Banning team sponsored pride nights was the beginning. They got to hide behind trying to avoid controversy when a player refuses to participate.
Now they refuse to let players express themselves individually.
Purple_Map_507
This all could have been solved with a very simple compromise: Don’t make players wear or do things. Continue having the « special initiatives » and those that want to wear the jerseys and tape their sticks can and those that don’t or can’t, don’t have to. Very simple and clean. Gives a choice and voice to all athletes; those that hold these causes near to their hearts and those that don’t.What the league has done has taken a bad move and made it worse.
ennuiinmotion
They went from “can’t force people to participate” to “nobody is allowed to participate” pretty fast. Corporations always enable the bad guys.
Heart_Eyes_1
Gross
Freekeychain-o7
Lol. The worst commissioner in all sports.
Spidey5292
This is so ridiculous. Stuff like this is the reason these pride initiatives exist.
Reddititfortat
This is so stupid. And not for the reasons you think
Dusky_Dawn210
#LET THEM USE RAINBOW TAPE
If this upset anyone other than the dude bros in the comments then they need to reassess where their priorities lie
Kevsbar123
Hey Connor, I wonder what would happen if you just skated with pride tape anyway?
Smittysgreasymullet
If McDavid used the pride tape It wouldn’t surprise me in the least, but I’d also understand a hockey player just wanting to focus on his job, which is scoring lots of points and trying to win. Doesn’t seem like the type to want to create a circus, though he may comment on it.
SwiftFool
Gary and the NHL are really trying to make it clear: Hockey is NOT for everyone.
God forbid, Kid Rock and his kind see the rainbow tape and treat the players like they treated Bud Light. Those are the people who caused this.
Duhstee
Can we stop celebrating Military Night?
deadphisherman
How about some « Eat Shit Gary » tape?
Fit-Meal4943
Heaven forbid the Alpha Bros get their fee fees hurt by the big bad rainbow.
Re3ading
So hockey is not for everyone I guess
Scamnam
Joke a league.
Blows my mind how some people would let a flag that is multi coloured offend you
R3VIVAL-MOD3
Are they going to also ban military appreciation nights? Cant have it both ways. Either no special warm up nights or stop letting bigots dictate your inclusion.
Kyveido
Honestly, the best celebration of pride was when the Hawks brought in figure skater / drag queen Denali to perform between periods. Actually involving queer people makes more sense than playing with their colors and going « hey we’re doing something! »
You want to support our LGBTQ homies being fans of hockey? Why not start with events that involve LGBTQ people actually being around hockey. Maybe even if you wanted to bring up pride, why not touch on Stonewall and how that started pride in between periods or something.
There are other ways we can support our homies and make em feel welcome to the game but also, I was always so down for the pride jerseys and tape.
Sheeple_person
>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)
So this absolutely means no more pro-military or pro-police « special initiatives » right?
Is Hockey Fights Cancer out? Certainly the anti-vaxxers who don’t trust the medical establishment would see this as a problematic « Special initiative » right?
Ditto_the_Deceiver
A good day for the Staal brothers thus a bad day for everyone else.
HappyDiscussion5469
How are hockey fans always talking about how tough them and their sport are, and yet are too fragile to handle seeing a fucking rainbow.
Pathetic league pandering to pathetic fans. People need to grow the fuck up.
jdmay101
I’m trying to find the actual policy that says they’ve banned pride tape… it says there is a « league wide memo ». Where is that memo published?
I’ve seen a weird, vaguely worded statement about not having to be in proximity to people who are supporting cause X (which, to be clear, I think is stupid) but nothing specifically saying « no more pride tape ».
NefCanuck
NHL brass proving that they have their heads up their ass.
Saltwaterborn
The best sport in NA consistently has the worst league, man. They continue to drop the ball on everything, I swear to fuck.
HotHits630
Bettman is a shit of a human that can rot when his time is up.
Difficult-Ad-2228
Just play hockey and STFU about everything else please.
-MakeNazisDeadAgain_
My college said we couldn’t wear rainbow striped socks, so half of us died our hair rainbow stripes lol
itsmb12
Imo, if you allowed players to decide for themselves, players could face major unwarranted backlash just for deciding not to. They could be completely indifferent on the LGBT topic and just decide not to use it, and get massive amounts of hate. So, you either have to mandate everyone does it or nobody does it. And better to not force people to do things they don’t want to do.
