What gets me is the hypocrisy of these players. James Reimer, whom I love, started this whole ball rolling by saying it didn't match his Christian values. He's a practicing Mennonite, and says supporting gay rights is against his religion...yet, his religion is pacifist. So, explain to me why he had no issues wearing military themed warm up jerseys in the past (and will probably continue to do so going forward)? Proof:
Sharks online store
Is it because he fears a bigger backlash from the conservatives for following that tenet of his faith?
Here's the thing, the NHL is trying to make itself more popular across the world. And there is a HUGE untapped market in the LGBTQ and POC community. So, they are trying to show that it is a welcoming atmosphere and game for all people. This cancellation of pride events is just more backlash from right-wingers like Ron DeSantis who push anti-LGBTQ agendas so there moronic supporters believe they are conservatives enough. That is the climate we're facing in many parts of the US and even Canada. I don't think wearing a pride jersey means you necessarily support gay rights. I understand that some cannot get over the fact that a book (the bible) ghost written and revised thousands of times over the eons says gay stuff is bad.
What these refusals to wear these jerseys tells the world is that these players do not want LGBTQ fans. They can try to spin it off as a religious thing, but wearing a rainbow flag doesn't make you gay. It doesn't mean you anything really. They could still be homophobic in private. What it does say is they are waving a political flag basically saying that its alright to treat that community different.
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