The NHL has a list of
representatives they have been working with to guarantee inclusivity to anyone
watching or playing the game of hockey. They include:
- Diversity ambassador Willie O’Ree – The first black person to play in the NHL.
- Josh Pauls – Captain of the U.S. National Sled team who will be competing at the 2018 Paralympics this month.
- Harrison Browne – The first openly transgender person in professional hockey.
- Fred Sasakamoose – The NHL’s first Canadian indigenous player.
- A player ambassador from each NHL team.
Partnered with the NHL and Hockey is for Everyone is the You Can Play Project. The You Can Play Project was created so that
any athlete, coach or fan that brings heart to their sports arena is given an
equal opportunity to play, regardless of their sexuality and gender identity.
The NHL’s Patrick Burke founded You Can Play in 2012, after his brother
Brendan came out as gay in 2009 as the manager of the Miami (Ohio) University
hockey team. He died months later in a car accident.
Brian Kitts took over as president of the You
Can Play Project a year ago and
has wanted to build Patrick and Brendan Burke’s memorable legacies. “You Can Play is non-profit
organization that advocates for LGBTQ+ athletes
and straight allies in sports. We specifically work for LGBTQ+ issues in
sports, leaving other issues like employment and marriage equality to other
organizations with that focus,” said Kitts.
Each NHL team hosted multiple pride nights and has a player ambassador that will
serve as the go-to person on their team to talk about LGBTQ+ issues. This is
the first time any professional league has had one designated player on each
team who will be an LGBTQ+ ambassador.
"The true testament of the
NHL and NHLPA is seen through Hockey is for
Everyone month, especially when it comes to You Can Play – the fact that all 30 clubs have an ambassador, is
such a moment of solidarity," said Jillian Svensson, vice president of
operations and development for You Can
Play.
The sports world is one of the
only places where slurs are used, ‘casual homophobia’ and discrimination
towards those who are different still exists. The goal for You Can Play is to promote respect for all athletes.
"We love sports, but hated the way sports treated our gay brothers, our LGBTQ+
friends or ourselves. We thought if we could start a discussion that
focused attention on a player's ability – regardless of sexual orientation – we
could change the culture of sports,” said Kitts.
The You Can Play Project recently celebrated its sixth anniversary.
According to Kitts, the biggest change in those six years has been the
willingness of leagues and athletes to get involved. In that timeframe they have united with several large
partners including the NHL, CFL and MLS.
"The NHL, CFL and MLS, CWHL and
COC have been such amazing partners, for many different reasons, but the
visibility they offer to ‘normalizing’ inclusion at the most elite level
of sport is truly amazing,” said Tyvon Greene, co-chair of the Canadian Eastern
Region Advisory Board for You Can Play.
According to Greene, inclusion doesn’t just start
and stop with major sports partners. It begins with how the community is receiving
the message. The first step in supporting a cause is to educate and spread the
word.
"Read up on You Can Play's work
and on the issues surrounding LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport. From there, there are
so many different ways to help out: make a video, run a You Can Play night, tell a few friends, and make a donation,” said
Greene.
