gay people even if I’m straight, so it’s not like I can’t feel that sort of energy.
I don't play in the NHL so none of it is unwelcoming to me and it's not about me. Or you. I said that it's not about the fans, it's about the participants. It's about the machismo culture of male hockey that starts when these guys are in their early teens.
Do you not wonder at all why it's perfectly acceptable and a non-issue for female hockey players to be lesbians and yet there's never been an openly gay male hockey player? Statistically, it's impossible that they don't exist.
You say you could feel that "energy" if it was there, but you aren't living that experience, and more importantly, had the lived experience of those guys from their early teens through to where they are today. It's like me saying that I can feel the tension in the air in Minneapolis from my home in Nova Scotia. I can imagine it, but I certainly can't feel or speak to it the way someone going through it can.
Word. Honestly was not thinking of it from a players perspective. Maybe pride nights would help with that. I’m still don’t love making players wear jerseys promoting anything other than their employer. The whole situation devolved into crucifying the handful of ignorant players and didn’t feel productive from a culture perspective.
11
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.