Yes Virginia, There Are Gay Men in Professional Hockey

by Michael Jones · 2009-11-26 21:54:00 UTC
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Hockey RinkProfessional sports can be a bit of a breeding ground for homophobia. Hockey, in particular, has come under the microscope lately as being a sport with a particularly brutal homophobic culture. That's why this week's story of hockey magnate Brian Burke's son coming out of the closet -- and his dad's full on support for equal rights for LGBT people -- has the sports world buzzing.

Burke, the president and general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, not only publicly came out in support of his son Brendan (who happens to be a student manager of the University of Miami-Ohio Miami University of Ohio's hockey team), he also struck a blow to the glass ceiling that says an openly gay athlete wouldn't be welcome in professional sports.

"I would prefer Brendan hadn't decided to discuss this issue in this very public manner. There will be a great deal of reaction, and I fear a large portion will be negative. But this takes guts, and I admire Brendan greatly, and happily march arm in arm with him on this," said Burke. "There are gay men in professional hockey. We would be fools to think otherwise."

So there's one more thing to be thankful for on this day: powerful sports figures creaking open the closet door to welcome out professional athletes.

The reaction to Burke's son coming out has also delivered some really cool comments from current pro-hockey players. Tampa Bay Lightning player Steven Stamkos said that he'd welcome an openly gay teammate.

"Why not?" Stamkos said. "It's a weird question. It's a personal thing. If you want to come out, good for you."

Stamkos' teammate, Martin St. Louis, said that pro sports need to get with the 21st century when it comes to welcoming athletes that might be gay.

"At this point in time in society it has to be accepted. I don't think you can judge a player or human based on his sexual orientation," said. St. Louis.

All of them are right. And all of them are part of a changing culture in professional sports that is breaking down homophobia. From NFL players who publicly support marriage equality, and now to a hockey guru who marches in gay pride parades with his son, the times they-are-a-changing.

Yes, there are still acts of stupidity (here's looking at you, Larry Johnson). But a tipping point has been reached. It's now not a question of "if" a professional athlete will come out in any of the major sports. It's a question of "when."

(Photo courtesy of RoninKengo's photostream on Flickr.)

Michael Jones is a Change.org Editor. He has worked in the field of human rights communications for a decade, most recently for Harvard Law School.
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