From the league’s standpoint, it’s the right call.
dylanisbored
Probably the PA protecting the guys who don’t want to participate. Because they don’t want it to be obvious when guys don’t and last year it was and those guys got a lot of flack. Like the decision or not, it’s the PAs job to protect them too.
BenchSecret2276
Everything doesn’t have to be for everyone.
Numberonememerr
It’s very funny to me that participation in something like Pride Night is considered by many to be a political statement (because non-participation has been made the expected norm), while non-participation in something like the National Anthem would be considered a political statement (because participation has been made the expected norm). Crazy how that works, huh?
jormun8andr
So a small vocal minority ruined it for literally everyone else, the vast majority of NHL players support LGBTQ enough to wear the jersey. What a bunch of spineless braindead cowards (NHL execs). Way to let the bigots win Gary.
just_keep_pedaling
This will be the unpopular opinion but I think this is a good idea for consistency. Stop bringing social distractions into sports. Keep it about hockey. I don’t need to be thinking about pride while I’m watching hockey. I want to enjoy the sport, not know where players side with social issues.
JohnYCanuckEsq
Hey guys, is it gay to put tape on your stick?
After_Carry2678
It’s any special initiatives. Not just pride. No one is being targeted.
MikenoIke1
No, let’s just stick with hockey. And I along with many others agree with this. It’s not being anti-gay or anything like that. I come to watch sports, that’s it, end of story.
PoliteIndecency
Real quick question here because I’m still not sure of the wording. Is this an outright ban on Pridetape and showing pride or is it a ban on asking players to participate in initiative nights?
I’m reading this as the latter, but I might be wrong.
ur_sexy_body_double
it’s almost like no corporation actually cares and is only chasing money 🤔
Hockystr17
Most leagues have uniform/equipment rules/policies ect. If you don’t like it, play somewhere else.
Mars-Culture
“Don’t say gay”
Exaggerate much?
olzabaali
Its good they ban politics. Pride has gone ultra-left in so many ways it has nothing to do with original purpose.
HelpMyCatHasGas
Anyone looking forward to « find the most bigoted conment » by searching for controversial in about a few hours?
irishkill
Well this is what happens when everyone who should be happy for what they were doing and instead gets outraged at the 1% who didn’t want to wear the jerseys. Now u get nothing… lol
Maleficent-Giraffe98
It’s an overreactive response but it’s backlash from tons of you calling people bigots for simply not wanting to have a certain representation on their stick. Culturally right now, there is little place for sports representing social movements. I don’t think the fans are mature enough to handle politics in their sports, and that was proven with how many athlete’s and their families were accused of hating gay people last year. Reality is most of these dudes have little to no experience in these things, whether they’re for or against it means next to nothing. Also, does anyone consider the idea of a gay player being afraid to come out? People accusing a player of homophobia and then that player coming out as gay would be the most reddit thing I’d have seen since the Boston bombing detectives.
GrymEdm
Some folks are talking about how they wish they could just enjoy hockey, and you know what? So do a lot of LGBTQ+ athletes and fans and that’s why open acceptance is important. Pride Nights aren’t about forcing anyone to be homosexual or saying « Yay! You’re superior just because you’re LGBTQ+! ».
The issue that should be addressed is that there have been troubling, scientifically solid investigations like [a study of almost 9,500 athletes](https://outonthefields.com/media/?fbclid=IwAR2dWbuIj415Kz19NWqlfCy0UViStJBBPj3JWsOoPjYZE7tJd29zP4FqIpE) that went through academic review in 7 countries. That study found that 80% of athletes in nations like the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia either witnessed or were personally affected by homophobia, usually verbal (e.g. being called faggots or dykes). 19% of gay men and 9% of lesbian women were actually physically assaulted.
So Pride initiatives aren’t saying that somehow LGBTQ+ fans and athletes are innately better and must be celebrated on the basis of sexuality. It’s that LGBTQ+ individuals have been made unwelcome for a long time, and the NHL ***should*** be open for everyone. [There’s even some proof that official events like Pride games reduce discrimination](https://outonthefields.com/resources/). The NHL has taken a step backwards with this latest decision, and it’s such a petty decision too. I have yet to come across an explanation of why a pre-game sweater (that most fans won’t even see) or pride tape ruins hockey that doesn’t boil down to « I don’t like knowing that homosexuals are involved ».
