03-08-2023, 12:48 AMspooked Wrote: Yeah, organizations are doing it and I expect it to continue, not because they are not doing anything, but because it carries risk of being a distraction if one of any of their roster is a little shit about it, from now until the end of time. Sens had rainbow tshirts around the whole stadium making a rainbow and had it broadcast multiple times across multiple platforms on multiple days, and had an LGBT hockey team invited to a private pick up game with the alumni, and a bunch of other stuff I am sure I didn't know about since I have moved away and don't keep up with the non-hockey stuff much anymore, but they too did not have anything in their practice uniform (but are auctioning off pride jerseys silently I think as well it has been reported, so they can probably be added to the list).

I would expect it to be the norm to invite their players to use rainbow tape or whatever kind of self-chosen positive expression they want (Chabot was wearing the team's pride hat after the game during interviews etc.), but mandating a jersey to be worn is inviting negativity by putting people who don't support in the headlines and just is more headache than it is worth when they can do 100 other things that achieves the same positives as a practice jersey would (or more) without inviting any negativity over a player's personal decisions or making the player's personal feeling be a bigger headline than the team's positive initiatives.

we're not asking for much here. it's wearing a rainbow for 15 minutes. letting homophobes run under the radar is not the solution. these jerseys do have an impact in that the game-used jerseys are auctioned off for queer charities in the area, and nixing the jerseys at the last minute stabs those organizations in the back by reducing the funding they would have gotten. something like this would be a complete blindside to those charities and fans who were going to be in attendance.

this was an organization that had no issue announcing a law enforcement appreciation night in august with some iffy imagery. an organization that plays near minneapolis. but pride night was a step too far. if a player ever refused to wear a camo warmup they would be raked over the coals.

we know wearing the jersey is performative, as is rainbow capitalism in general. we're realists. but it's still nice to feel seen, especially for queer youth for whom this team could have been a role model in the community. especially with how this last week has gone in the USA in particular, it's just feeling like nhl teams care less for trans people whose lives are under attack (and who have historically faced an unwelcoming hockey culture) and more about the comfort of homophobes. do better nhl.