Gary Bettman and Marty Walsh Release Statement on NHL Pride Night Controversy

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Sky
March 30, 2023 (12:53)

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Several players in the NHL season have chosen not to wear Pride Night-themed warmup jerseys, which are intended to promote inclusivity and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. Among them are notable players such as Ivan Provorov, James Reimer, Marc Staal, Eric Staal, and Ilya Lyubushkin. However, these protests have significantly impacted the league's message of inclusivity.

The decision by players not to wear the jerseys shifts the narrative from one of inclusiveness to one of perceived hate and bigotry, particularly towards the trans community. It is a disheartening situation, and there are reports that the NHL is considering discontinuing the celebrations altogether.

Marty Walsh, the new NHLPA president, addressed the Pride Night controversy during his official introduction. He acknowledged the issue's impact on the league's commitment to inclusivity and stated that the NHLPA would work with the league to find solutions to these concerns. The goal is to ensure that everyone is welcome and included in the hockey community.

"The LGBTQ community shouldn't feel that the NHL hockey players are turning their backs to their community. The super majority of the players wear the jerseys."

Then Gary Bettman decided to comment on it:

"This is the first time we've experienced that, and I think it's something that we're going to have to evaluate in the offseason,"

"This is one issue where players, for a variety of reasons, may not feel comfortable wearing the uniform as a form of endorsement," he said.

"But I think that's become more of a distraction now because the substance of what our teams and we have been doing and stand for is really being pushed to the side for what a handful of players basically have made personal decisions, and you have to respect that as well."

The effectiveness of the NHL's message of inclusivity has been called into question due to the ongoing silent protests by some players against the Pride Night-themed warmup jerseys. With notable teams opting out of the celebrations, there are now concerns that continuing with the events may not be worth the distraction it creates. It defeats the purpose of promoting inclusivity if Pride Night events become a platform for negative and toxic opinions from players and fans.

Moreover, reports suggest that the NHL is considering discontinuing the celebrations altogether due to the protests. This would be a significant setback in the league's efforts to promote inclusivity and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. However, the NHLPA has acknowledged the issue and is working with the league to find ways to address the concerns and ensure that everyone is welcome and included in the hockey community.

Source: HockeyPatrol.com