[Article] NHL reportedly bans Pride Tape for 2023-24 season

[RWJC]

NHL reportedly bans Pride Tape for 2023-24 season

 

In a memo sent to the NHL's 32 clubs, the league has decided that it will no longer permit players from using Pride Tape.

 

The NHL has reportedly banned a basic act of solidarity with LGBTQ+ communities, banning teams from using Pride Tape for the 2023-24 season, as first reported by Outsports.

ESPN’s Ryan S. Clark previously reported on Oct. 5 that the NHL sent a memo to all 32 teams clarifying which ‘special initiatives’ they could participate in with Pride Nights falling under this umbrella. The league stated that teams could celebrate whichever initiatives they’d like, as long as it adhered to the dress code.

 

After seven players opted out of Pride Night initiatives last season, the NHL elected not to wear Pride-centered practice jerseys for the 2023-24 season, with Gary Bettman calling the jerseys “a distraction” from the special interest nights. Other special interest nights such as Military Appreciation Night remain an active part of the league’s calendar.

 

Pride Tape has partnered with the NHL and NHLPA in an effort to eradicate homophobia under the NHL’s Hockey Is For Everyone banner — a program that has proven to be widely performative under the supervision of NHL executive vice-president Kim Davis. Using Pride Tape is a small but important act of solidarity with LGBTQ+ communities, allowing NHL players to show their support in a visible way on the ice.
 

Despite its proclamations, the NHL has repeatedly struggled to back up its words with actions in serving as an ally to queer and trans communities, with this latest effort the most troubling policy the league has installed over the past decade.

 

There has been a clear reversal in the league office’s thinking from 2019 onwards, ranging from a series of well-intentioned but fruitless initiatives like Hockey Is For Everyone and Pride Tape — a small gesture of solidarity — to outright condemnation and separation from gay, queer and trans communities over the past year under Bettman and Davis’ leadership.

The NHL, the NHLPA and their partner You Can Play have yet to comment on Outsports’ original report.

 

Arun Srinivasan

Mon, October 9, 2023 at 2:44 PM PDT

 

 https://ca.yahoo.com/sports/news/nhl-reportedly-bans-pride-tape-for-2023-24-season-214441877.html

[Pears]

I wanna see players have the balls to wear Pride colours regardless. See what the NHL's gonna do about a league wide protest. 

[-dlc-]

Gutless NHL. It's tape for crying out loud but sure, be scared of it.

 

Some players may want to use it and I just don't understand this move. 

 

Bettman's the distraction in the NHL...let's make that clear.

[Bob Long]

Who are we protecting with this move?

[Wilbur]

Should ban all pride wear in the stands too, wouldn't want it to be a distraction there either.  Yeesh.

[Satchmo]

5 minutes ago, Bob Long said:

Who are we protecting with this move?

Hockey in America.  What if it got the Bud Lite treatment?

[Wilbur]

4 minutes ago, Bob Long said:

Who are we protecting with this move?

Marginalized Christians?  Sure you probably have to go back to the days of Ancient Rome but those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.

[Bob Long]

3 minutes ago, Satchmo said:

Hockey in America.  What if it got the Bud Lite treatment?

 

yeah, I mean a 90lb trans person with a lite beer can take down anyone. 

[Wilbur]

1 minute ago, Satchmo said:

Hockey in America.  What if it got the Bud Lite treatment?

Wouldn't notice in some markets.

[Rubik]

yikes, pretty embarrassing for the league

[bhoodlum]

So the bigots have won? The NHL is run by goddamn cowards.

[Sapper]

That's why last year was ground zero.

 

It was always about normalizing the anti movement so that little things like.this that is very bizzare ..  becomes normal 

 

There is grooming going on but it's the anti crowd that won't accept anyone having different views or lifestyles other than what they approve of

 

Banning a tape color is a new low in the bowing to the will.of the alt right 

[Coconuts]

The NHL doesn't give a shit about inclusion, it's all about money for them, disappointing move from a gutless league. 

