'NHL is ready for gay player,' says Patrick Burke

 

http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/14052110/nhl-play-co-founder-patrick-burke-says-nhl-ready-gay-player

 

When the NHL brought on You Can Play as an official partner in the spring of 2013, the hope was that the league's first openly gay player wasn't far behind.

 

Two and a half years later, we are still waiting.

 

"It's surprising," Patrick Burke, the co-founder of You Can Play, said Tuesday. "We felt that the work the league was doing, the culture that the league had, the way our guys responded not just to our initiative, but to the LGBT community in general, I think we thought for sure by now there would be an out player in the NHL."

 

Burke paused before adding: "I don't want to say it's disappointing because everyone is on their own timeline and when the first guy is ready he's going to do it."

 

And if there was any remaining doubt about whether there were gay NHL players -- I don't know how anyone could even wonder that -- Burke says You Can Play has indeed heard from gay players in the league.

 

"Look, we denied it for several years because we didn't want players to feel pressure, we didn't want to kick off a witch hunt, we didn't want people trying to guess who was who," said Burke. "But yes, our organization has spoken with gay players in the National Hockey League, gay staff members, gay media members.

 

"If we could coordinate everyone we know in professional sports, not just hockey, to come out all at once, it would be world-changing overnight. But for a variety of different reasons, there are men and women who still don't think it's the right decision for them to come out at this time."

 

I suppose if there are still homophobic NHLers they're not going to come out and say so. All I can tell you is that in the dressing room of one of the NHL's most storied franchises, the captain of the team says it would be a non-issue.

 

"No issue at all, no issue at all," Toronto Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf repeated for emphasis Wednesday. "It would be welcomed and accepted with open arms in our room. That's how I feel, I would accept it."

 

That feeling was echoed down the hall in the visitors' dressing room at Air Canada Centre.

 

"We got a good group in here, I don't think anybody would have an issue with it," said Winnipeg Jets captain Andrew Ladd. "It makes zero difference to us whatever your sexual orientation is; that's their personal life. I really don't think in this day and age it would be much of an issue."

 

And yet, we wait. Why hasn't it happened yet?

 

"I mean, it's easy for us to say, we're not in their shoes," said Ladd. "It's a choice, especially if you're the first one, it's going to be pretty magnified and it's going to take a strong person to be able to do it and go through the rigors of playing NHL hockey every day. All you can do as a teammate or friend is be supportive and accepting whenever it comes."

 

Burke has a few theories as to why it hasn't happened yet.

 

"I think it has come close," he said. "I would say that the coming-out experiences for the openly gay players in other leagues -- whether it was Jason Collins, whether it was Michael Sam -- those guys have had let's call them up and down experiences. Jason came out and was out of work for six or seven months. Mike came out and hasn't been able to find a home in the NFL. I wonder how many positive gay athletes are looking at that and thinking, 'Is that because they're gay or is that because they're both journeymen-level talent players.' How much of that is an authentic, scouting-based 'these guys just weren't good enough to help us' evaluation and how much of that is 'We don't' want a gay player on our team.'

 

"I suspect there's a lot of players in our league looking at the situations with other gay athletes and wondering how much of that is because they're gay."

 

The reality, to be fair, is that while Collins and Sam were incredibly courageous to come out, neither is a prominent player near the top of their respective food chain.

 

"Jason is a friend of mine so I have no problem saying that, he would be the first to admit he was a depth/bench player who played 4-5 minutes a night," said Burke. "The Michael Sam story is probably worthy of a book, the stuff that we know and have been involved on both sides of things there."

 

Then, Burke said, there's the question of hockey culture itself.

 

"Hockey is all about the team. Hockey culture hates individualism," said Burke. "Whether that's right or wrong, hockey culture is that you do not stand out. You do not make yourself different from the team. We've had players in our league that have been yelled at for high-fiving too aggressively. So I do wonder from talking to a bunch of different players in the league that this is a team sport and almost an obsessively team culture and I think there are guys out there that are nervous about the idea that them coming out would somehow be going against that."

 

And finally, Burke wonders about his own role in all this. The man who has done so much through his work with You Can Play wonders whether taking a job with the NHL's Player Safety Department in the spring of 2013 hasn't hindered things in terms of having players come out.