3pieceSuit
Best sport, worst league.
Pussycat-Papa
Can they ban the National anthems too while they are in a banning mood?
james-HIMself
All it would take is one player to do it anyways and the NHL punishing said player would be the worst PR disaster of all time for them.
Danceswithwood
Same people furious that Provorov and others got the slightest criticism about being bigots are elated by the complete removal of inclusion. Backwards ass league
49 Comments
Banning team sponsored pride nights was the beginning. They got to hide behind trying to avoid controversy when a player refuses to participate.
Now they refuse to let players express themselves individually.
This all could have been solved with a very simple compromise: Don’t make players wear or do things. Continue having the « special initiatives » and those that want to wear the jerseys and tape their sticks can and those that don’t or can’t, don’t have to. Very simple and clean. Gives a choice and voice to all athletes; those that hold these causes near to their hearts and those that don’t.What the league has done has taken a bad move and made it worse.
They went from “can’t force people to participate” to “nobody is allowed to participate” pretty fast. Corporations always enable the bad guys.
Gross
Lol. The worst commissioner in all sports.
This is so ridiculous. Stuff like this is the reason these pride initiatives exist.
This is so stupid. And not for the reasons you think
#LET THEM USE RAINBOW TAPE
If this upset anyone other than the dude bros in the comments then they need to reassess where their priorities lie
Hey Connor, I wonder what would happen if you just skated with pride tape anyway?
If McDavid used the pride tape It wouldn’t surprise me in the least, but I’d also understand a hockey player just wanting to focus on his job, which is scoring lots of points and trying to win. Doesn’t seem like the type to want to create a circus, though he may comment on it.
Gary and the NHL are really trying to make it clear: Hockey is NOT for everyone.
God forbid, Kid Rock and his kind see the rainbow tape and treat the players like they treated Bud Light. Those are the people who caused this.
Can we stop celebrating Military Night?
How about some « Eat Shit Gary » tape?
Heaven forbid the Alpha Bros get their fee fees hurt by the big bad rainbow.
So hockey is not for everyone I guess
Joke a league.
Blows my mind how some people would let a flag that is multi coloured offend you
Are they going to also ban military appreciation nights? Cant have it both ways. Either no special warm up nights or stop letting bigots dictate your inclusion.
Honestly, the best celebration of pride was when the Hawks brought in figure skater / drag queen Denali to perform between periods. Actually involving queer people makes more sense than playing with their colors and going « hey we’re doing something! »
You want to support our LGBTQ homies being fans of hockey? Why not start with events that involve LGBTQ people actually being around hockey. Maybe even if you wanted to bring up pride, why not touch on Stonewall and how that started pride in between periods or something.
There are other ways we can support our homies and make em feel welcome to the game but also, I was always so down for the pride jerseys and tape.
>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)
So this absolutely means no more pro-military or pro-police « special initiatives » right?
Is Hockey Fights Cancer out? Certainly the anti-vaxxers who don’t trust the medical establishment would see this as a problematic « Special initiative » right?
A good day for the Staal brothers thus a bad day for everyone else.
How are hockey fans always talking about how tough them and their sport are, and yet are too fragile to handle seeing a fucking rainbow.
Pathetic league pandering to pathetic fans. People need to grow the fuck up.
I’m trying to find the actual policy that says they’ve banned pride tape… it says there is a « league wide memo ». Where is that memo published?
I’ve seen a weird, vaguely worded statement about not having to be in proximity to people who are supporting cause X (which, to be clear, I think is stupid) but nothing specifically saying « no more pride tape ».
NHL brass proving that they have their heads up their ass.
The best sport in NA consistently has the worst league, man. They continue to drop the ball on everything, I swear to fuck.
Bettman is a shit of a human that can rot when his time is up.
Just play hockey and STFU about everything else please.
My college said we couldn’t wear rainbow striped socks, so half of us died our hair rainbow stripes lol
Imo, if you allowed players to decide for themselves, players could face major unwarranted backlash just for deciding not to. They could be completely indifferent on the LGBT topic and just decide not to use it, and get massive amounts of hate. So, you either have to mandate everyone does it or nobody does it. And better to not force people to do things they don’t want to do.
