NHL teams won't wear theme-night jerseys after players' Pride refusals caused distractions

I think that the climate for the LGBT Q community right now is kind of tense. There have been *** lot of legislative attacks that have been going on across the country at the same time as the bit of attacks. We're also saying *** real online and in person harassment and threats of violence. June is Pride Month and many businesses across the country get in on the event and show their support for the LGBTQ community. But many corporations have received backlash in the recent weeks. Most recently target announced that it removed products and relocated pride displays to the back of certain stores after protesters knocked over pride signs and worried staff. So you started seeing things like rainbow t-shirts or, or stuff like that in, in stores. And um for many um who are part of the community, it's been really encouraging and um has made people feel really good. What I think has been difficult now is that there's *** coordinated attack to try and get companies to take that merchandise away or to not speak out on behalf of civil rights for LGBTQ people. It's just part of this broader and concerning trend of extremism in our country. Nearly 500 anti LGBTQ bills have been introduced in the state legislatures around the country. Because of this, many advocacy groups are calling for new campaigns to convince corporate leaders to use their platforms in support of the LGBTQ community. There are even organizations like out leadership that advises corporations in the US and abroad on how to adopt LGBTQ supportive policies and practices. Janson Wu with the Glbt Q legal advocates and defenders says when big corporations show support, it can create *** safer environment for employees, really important that we not cave to extremism, celebrating pride in corporate America in storefronts on mainstream is profoundly affirming to the well being of all LGBTQ people, particularly young people, all of us, whether or not you're part of the LGBTQ community or not, you know, need to be vocal, need to be visible about, you know, the values that we all share. First and foremost, we need to celebrate those companies that are doing the right thing that are leading with their values of inclusion and affirmation and not backing down in the face of extremism. Um I think the Dodgers is *** good example. They initially rescinded um their um invitation to uh an LGBT Q organization that they're honoring in the face of protest. But then after they realized uh that was the exact wrong thing to do in the face of extremism. They reverse course and chose the path of quality. So this was the first permit that we got for uh *** parade in Denver in 1970. Rex Fuller is with the center on Colfax in Denver. It's *** center dedicated toward providing help for those in the LGBTQ community. Fuller says more open corporate support can also help with mental health of young adults. Some major companies, financial support also helps his organization. This is *** place that can be *** safe harbor in *** really loud storm out there. Um The support of companies is definitely part of the funding model that keeps us in business. We are able to provide the services that we do in part because of the support that we get from different companies who, who support the Center. And we're really grateful for that. Still LGBT Q supporters in the community say these struggles such as hostility towards retailers are just the latest obstacle in *** decades long struggle for equality. Thomas Hoppo scripts, news, Denver.

NHL teams won’t have special jerseys for pregame warmups during themed nights next season, the result of a handful of players refusing to wear rainbow-colored Pride jerseys this past season and causing unwelcome distractions.The league’s Board of Governors agreed Thursday with Commissioner Gary Bettman’s view that the refusals overshadowed teams’ efforts in hosting Pride nights that in some cases included auctioning off the warmup jerseys. All 32 teams held Pride or Hockey is for Everyone night.Related video above: LGBTQ+ advocacy groups want businesses to continue supportTeams will still celebrate Pride and other theme nights, including military appreciation and Hockey Fights Cancer. They're also expected to still design and produce jerseys to be autographed and sold to raise money, even though players won’t skate around with them on during warmups.Seven players, citing various reasons, decided not to take part in pregame warmups when their teams donned Pride jerseys before games. A few teams also decided not to have players wear them after planning to do so.Ivan Provorov, a Russian defenseman then with Philadelphia, was the first in January. Provorov cited his Russian Orthodox religion and was defended by coach John Tortorella.James Reimer, a goaltender for San Jose, and brothers Eric and Marc Staal of Florida, who are Canadian, also cited religious beliefs. Russian players Ilya Lyubushkin of Buffalo, Denis Gurianov of Montreal and Andrei Kuzmenko of Vancouver also opted out of their teams' Pride night warmups.Lyubushkin cited an anti-gay Kremlin law as his reason, which was also why the Chicago Blackhawks decided against Pride night jerseys. The New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild earlier opted against the jerseys after previously advertising they would have them.Sergei Bobrovsky, who is Russian, took part in warmups the night the Staal brothers declined and in the aftermath of several countrymen deciding not to wear Pride jerseys.Bettman, in an interview with Sportsnet following the Board of Governors meeting in New York, said he suggested teams stop having special warmup jerseys because themed nights were being undermined by chatter over certain players declining to participate.“That's just become more of a distraction from really the essence of what the purpose of these nights are,” Bettman said. “We’re keeping the focus on the game. And on these specialty nights, we’re going to be focused on the cause.”Bettman at NHL All-Star Weekend in February defended the league and teams' handling of the situations, saying tolerance of varying viewpoints was part of being “open, welcoming and inclusive.”“You know what our goals, our values and our intentions are across the league, whether it’s at the league level or at the club level,” Bettman said at the time. “But we also have to respect some individual choice, and some people are more comfortable embracing themselves in causes than others. And part of being diverse and welcoming is understanding those differences.”

The league’s Board of Governors agreed Thursday with Commissioner Gary Bettman’s view that the refusals overshadowed teams’ efforts in hosting Pride nights that in some cases included auctioning off the warmup jerseys. All 32 teams held Pride or Hockey is for Everyone night.

Related video above: LGBTQ+ advocacy groups want businesses to continue support

Teams will still celebrate Pride and other theme nights, including military appreciation and Hockey Fights Cancer. They're also expected to still design and produce jerseys to be autographed and sold to raise money, even though players won’t skate around with them on during warmups.

Seven players, citing various reasons, decided not to take part in pregame warmups when their teams donned Pride jerseys before games. A few teams also decided not to have players wear them after planning to do so.

Ivan Provorov, a Russian defenseman then with Philadelphia, was the first in January. Provorov cited his Russian Orthodox religion and was defended by coach John Tortorella.

James Reimer, a goaltender for San Jose, and brothers Eric and Marc Staal of Florida, who are Canadian, also cited religious beliefs. Russian players Ilya Lyubushkin of Buffalo, Denis Gurianov of Montreal and Andrei Kuzmenko of Vancouver also opted out of their teams' Pride night warmups.

Lyubushkin cited an anti-gay Kremlin law as his reason, which was also why the Chicago Blackhawks decided against Pride night jerseys. The New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild earlier opted against the jerseys after previously advertising they would have them.

Sergei Bobrovsky, who is Russian, took part in warmups the night the Staal brothers declined and in the aftermath of several countrymen deciding not to wear Pride jerseys.

Bettman, in an interview with Sportsnet following the Board of Governors meeting in New York, said he suggested teams stop having special warmup jerseys because themed nights were being undermined by chatter over certain players declining to participate.

“That's just become more of a distraction from really the essence of what the purpose of these nights are,” Bettman said. “We’re keeping the focus on the game. And on these specialty nights, we’re going to be focused on the cause.”

Bettman at NHL All-Star Weekend in February defended the league and teams' handling of the situations, saying tolerance of varying viewpoints was part of being “open, welcoming and inclusive.”

“You know what our goals, our values and our intentions are across the league, whether it’s at the league level or at the club level,” Bettman said at the time. “But we also have to respect some individual choice, and some people are more comfortable embracing themselves in causes than others. And part of being diverse and welcoming is understanding those differences.”

NHL teams won't wear theme-night jerseys after players' Pride refusals caused distractions

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