 

"I think we would probably be further along had I not taken a job where part of my job is suspending players. Rightly or wrongly," said Burke. "We (You Can Play) interact with players all the time, whether it's guys reaching out because they have questions or guys reaching out because they want support or whatever it might be. But I really do feel taking a job where I'm part of the group suspending players really did kind of make the lines of communication between our organization and the players a little more difficult at times."

 

It's why Burke has kept a lower profile with You Can Play and let the organization's executive director Wade Davis do his thing.

 

"What I've tried to do is distance myself from You Can Play so that they know they can reach out and talk to Wade anytime, we have two different vice-presidents there, we have great resources," said Burke. "But it's part of the reason I've done less publicly with You Can Play."

 

The truth, as it stands, is that no male hockey person has come out publicly since Brendan Burke, who did so while student manager of the Miami University men's hockey team in November 2009 in a piece so well written by our own John Buccigross. Brendan Burke, Patrick's brother, tragically died in February 2010 in a car crash.

 

"I hate to selfishly praise him again but you look back at Brendan choosing to come out back in 2009, as a student-manager of the college team but with a family association to the NHL, and that was six years ago," said Burke. "We haven't had anyone else (with NHL ties) since then, not major media, not front office, not coaching, not players. I think it speaks to how amazing Brendan was, but it also shows that there clearly needs to be done something that isn't being done, or something that needs to change for players to feel comfortable to come out."

You can sense both the frustration and compassion in Burke's voice.

 

"It's tough for us as an organization where we want to stand up and scream and say, 'The NHL is ready for a gay player,'" said Burke. "Because 1,000 percent in my heart I believe that. I know that the first player who comes out is going to have a positive coming-out experience. Yet on the other hand, we know how difficult it is for anybody in the public eye to talk about their sexuality in public. Forget sports for a second, you go to politics or Hollywood, any type of celebrity, it is still an issue.

 

"On the one hand, there are days when our entire organization is like, 'Come on, we're ready, just go ahead.'"

 

Burke said when he goes to NHL events, there are team executives and agents and coaches who pull him aside and ask him why a player hasn't come out yet.

 

"They're upset that it hasn't happened yet, which I think shows how inclusive they are," said Burke. "So, it's tough. I wish there was a magic bullet that I could fire and make the players in question ready. But it's such a delicate situation. It's so much based on the person's life experience and what he wants."

 

In the meantime, Burke remains hopeful that eventually gay NHLers will feel the time is right.

 

"All we can continue to do is make efforts to let them know that the hockey community wants everyone to be themselves and live their lives authentically and be true to who you are," said Burke. "And if you're a NHL player who happens to be in love with men off the ice, nobody in our community cares, we just want you to be happy."

I dont condemn her for doing so, im just saying its not necessary to broadcast what you do in your personal life just because your a celebrity. the way I read this article was is that people are waiting for these announcements and have been for 2 years without one, and I ask why? if your gonna go public (celebrity or not) with your sexual orientation you'll do so, but others shouldnt be waiting for something that might not even exist. as I put, what if there are no gay players in the NHL?

Why dont you just not comment then?  You dont care.  You dont understand.  And you dont have a reasomable, well thought out discussion point.  So ignore this and every other related thread and discussion and move on.  This isnt for you obviously. 

you think me and goalie are hating and causing this fear? thats straight donkey ****.  where did we say it was wrong to be gay or anything like that, I fully accept and can appreciate a persons decision to be gay, I dont however feel its needed to make spectacle out of it. If anything I would think that gives it the impression it is still such a widely blatant issue that it needs poster celebs to enforce that its ok. this aint 1955, its 2015 and its been a pretty widely socially accepted thing for sometime. Maybe I dont see the hate as clearly as you do, but where do you live where racism and gay bashing is so over the top? i must live a sheltered life with my gay and multi-cultural friends

haters gonna hate, but wake up, not everyones a hater

you think me and goalie are hating and causing this fear? thats straight donkey ****.  where did we say it was wrong to be gay or anything like that, I fully accept and can appreciate a persons decision to be gay, I dont however feel its needed to make spectacle out of it. If anything I would think that gives it the impression it is still such a widely blatant issue that it needs poster celebs to enforce that its ok. this aint 1955, its 2015 and its been a pretty widely socially accepted thing for sometime. Maybe I dont see the hate as clearly as you do, but where do you live where racism and gay bashing is so over the top? i must live a sheltered life with my gay and multi-cultural friends

Nope, sorry.  You dont get it.  Im not faulting you for not getting it.  But it would be like if I googled nuclear fusion and then posted on a discussion forum for experts.  I might think I get it, but I dont.  You dont.  Sorry.

