Bettman: Recent Pride Night issues 'shouldn’t take away' from LBGTQ+ efforts

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said that the recent spate of players refusing to don Pride Night jerseys "shouldn’t take away from work the vast majority have done to promote LBGTQ+ inclusion," according to Geoff Baker of the SEATTLE TIMES. Bettman said "overwhelmingly," the league and players "support Pride Night." Bettman: "But there are some players -- not most, far from it -- that have made personal decisions and personal choices and you have to respect that.” He added, “There’s an issue, a distinction, between respecting something and endorsing it. But let’s not lose sight of the fact that this league and our clubs have been overwhelmingly supportive of the LBGTQ+ community and issues and will continue to be. And the fact that overwhelmingly our players support it is something that I think has been getting lost in all the noise around this" (SEATTLE TIMES, 3/30).