Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Chicago Blackhawks will not be wearing rainbow-colored jerseys for the team’s Pride Night game on Sunday as originally planned.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the Blackhawks have decided not to wear jerseys with LGBTQ themes, despite the fact that they have done so previously. The team cites worries for the safety of its Russian players as the reason for this decision.
There is a new rule in Russia that prohibits “gay propaganda,” and reports indicate that the team has had contacts with Russian security authorities about the regulations.
It is against the law for a citizen of Russia to endorse or “praise” a lifestyle that is considered LGBTQ.
Anton Khudobin, Philipp Kurashev, and Nikita Zaitsev are the three players on the Blackhawks that either have Russian ancestry or have relations in Russia. Anton Khudobin is from Kazakhstan and is the goalkeeper for the Blackhawks.
In recent months, the National Hockey League (NHL), along with some of its clubs and players, have been under criticism for not donning pride jerseys despite having advertised that they would in the past.
In January, when asked why he did not participate with the rest of his team in wearing similar jerseys, Ivan Provorov of the Philadelphia Flyers cited his Russian Orthodox faith as the reason.
In January, the New York Rangers publicized its Pride Night by claiming that its players will wrap a pride-themed tape on their sticks and that they would wear identical jerseys. However, both of these plans were scrapped without any reason being provided. A similar event happened earlier this month with the Minnesota Wild basketball team.
James Reimer, a goaltender for the San Jose Sharks, cited his Christian faith as the reason he did not wear a rainbow jersey this past weekend on his team’s Pride Night.
Luke Prokop, a prospect for the Nashville Predators and the first openly homosexual player to be signed to an NHL contract, expressed his “disappointment in what feels like a step back for inclusion in the NHL.”
“Pride nights and pride jerseys play an important role in promoting respect and inclusion in the LGBTQIA+ community, and it’s disheartening to see some teams no longer wearing them or fully embracing their significance while the focus of others has become about the players who aren’t participating rather than the meaning of the night itself,” he said.
“Everyone is entitled to their own set of beliefs, but I think it’s important to recognize the difference between endorsing a community and respecting individuals within it.” At each of the intermissions, there will be performances from the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus as well as DJ Zel, a member of the LGBTQ community. In addition, the Chicago Gay Hockey Association will participate in an on-ice tournament that will take place during the break.
