The National Hockey League on Tuesday launched a “Player Inclusion Coalition” aimed at advancing LGBTQ and diversity initiatives in sports, according to a report by The Associated Press.
The commission, made up of 20 minority and LGBTQ players and former players, will “work to promote equality and inclusion in off-ice hockey sports,” according to the coalition. website. The announcement comes days after the league canceled practices after some NHL players said they would refuse to wear their “pride jerseys” before games.(Related article: ‘Stay focused on the game’: NHL players no longer wear Pride jerseys during warmups)
Coalition members include former Edmonton Oilers and Black Lives Matter player Anson Carter. supportersaid Megan Duggan, former US Olympian and LGBTQ advocate. APs.
“Ignorance is no longer an excuse,” says Duggan. “We have a lot of resources at our fingertips to understand ‘what is the terminology of the queer community?’ What is the abbreviation? What is the correct alternative? Education is not about exactly how people relate to people from marginalized communities, but about how they can be allies. It is done.”
of @NHL and the NHLPA announced the launch of the NHL Player Inclusion Coalition, an organization of current and former NHL players and women’s professional hockey players working to promote equality and inclusion in the sport of hockey on and off the ice.
read more:… pic.twitter.com/DQyGqIvNbs
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 27, 2023
The coalition will make recommendations to league officials on how to make the league more “inclusive,” conduct educational lectures by NHL players and officials, and participate in a “grassroots program that welcomes and celebrates a diverse hockey audience,” according to the newspaper. It plans to spend $100 million.Union’s website.
“It’s no secret that the sport sometimes struggles with diversity and inclusion,” Duggan said. “That’s why this group is here: to keep pushing, to keep encouraging, to keep players stepping up, and to remain public allies.”
The new coalition is the latest evolution of the NHL’s “commitmentary committee” initiative launched after George Floyd’s death in 2020. APs report. The announcement comes days after the NHL banned on-ice themed jerseys after backlash against the league’s decision to have players wear “pride-themed” jerseys before games. Many players, including Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov, said they would refuse to wear the uniform, but his jersey sold out online shortly after he announced his refusal. fox news report.
Despite ban on pride-themed jerseys, NHL says it will continue celebrate According to Fox News, it’s called “Pride Night.”
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