From the league’s standpoint, it’s the right call.
Probably the PA protecting the guys who don’t want to participate. Because they don’t want it to be obvious when guys don’t and last year it was and those guys got a lot of flack. Like the decision or not, it’s the PAs job to protect them too.
Everything doesn’t have to be for everyone.
It’s very funny to me that participation in something like Pride Night is considered by many to be a political statement (because non-participation has been made the expected norm), while non-participation in something like the National Anthem would be considered a political statement (because participation has been made the expected norm). Crazy how that works, huh?
So a small vocal minority ruined it for literally everyone else, the vast majority of NHL players support LGBTQ enough to wear the jersey. What a bunch of spineless braindead cowards (NHL execs). Way to let the bigots win Gary.
This will be the unpopular opinion but I think this is a good idea for consistency. Stop bringing social distractions into sports. Keep it about hockey. I don’t need to be thinking about pride while I’m watching hockey. I want to enjoy the sport, not know where players side with social issues.
Hey guys, is it gay to put tape on your stick?
It’s any special initiatives. Not just pride. No one is being targeted.
No, let’s just stick with hockey. And I along with many others agree with this. It’s not being anti-gay or anything like that. I come to watch sports, that’s it, end of story.
Real quick question here because I’m still not sure of the wording. Is this an outright ban on Pridetape and showing pride or is it a ban on asking players to participate in initiative nights?
I’m reading this as the latter, but I might be wrong.
it’s almost like no corporation actually cares and is only chasing money 🤔
Most leagues have uniform/equipment rules/policies ect. If you don’t like it, play somewhere else.
“Don’t say gay”
Exaggerate much?
Its good they ban politics. Pride has gone ultra-left in so many ways it has nothing to do with original purpose.
Anyone looking forward to « find the most bigoted conment » by searching for controversial in about a few hours?
Well this is what happens when everyone who should be happy for what they were doing and instead gets outraged at the 1% who didn’t want to wear the jerseys. Now u get nothing… lol
It’s an overreactive response but it’s backlash from tons of you calling people bigots for simply not wanting to have a certain representation on their stick. Culturally right now, there is little place for sports representing social movements. I don’t think the fans are mature enough to handle politics in their sports, and that was proven with how many athlete’s and their families were accused of hating gay people last year. Reality is most of these dudes have little to no experience in these things, whether they’re for or against it means next to nothing. Also, does anyone consider the idea of a gay player being afraid to come out? People accusing a player of homophobia and then that player coming out as gay would be the most reddit thing I’d have seen since the Boston bombing detectives.
Some folks are talking about how they wish they could just enjoy hockey, and you know what? So do a lot of LGBTQ+ athletes and fans and that’s why open acceptance is important. Pride Nights aren’t about forcing anyone to be homosexual or saying « Yay! You’re superior just because you’re LGBTQ+! ».
The issue that should be addressed is that there have been troubling, scientifically solid investigations like [a study of almost 9,500 athletes](https://outonthefields.com/media/?fbclid=IwAR2dWbuIj415Kz19NWqlfCy0UViStJBBPj3JWsOoPjYZE7tJd29zP4FqIpE) that went through academic review in 7 countries. That study found that 80% of athletes in nations like the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia either witnessed or were personally affected by homophobia, usually verbal (e.g. being called faggots or dykes). 19% of gay men and 9% of lesbian women were actually physically assaulted.
So Pride initiatives aren’t saying that somehow LGBTQ+ fans and athletes are innately better and must be celebrated on the basis of sexuality. It’s that LGBTQ+ individuals have been made unwelcome for a long time, and the NHL ***should*** be open for everyone. [There’s even some proof that official events like Pride games reduce discrimination](https://outonthefields.com/resources/). The NHL has taken a step backwards with this latest decision, and it’s such a petty decision too. I have yet to come across an explanation of why a pre-game sweater (that most fans won’t even see) or pride tape ruins hockey that doesn’t boil down to « I don’t like knowing that homosexuals are involved ».
Best sport, worst league.
Can they ban the National anthems too while they are in a banning mood?
All it would take is one player to do it anyways and the NHL punishing said player would be the worst PR disaster of all time for them.
Same people furious that Provorov and others got the slightest criticism about being bigots are elated by the complete removal of inclusion. Backwards ass league