The point of celebrities going public is to eventually make it a non-issue like it should be.  The fact that there are ZERO current or former NHL'ers that have come out proves that it's still doesn't have the acceptance level it needs to.  

The point of celebrities going public is to eventually make it a non-issue like it should be.  The fact that there are ZERO current or former NHL'ers that have come out proves that it's still doesn't have the acceptance level it needs to.  

Exactly. 

 

On the subject of Freddie Mercury, he kept his sexuality as somewhat of an open secret.  Being gay was illegal not long before Mercury was a star.  He also kept his AIDS status private but shortly before his death he felt the need to issue a statement admitting he had AIDS and asking the world to fight the disease. 

 

I dont understand the people that feel the need to express the "who cares" attitude.  Worse when they pretend they dont have prejudice on the subject by listing all their gay friends or saying they just consider it a non issue.  Its great if thats true but its not the way of the world.  It was just THIS YEAR that gays were allowed to be married in the US and to this day have to fight to exercise that right. 

 with how very few athletes have come out in the open, I could give benefit to the doubt there may just not be that many gay athletes. perhaps the social stigma that the locker room culture would be unaccepting basically just kept kids growing up on the straight and narrow. I'd be more willing to believe there is maybe a lot of bisexual or bi-curious athletes, but strictly gay might be a lot fewer then people expect

 

The point of celebrities going public is to eventually make it a non-issue like it should be.  The fact that there are ZERO current or former NHL'ers that have come out proves that it's still doesn't have the acceptance level it needs to.  

Exactly. 

 

On the subject of Freddie Mercury, he kept his sexuality as somewhat of an open secret.  Being gay was illegal not long before Mercury was a star.  He also kept his AIDS status private but shortly before his death he felt the need to issue a statement admitting he had AIDS and asking the world to fight the disease. 

 

I dont understand the people that feel the need to express the "who cares" attitude.  Worse when they pretend they dont have prejudice on the subject by listing all their gay friends or saying they just consider it a non issue.  Its great if thats true but its not the way of the world.  It was just THIS YEAR that gays were allowed to be married in the US and to this day have to fight to exercise that right. 

 

 

im from canada, i really more care about what goes on in canada, the US people have never been a shining example of accepting ppl whatever the case

 

you think me and goalie are hating and causing this fear? thats straight donkey ****.  where did we say it was wrong to be gay or anything like that, I fully accept and can appreciate a persons decision to be gay, I dont however feel its needed to make spectacle out of it. If anything I would think that gives it the impression it is still such a widely blatant issue that it needs poster celebs to enforce that its ok. this aint 1955, its 2015 and its been a pretty widely socially accepted thing for sometime. Maybe I dont see the hate as clearly as you do, but where do you live where racism and gay bashing is so over the top? i must live a sheltered life with my gay and multi-cultural friends

Nope, sorry.  You dont get it.  Im not faulting you for not getting it.  But it would be like if I googled nuclear fusion and then posted on a discussion forum for experts.  I might think I get it, but I dont.  You dont.  Sorry.

 

Lol at your lack of self-awareness for posting this. How long did you argue the niqab issue when you had no clue what you were talking about? Also, this isn't an apt analogy unless you consider the contributors to this thread experts is gay issues.

 

 

you think me and goalie are hating and causing this fear? thats straight donkey ****.  where did we say it was wrong to be gay or anything like that, I fully accept and can appreciate a persons decision to be gay, I dont however feel its needed to make spectacle out of it. If anything I would think that gives it the impression it is still such a widely blatant issue that it needs poster celebs to enforce that its ok. this aint 1955, its 2015 and its been a pretty widely socially accepted thing for sometime. Maybe I dont see the hate as clearly as you do, but where do you live where racism and gay bashing is so over the top? i must live a sheltered life with my gay and multi-cultural friends

Nope, sorry.  You dont get it.  Im not faulting you for not getting it.  But it would be like if I googled nuclear fusion and then posted on a discussion forum for experts.  I might think I get it, but I dont.  You dont.  Sorry.

 

Lol at your lack of self-awareness for posting this. How long did you argue the niqab issue when you had no clue what you were talking about? Also, this isn't an apt analogy unless you consider the contributors to this thread experts is gay issues.

