Story and video by Hillary Di Menna
When rumours flew earlier this month regarding Josh Gorge’s sexual orientation, some thought history would be made; a professional athlete would come out. Though Gorge did not come out, and is reported to have a girlfriend, if there is a time for a hockey player to come out, it would be now.
Former Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brian Burke and family’s You Can Play Project, in honour of his now deceased son, Brendan Gilmore Burke. Brendan was openly gay, and the project promotes acceptance of gay athletes. The organization has the support of athletes and fans. Retired New York Ranger, Sean Avery is a strong advocate of gay rights.
When rumours flew earlier this month regarding Josh Gorge’s sexual orientation, some thought history would be made; a professional athlete would come out. Though Gorge did not come out, and is reported to have a girlfriend, if there is a time for a hockey player to come out, it would be now.
Former Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brian Burke and family’s You Can Play Project, in honour of his now deceased son, Brendan Gilmore Burke. Brendan was openly gay, and the project promotes acceptance of gay athletes. The organization has the support of athletes and fans. Retired New York Ranger, Sean Avery is a strong advocate of gay rights.
Recently, the Oshawa Generals became the first team in the OHL to receive an education from PFLAG. Last season, a Generals fan took their two children to a game, where they heard players using homophobic language. One of the children asked her what the language meant, and the spectator decided to take action. Barbara Perry is the Education Director at PFLAG Durham. So when the fan approached the organization she created a presentation for the team. Perry is also the Associate Dean and professor in Social Humanities at UOIT. “We are a faculty committed to community engagement,” says Perry. “To social justice for making change in our immediate communities and global communities as well.” She joined PFLAG as Education Director last Fall. “They were really open to it. I was really happy with the response we got from them,” Perry says of the team’s response to her presentation. Player’s ages range from 15 to 20 in the OHL and Perry tailors her presentations to the audience. “I just approached them as I do my students in the classroom.”
“I thought it went good. It was a step helping players be a little more open minded and aware of some of the things we say. Especially players in the heat of the game,” says the teams general manager, Jeff Twohey.
“I thought it went good. It was a step helping players be a little more open minded and aware of some of the things we say. Especially players in the heat of the game,” says the teams general manager, Jeff Twohey.
UOIT’s men’s hockey team, the Ridgebacks, they are expected to follow a code of contact laid out in the student-athlete handbook. This code is also discussed in an orientation for the players. Ridgebacks coach, Marlin Muylaert, recently returned from a conference in Saskatoon fellow where coaches discussed homophobia in hockey. “I must say that part of our impetus for discussing this issue certainly comes from the exposure and support former Toronto Maple Leaf Brian Burke,” says Muylaert. “Collectively as a group and individually we are in support of this cause.”
Perry focussed on three points during her pflag presentation
Look in
Reach out “It’s really hard to come out as a gay athlete of any sort,” says Perry. “Such a ‘masculine’ field … Let folks know you’re there, that you are a safe haven.” Stand up
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Words can hurt a player, staff member, fan and the game.
Photo by Hillary Di Menna |