You Can Play

[slumber]

Urgh, you guys, this makes my heart swell ten-fold. ♥

For those new to my flist, I've written about the LGBT movement in hockey before. It's not anything grandiose, and it isn't really league-led, but considering this is one of the four big sports, it's definitely something. (I don't follow the other three so I'm not aware of how the developments in hockey compare to those.)

Anyway, an update to that is the You Can Play project, spearheaded by Patrick Burke (Brendan's brother), and their first step involves filming a PSA from some of the biggest names in the league. They may not look like it, but those are All-Stars, top players in the league. And Burke says they have filmed 30 players in total out of the 35 who are committed to joining this.

This is a really good recap of everything too.

You Can Play is Burke's bold new initiative that enlists NHL players — the count is up to around 30 as the campaign kicked off Sunday — to "change the sometimes homophobic culture of locker rooms with a message that athletes should be judged on athletic skill and ability, not sexual orientation or other discriminatory factors," according to the organization.

"Through You Can Play, we want to let guys know why that [casual homophobia] is hard for gay athletes to hear. Even if you don't mean it in that sense, there's probably a guy in the locker room that can't take it in any way but in that sense," said Burke.

It's just a really awesome thing to have happen, and like I said last year, I just hope we continue to move in this direction.

Comments

[leigh57.livejournal.com]

This made me tear up -- I'm quite serious. I feel so passionately about this issue. Thank you for posting. Would you be upset if I put this up in my journal also?

[slumber.livejournal.com]

Of course! Please feel free to do so. :)

[asolarfever.livejournal.com]

I love this so, so much. Could I share this in my own LJ? :)

It's amazing this has happened....and I hope it gives players the courage to come out in the future, like "I'm not alone and I don't have to hide it anymore". I'm still of the belief that there's at least one gay player in most teams.

[slumber.livejournal.com]

Of course! :)

I really like that they're actively doing something about it.