[GreenTercel]

2 hours ago, Pears said:

I wanna see players have the balls to wear Pride colours regardless. See what the NHL's gonna do about a league wide protest. 

 

I can understand why players don't want to "rock the bus", but it would earn my respect to see it, for sure.

 

If a player like Provorov can "opt out" for personal reasons, a player most certainly should be able to "opt in" as well.

[Mike Vanderhoek]

3 hours ago, RWJC said:

NHL reportedly bans Pride Tape for 2023-24 season

 

In a memo sent to the NHL's 32 clubs, the league has decided that it will no longer permit players from using Pride Tape.

 

The NHL has reportedly banned a basic act of solidarity with LGBTQ+ communities, banning teams from using Pride Tape for the 2023-24 season, as first reported by Outsports.

ESPN’s Ryan S. Clark previously reported on Oct. 5 that the NHL sent a memo to all 32 teams clarifying which ‘special initiatives’ they could participate in with Pride Nights falling under this umbrella. The league stated that teams could celebrate whichever initiatives they’d like, as long as it adhered to the dress code.

 

After seven players opted out of Pride Night initiatives last season, the NHL elected not to wear Pride-centered practice jerseys for the 2023-24 season, with Gary Bettman calling the jerseys “a distraction” from the special interest nights. Other special interest nights such as Military Appreciation Night remain an active part of the league’s calendar.

 

Pride Tape has partnered with the NHL and NHLPA in an effort to eradicate homophobia under the NHL’s Hockey Is For Everyone banner — a program that has proven to be widely performative under the supervision of NHL executive vice-president Kim Davis. Using Pride Tape is a small but important act of solidarity with LGBTQ+ communities, allowing NHL players to show their support in a visible way on the ice.
 

Despite its proclamations, the NHL has repeatedly struggled to back up its words with actions in serving as an ally to queer and trans communities, with this latest effort the most troubling policy the league has installed over the past decade.

 

There has been a clear reversal in the league office’s thinking from 2019 onwards, ranging from a series of well-intentioned but fruitless initiatives like Hockey Is For Everyone and Pride Tape — a small gesture of solidarity — to outright condemnation and separation from gay, queer and trans communities over the past year under Bettman and Davis’ leadership.

The NHL, the NHLPA and their partner You Can Play have yet to comment on Outsports’ original report.

 

Arun Srinivasan

Mon, October 9, 2023 at 2:44 PM PDT

 

 https://ca.yahoo.com/sports/news/nhl-reportedly-bans-pride-tape-for-2023-24-season-214441877.html

 

Last I checked the nights still go on, the events, the guests, the speakers and the decorating of the events still holds true. The jerseys and the like were an obvious distraction last year and very much took away from the nights that were planned. The irony is the jerseys were a distraction because people found it as a form of ruining the entire evening's affairs because of it when in fact the people, guests, theme and event itself in and outside the arenas still went on. Bettman is very literally correct when suggesting this was a distraction from the event. It was 110%.

 

This is part of the problem, its ok to have opinions, differing opinions, faiths, ideas or ways of life. Everyone should be respected for just being themselves in this regard. You are not a bigot or a monster if you respect these things but don't wear or take part in certain aspects of a bigger event. That's not how it works and that is what is putting a lot of people off to this type of evening or event if not cause. Your with us, an ally exactly how we say or your a bigot, don't ask questions and certainly don't debate.

 

The NHL has not stepped away from the gay, queer or trans communities, it has removed a distraction that took away from its spotlight. 

[Sapper]

53 minutes ago, Mike Vanderhoek said:

 

Last I checked the nights still go on, the events, the guests, the speakers and the decorating of the events still holds true. The jerseys and the like were an obvious distraction last year and very much took away from the nights that were planned. The irony is the jerseys were a distraction because people found it as a form of ruining the entire evening's affairs because of it when in fact the people, guests, theme and event itself in and outside the arenas still went on. Bettman is very literally correct when suggesting this was a distraction from the event. It was 110%.