 

I chose a particularly silly comparison on purpose. lol  Plus, while Im not an expert on the Niqab I was not clueless.

 

Regardless, point is the same.  The poster I addressed has no understanding of the issue in question.  That much is clear.  But great contribution!

 

 

The point of celebrities going public is to eventually make it a non-issue like it should be.  The fact that there are ZERO current or former NHL'ers that have come out proves that it's still doesn't have the acceptance level it needs to.  

Exactly. 

 

On the subject of Freddie Mercury, he kept his sexuality as somewhat of an open secret.  Being gay was illegal not long before Mercury was a star.  He also kept his AIDS status private but shortly before his death he felt the need to issue a statement admitting he had AIDS and asking the world to fight the disease. 

 

I dont understand the people that feel the need to express the "who cares" attitude.  Worse when they pretend they dont have prejudice on the subject by listing all their gay friends or saying they just consider it a non issue.  Its great if thats true but its not the way of the world.  It was just THIS YEAR that gays were allowed to be married in the US and to this day have to fight to exercise that right. 

 

 

im from canada, i really more care about what goes on in canada, the US people have never been a shining example of accepting ppl whatever the case

 

Which means what?  Is the NHL not a league operated in both Canada and the US?  Or you mean you dont care about the plight of gays unless they are in Canada?

 

 

 

The point of celebrities going public is to eventually make it a non-issue like it should be.  The fact that there are ZERO current or former NHL'ers that have come out proves that it's still doesn't have the acceptance level it needs to.  

Exactly. 

 

On the subject of Freddie Mercury, he kept his sexuality as somewhat of an open secret.  Being gay was illegal not long before Mercury was a star.  He also kept his AIDS status private but shortly before his death he felt the need to issue a statement admitting he had AIDS and asking the world to fight the disease. 

 

I dont understand the people that feel the need to express the "who cares" attitude.  Worse when they pretend they dont have prejudice on the subject by listing all their gay friends or saying they just consider it a non issue.  Its great if thats true but its not the way of the world.  It was just THIS YEAR that gays were allowed to be married in the US and to this day have to fight to exercise that right. 

 

 

im from canada, i really more care about what goes on in canada, the US people have never been a shining example of accepting ppl whatever the case

 

Which means what?  Is the NHL not a league operated in both Canada and the US?  Or you mean you dont care about the plight of gays unless they are in Canada?

 

 

 

Im more concerned with hate being abolished in Canada (my back yard) before I worry about others. Would I like to see Hate ended everywhere sure! but your holding your breath with the americans

 while Im not an expert on the Niqab I was not clueless.

 

 great contribution!

 

Agree to disagree, and you're welcome.

 

 while Im not an expert on the Niqab I was not clueless.

 

 great contribution!

 

Agree to disagree, and you're welcome.

 

Sorry man it's true, I am not an expert on the Niqab. 

Who cares if a player is gay? Why not have a big push for players to come out as furries??

I can see the push for the drugs and addictions , but a player being gay makes zero difference for the game.

It's a non issue and people need to move on.

your hating and making them afraid to come out of the closet apparently by being tolerant to their choice and declaring it a non issue.

 

as for furries... dont go opening that can of worms lol 

The problem with saying "who cares?" is that by trying to sound accepting and tolerant (which I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt and assuming this is what you mean) what you're actually doing is at best minimizing and at worst disregarding a very real struggle for many people.

 

Yes, we should live in a world in which we are all so accepting and tolerant that sexual preference is a non issue but the reality is that we don't. Like it or not, this is an issue. If you want that to change, ignoring it isn't the answer.

I have gay friends, i work with gay people, They are great... good people. I don't care that they are gay and they are fine with that. They don't need me to care, they need their parents to accept them or friends or whoever else and in most cases, most of the gay people i know, they are accepted and they are loved by their loved ones. I think it's rare to find a gay person in 2015 who is afraid to come out.  I do accept them, They are friends, they are co-workers, I accept them for who they are. I don't care what they do in their bedrooms, I don't really want to know either, that's fair isn't it? 

 

I get that maybe some gay people, perhaps more so in sports and those who are in the spotlight could come out and be role models and say listen, I'm here, i'm *****, get used to it or whatever... That's fine. It's all good. 

