Refusal of LGBTQ+ Symbol Uniforms and Rainbow Stickers
"Personal Beliefs Must Also Be Respected" Awareness Spreads
The number of players in the North American Ice Hockey League (NHL) who do not participate in events supporting the LGBT community is increasing.
On the 19th, the Associated Press reported that James Reimer, the goalie for the San Jose Sharks, did not participate in the warm-up before the game against the New York Islanders due to religious beliefs.
On that day, the San Jose team wore ‘Pride’ uniforms symbolizing the LGBT community during the game held at their home venue, the SAP Center in San Jose, California.
James Reimer of the San Jose Sharks, who declared non-participation in the LGBTQ+ support event [Photo by Yonhap News]
Reimer, a Christian, stated, “I always try to respect everyone. LGBT members should be welcomed in hockey,” adding, “The Bible holds the greatest authority in my life, and I have chosen not to support anything that contradicts the beliefs based on it.”
The San Jose team announced, “We also recognize and accept the individual's right to express their beliefs,” but added, “Our support for the LGBT community will remain unwavering, and we will encourage participation in the event.”
Reimer is the second NHL player to publicly declare non-participation in LGBT events, following Ivan Provorov of the Philadelphia Flyers, who is originally from Russia. Like Reimer, Provorov did not participate in the warm-up before a game in January and is known to be a member of the Russian Orthodox Church.
At that time, Provorov also said, “I respect everyone’s choices, and I made a choice to be true to myself and my religion.”
A fan is displaying a rainbow flag symbolizing the LGBTQ+ community during an NHL game. Photo by Yonhap News
Recently in the NHL, there is a growing recognition that just as acknowledging the LGBT community is important, personal beliefs that lead to non-support should also be respected. In January, the New York Rangers announced an upcoming LGBT event in advance, but the players did not wear ‘Pride’ uniforms nor did they attach rainbow stickers symbolizing the LGBT community to their hockey sticks.
Meanwhile, ‘You Can Play,’ an organization conducting LGBT inclusion campaigns in sports since 2012, stated, “It is disappointing that religion is used as a reason not to support us.”
‘You Can Play’ added, “Religion and respect do not have to conflict,” and emphasized, “Wearing the Pride uniform is not about expressing the individual player’s personal views but is a communication on behalf of the entire team.”
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