 

This is part of the problem, its ok to have opinions, differing opinions, faiths, ideas or ways of life. Everyone should be respected for just being themselves in this regard. You are not a bigot or a monster if you respect these things but don't wear or take part in certain aspects of a bigger event. That's not how it works and that is what is putting a lot of people off to this type of evening or event if not cause. Your with us, an ally exactly how we say or your a bigot, don't ask questions and certainly don't debate.

 

The NHL has not stepped away from the gay, queer or trans communities, it has removed a distraction that took away from its spotlight. 

For this to be true the nhl would have also.banned any different or special items for all other events as equally distracting

 

They didn't.  So it is targeted.

 

At what point do we say enough to expanding religous freedoms so that their will is forced on all of us.

I get it for a very limited few that legitimately have religious conflicts. But the vast majority claiming religion haven't warmed a pew in a very long time

 

Let those that wish stay in the locker room for warm up but this complete stripping of rights is just that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ghostsof1915]

Isn't the issue with 32 or so hockey players saying it's against their religion?

How about tell them a bible story that the rainbow represents God won't flood the world again.

Or if you're into Norse Myths, it's the connection to Asgard via the Bifrost bridge?

 

Maybe they will change their tune.

 

[Smashian Kassian]

On the surface its a very low moment for the NHL to outlaw something so small & seemingly innocuous + benevolent.

 

But given their rationale with outlawing the jerseys (it became a distraction bigger than the event) I think I can see that same rationale here to be honest. With the tape you could basically have a similar thing, ala, If 12 guys are using pride tape in warmup & 6 aren't, well, what becomes the story on the internet... It could be the same response/backlash as people not wearing jerseys the last year. And your right back in the same spot.

 

I didn't understand the players rationale in not wearing the jerseys last year, but I also didn't care for the 'purity test' vibe it kinda morphed into online (imo anyways). 

 

Part of me wants to see someone use the rainbow tape anyway.  And if that does happen it'll be an even bigger story / 'distraction' for the NHL, making this move really backfire. I doubt it happens but would be interesting to see play out & many would appreciate said individual in doing so.

 

Edited October 10, 2023 by Smashian Kassian

[DeNiro]

Hey NHL, weren’t you supposed to release the names of those rapists “soon”?

 

Guess you’re alright with rape but some gay hockey tape you’ve got a problem with…

 

 

[Breadnbutta]

I love it. Just play hockey. It's a hot button topic it's better to just avoid it all together. Nobody is stopping anyone from playing hockey. Tape, jerseys, rainbows, unicorns etc don't make a difference.

[AatuD2]

6 minutes ago, Breadnbutta said:

I love it. Just play hockey. It's a hot button topic it's better to just avoid it all together. Nobody is stopping anyone from playing hockey. Tape, jerseys, rainbows, unicorns etc don't make a difference.

 

Exactly, it was supposed to be about inclusion and love until people started picking on individuals and tried to vilify them in the name of inclusion. 

 

Hilariously ignorant. 

[RWJC]

Next thing you know they’ll be shutting down fan message boards.

[Ghostsof1915]

4 minutes ago, RWJC said:

Next thing you know they’ll be shutting down fan message boards.

My corkboard with strings is now putting everything together!!!!!

[MeanSeanBean]

What a bloody joke... Gord forbid some bigots feel uncomfortable seeing a rainbow tape in warmup. 

[Miss Korea]

13 hours ago, Breadnbutta said:

I love it. Just play hockey. It's a hot button topic it's better to just avoid it all together. Nobody is stopping anyone from playing hockey. Tape, jerseys, rainbows, unicorns etc don't make a difference.

Players can't even put rainbow tape on their sticks because some snowflakes are too offended by it.  The league is literally stopping players from taping their sticks.  What the hell are you talking about...