 

I just think that it's none of my business so why would i actually care. If someone is gay, great, if it makes them happy, that's wonderful. Do i think they all need to come out and say HELLO my name is bill and I'm gay.. Nope. They don't but if they want too, that's fine too. 

 

Perhaps in sports and hollywood, things are a bit more difficult, who knows, All i know tho is there was a gay football player, michael sam, you know that none of us would have heard of him if he wasn't gay? He got drafted because he was gay, he got a chance in the CFL cuz he was gay... did he deserve that chance? Some will say he really didn't cuz he's not a good football player. My issue is gay people who use being gay as an excuse for failing, Michael Sam pretty much used it as an excuse, I have no time for those people, but  thankfull they are few and far between. Most gay people i know, all of them are good people, great people. I don't hate them, i just don't really care that they are gay. 

The problem with saying "who cares?" is that by trying to sound accepting and tolerant (which I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt and assuming this is what you mean) what you're actually doing is at best minimizing and at worst disregarding a very real struggle for many people.

Yes, we should live in a world in which we are all so accepting and tolerant that sexual preference is a non issue but the reality is that we don't. Like it or not, this is an issue. If you want that to change, ignoring it isn't the answer.

Well said. Sadly those that don't get it won't get it.

you think me and goalie are hating and causing this fear? thats straight donkey ****.  where did we say it was wrong to be gay or anything like that, I fully accept and can appreciate a persons decision to be gay, I dont however feel its needed to make spectacle out of it. If anything I would think that gives it the impression it is still such a widely blatant issue that it needs poster celebs to enforce that its ok. this aint 1955, its 2015 and its been a pretty widely socially accepted thing for sometime. Maybe I dont see the hate as clearly as you do, but where do you live where racism and gay bashing is so over the top? i must live a sheltered life with my gay and multi-cultural friends

I don't even know where to start given the level of ignorance demonstrated by that line. UP is right, you should just STFU.

I have gay friends, i work with gay people, They are great... good people. I don't care that they are gay and they are fine with that. They don't need me to care, they need their parents to accept them or friends or whoever else and in most cases, most of the gay people i know, they are accepted and they are loved by their loved ones. I think it's rare to find a gay person in 2015 who is afraid to come out.  I do accept them, They are friends, they are co-workers, I accept them for who they are. I don't care what they do in their bedrooms, I don't really want to know either, that's fair isn't it? 

 

I get that maybe some gay people, perhaps more so in sports and those who are in the spotlight could come out and be role models and say listen, I'm here, i'm *****, get used to it or whatever... That's fine. It's all good. 

 

I just think that it's none of my business so why would i actually care. If someone is gay, great, if it makes them happy, that's wonderful. Do i think they all need to come out and say HELLO my name is bill and I'm gay.. Nope. They don't but if they want too, that's fine too. 

 

Perhaps in sports and hollywood, things are a bit more difficult, who knows, All i know tho is there was a gay football player, michael sam, you know that none of us would have heard of him if he wasn't gay? He got drafted because he was gay, he got a chance in the CFL cuz he was gay... did he deserve that chance? Some will say he really didn't cuz he's not a good football player. My issue is gay people who use being gay as an excuse for failing, Michael Sam pretty much used it as an excuse, I have no time for those people, but  thankfull they are few and far between. Most gay people i know, all of them are good people, great people. I don't hate them, i just don't really care that they are gay. 

It's exactly about "role models": for young people struggling with revealing their sexuality. It provides the example that look, a successful gay athlete/actor/etc, "maybe that could be me. You just don't get it at all.

Gay or straight, if you can score 50 goals in the NHL in a single season you're on my team. 

Tonnes of lesbian fighters in the UFC, does anyone care...not at all.

So does each sport require each type of sexual preference to come out? What did Micheal Sam do for the gay community by coming out? Nothing at all.

Unknown poster.. For someone who wants people to safely come out it'd kind of weird to support wrestling which is awful to gay people. (See Golddust, Orlando Jordan in tna or Beautiful bobby locally) which ridiculed and made gay people look like monsters.

The gay hockey player has already came out (albeit under awful circumstances). You don't think Theo Fleury story isn't power enough?

Goldust wasn't gay tho. He was just a freak lol. Orlando Jordan probably wanted that lame gimmick

He wasn't gay but they sure made him to be a super creep... very offensive in my opinion if you are sensitive to the topic.