Egale Calls on NHL to Stand Firmly Against Anti-Gay Discrimination

Egale Canada, Canada’s national lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) human rights organisation, is extremely disturbed by the National Hockey League’s (NHL) failure to take action against homophobia within the game.

There can be no question that Philadelphia Flyers’ Wayne Simmonds hurled a hateful, anti-gay slur during a pre-season game on Monday night, and the NHL must take responsibility and stand with other major league sports in their active and explicit opposition to discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Incidents of anti-gay hate echo across all of society, causing lasting harm in the local rink, the classroom, and at home. “It’s time for one of Canada’s favourite pastimes to get with the times and directly address the issue of anti-gay discrimination on and off the ice,” said Helen Kennedy, Executive Director of Egale Canada. “There are many LGBT youth and athletes who remain hesitant to live openly, fearful of rejection by their coaches and peers. The NHL has shamefully let them down.”

Egale urges the NHL to reconsider its response and clearly demonstrate that homophobic language is never acceptable and will not be tolerated.

Together with the United States-based Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), Egale is encouraging supporters to take action through an online tool that calls on the NHL to take responsibility for the anti-gay actions of Wayne Simmonds. That tool is available here: www.glaad.org/tellnhl.

Egale Canada is Canada’s LGBT human rights organisation: advancing equality, diversity, education, and justice.