The Chicago Blackhawks will become the third team this season to drop the tradition of wearing a jersey in support of the LGBTQ community during a warm-up.
According to The Athletic reporter Mark Lazerus on Wednesday, the Blackhawks will join the New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild as teams that have turned around on their LGBTQ Night and will not wear not a sweater created for the occasion during the warm-up period.
Also according to Lazerus, the Chicago club would be afraid of the reprisals that their three players of Russian origin could face by wearing such a jersey. In December, a law passed in Russia criminalized anything considered “propaganda for the LGBTQ movement.”
Earlier today in a statement, the Blackhawks said they do not “tolerate anti-LGBTQ rhetoric” and stand “firmly with the community.”
“While we know that in-game activities are an important way to use our platform to bring visibility, it’s the work we do together 365 days a year that can create real impact. We want to ensure that all of our colleagues, fans and community members feel welcome and safe within our sport,” they added.
The first incident involving jerseys in support of the LGBTQ community came in January when Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov refused to participate in the warm-up period. He still took part in the meeting.
San Jose Sharks goaltender James Reimer also refused to wear said jersey during Saturday’s warm-up because of his “religious beliefs.”
These jerseys are then put up for auction and the funds raised are used to finance various organizations that offer support to the LGBTQ community. Lazerus said the Blackhawks will still hold their LGBTQ Night on Sunday against the Vancouver Canucks.
