The National Hockey League (NHL) hasn’t made any friends by retiring LGBTQ pride themed jerseys. Team Montreal loudly decries this decision.
In a statement issued Thursday, the organization dedicated to sports and recreation for the LGBTQ community indicated that it could only “deplore the situation”. The members of Team Montreal are also asking elected officials to support them in their denunciation of the NHL.
The league recently announced that it will end the wearing of themed jerseys during warm-ups starting next season. Bettman Tour teams have been hosting theme nights for a long time, but the situation became an issue last season when several players refused to wear Pride jerseys. This was particularly the case of the right winger of the Habs, Denis Gurianov, who had boycotted the warm-up period during the evening of the Pride of the Canadian.
“The NHL’s withdrawal response to the intolerance of some of its players towards LGBTQ people sends a clear message not just to its fans, but to everyone involved in hockey,” read the statement. ‘Team Montreal. They are told that even in the biggest professional hockey league, LGBTQ people are a distraction and there is no need to work on their inclusion. ยป
In addition to evenings for Pride, evenings to highlight the military, the fight against cancer or Black History Month were organized by the CH last season. Teams will be able to continue to hold these types of events, but players will no longer be able to wear jerseys dedicated to these causes.
The league’s reaction to “some controversies involving a minority of players and organizations” raises questions about its “real commitment” in the eyes of Team Montreal. The decision “throws a heavy screed on the progress made in an environment still generally hostile to diversity and difference”, it is underlined.
