The Blackhawks "still have a wide variety of Pride-related programming scheduled" for Sunday's Pride Night game "in spite of the lack of" rainbow-colored jerseys, according to Ben Pope of the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES. Sources said that the Blackhawks will "not wear rainbow-colored Pride jerseys during warmups" Sunday against the Canucks due to "safety concerns for Russian players." However, the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus and LGBTQ community member DJ Zel will "perform during the intermissions," while the Chicago Gay Hockey Association will "compete in an on-ice intermission competition." The team also is "holding a 'fireside chat' Sunday for staff and partners with Brock McGillis," one of the "first openly gay professional hockey players and now an LGBTQ activist within the hockey community." Sources said that conversations with security officials about the "uncertain implications of a new Russian law banning 'gay propaganda'" prompted the team to "make an organizational decision to scrap the Pride jersey plans this year." The Blackhawks currently have three players on their NHL roster who are "of Russian heritage or have family in Russia." Sources said that the decision was "made by the front office rather than by the players" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 3/22).
CAUSE FOR CONCERN: The AP's Jay Cohen noted Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law in December that "significantly expands restrictions on activities seen as promoting LGBTQ rights in the country." Blackhawks D Nikita Zaitsev is a "Moscow native," and there are "other players with family in Russia or other connections to the country." The decision by the Blackhawks comes after Sharks G James Reimer and Flyers D Ivan Provorov "refused to take part in warmups with Pride-themed jerseys." The Rangers opted "not to wear Pride jerseys or use Pride stick tape as part of their night in January despite previously advertising that plan." Russian players Nikolai Knyzhov and Alexander Barabanov however "wore the Pride-themed jerseys for the Sharks on Saturday" (AP, 3/23).
GOING BACKWARDS? THE ATHLETIC's Mark Lazerus wrote the Blackhawks' decision is "another body blow to the Hockey is For Everyone movement that the NHL proudly touts, but all too frequently fails to back up." Two weeks ago, in the wake of the Wild and Rangers decisions, Blackhawks D Connor Murphy was "confident the Blackhawks would wear the jerseys -- a small part of Pride Night," but "easily the most visible." Blackhawks sources "stressed that the decision was made by team management and security officials, not by the players." But a team source "didn't know if the players who did want to wear the jerseys pushed back on the decision at all." The organization "chose not to give players the choice" (THE ATHLETIC, 3/22).
DOING THE WORK: In Seattle, Geoff Baker wrote the Pride Night warmup jerseys are about some NHL teams “giving often-marginalized communities an additional sense of pride and respect by wearing them in their honor.” Be they LGBTQ+, BIPOC, Asian or Native American people "having their community symbols placed on jerseys, that type of inclusion matters.” The league’s diversity and inclusion efforts are “borne partly out of a practical -- some might say cynical -- need to grow the game’s exposure," given sport fan demographics "trending younger and to nontraditional hockey communities.” However, the NHL “deserves credit for honest work at helping these communities feel more included.” With Reimer “citing Christian beliefs, instead of the focus being on NHL’s work helping traditionally marginalized groups feel good about themselves,” it is “suddenly shifted to a hodgepodge debate about freedom of religion and individual workplace rights.” But no one ever told Reimer or Provorov they “couldn’t work unless wearing the jerseys.” Nobody “forced them to convert to another religion, or take part in activities specifically barred by their faiths.” When the Kraken held their Pride Night last week, all players -- including F Ryan Donato -- “donned their special-themed warmup jerseys.” Donato is a "devout Christian and one of the most expressively religious players on the team” (SEATTLE TIMES, 3/22).
