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You Can Play Project

D

Deebo

Moderator
http://youcanplayproject.org/

You Can Play is dedicated to ensuring equality, respect and safety for all athletes, without regard to sexual orientation.

You Can Play works to guarantee that athletes are given a fair opportunity to compete, judged by other athletes and fans alike, only by what they contribute to the sport or their team?s success.

You Can Play seeks to challenge the culture of locker rooms and spectator areas by focusing only on an athlete?s skills, work ethic and competitive spirit.
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[youtube]SXoTRTAw6Dc[/youtube]

It is great to see prominent players get behind this message.
 
Agreed. Very good to see. I recognized Nash, Hartnell, Lupul, Phaneuf, Alfredsson, Perry and Lundqvist. Anyone know the others?
 
Saint Nik said:
Agreed. Very good to see. I recognized Nash, Hartnell, Lupul, Phaneuf, Alfredsson, Perry and Lundqvist. Anyone know the others?
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Patrick Burke (Philadelphia)
Brian Burke (Toronto)
Rick Nash (Columbus)
Duncan Keith (Chicago)
Brian Boyle (New York)
Matt Moulson (New York Islanders)
Joffrey Lupul (Toronto)
Claude Giroux (Philadelphia)
Daniel Alfredsson (Ottawa)
Scott Hartnell (Philadelphia)
Corey Perry (Anaheim)
Andy Greene (New Jersey)
Dion Phaneuf (Toronto)
Henrik Lundqvist (New York)
 
Tremendous.  I badmouth Burke within the safe and anonymous confines of this board, but in real life I'd shake his hand and thank him for that work.

Same goes for a couple of others in that commercial who have been objects of my e-ridicule: Alfredsson and Phaneuf.
 
It's all good sounding and all but do you honestly believe an openly gay athlete really would be accepted by the majority? I think most would be allright with it, but I honestly do not believe sports would be quite as "gay friendly" in a locker room as we'd like to believe. Is it better? Obviously yes, but until a player comes out while still playing and dealing with all the b.s. that'd be associated with it I don't see this cause advancing anytime soon.

That being said, good on the Burkes and all the others willing to stand up for what is obviously a ridiculous and absurd situation. C'mon now, if 10%(ish) of the population is gay and we have approximately 4000 players in the 4 major sports, well it's perdy damned hard to believe that at least a few of our sports heroes and/or legends are gay. It's so foolish it's really kind of sad/funny.
 
13 said:
It's all good sounding and all but do you honestly believe an openly gay athlete really would be accepted by the majority? I think most would be allright with it, but I honestly do not believe sports would be quite as "gay friendly" in a locker room as we'd like to believe. Is it better? Obviously yes, but until a player comes out while still playing and dealing with all the b.s. that'd be associated with it I don't see this cause advancing anytime soon.
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The majority? Yeah, I think so. There might be a couple of chuckleheads who wouldn't be but I really do think that it's a non-issue for most people. Demographics tend to show that even in the States among younger people it's a pretty solid majority who are pro-gay marriage so I'm guessing that you'd have an ever bigger number who would be able to play hockey alongside a gay athlete without freaking out about ir. Being as hockey locker rooms tend to skew young I think it'd be ok for the most part.

But you make a valid point. There are probably too many slurs in modern locker rooms and there are some people who would say some pretty stupid things. That, however, is exactly what this campaign is trying to address.

We've seen gay athletes in the major sports come out after their playing careers and speak frankly about locker room conditions that do resemble what you're talking about and that's why this effort by the people behind You Can Play is appreciated.
 
I think Burke mentioned on Strombo that the 'next step' for hockey in terms of acceptance was a player coming out, IIRC. I think the support is pretty much there for it, someone very brave will have to take the first step to that end.
 
13 said:
It's all good sounding and all but do you honestly believe an openly gay athlete really would be accepted by the majority? I think most would be allright with it, but I honestly do not believe sports would be quite as "gay friendly" in a locker room as we'd like to believe. Is it better? Obviously yes, but until a player comes out while still playing and dealing with all the b.s. that'd be associated with it I don't see this cause advancing anytime soon.

That being said, good on the Burkes and all the others willing to stand up for what is obviously a ridiculous ai nd absurd situation. C'mon now, if 10%(ish) of the population is gay and we have approximately 4000 players in the 4 major sports, well it's perdy damned hard to believe that at least a few of our sports heroes and/or legends are gay. It's so foolish it's really kind of sad/funny.
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It's not that foolish - I'm very close with someone  who had to come-out to a lockerroom and what they wet through getting up the courage to do so was a real eye opener for me.

I hate hockey Burke but he and Patrick might as well be a part of our family now 
 
A very well done project.  Whether an NHLer actually "comes out" is besides the point.  At least, this will open people's eyes to the 'macho' world of sports, and show that yes, even tough hockey players have a human side. 

Just because one is tough does not mean one has to be a (verbal or physical) bully by abusing others.  Acceptance is a word that's not yet widespread.  That, is what this whole project supports and conveys in so many ways in it's message.
 
For those familiar with Reddit, Patrick Burke did an 'Ask Me Anything' about the You Can Play Project:  http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/qnc3p/i_am_patrick_burke_nhl_scout_redditor_and_founder/

I should say as a fair warning, anything goes on Reddit, so best to approach it as NSFW.
 
Potvin29 said:
For those familiar with Reddit, Patrick Burke did an 'Ask Me Anything' about the You Can Play Project:  http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/qnc3p/i_am_patrick_burke_nhl_scout_redditor_and_founder/

I should say as a fair warning, anything goes on Reddit, so best to approach it as NSFW.
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Came in here to post this. Great read, and Patrick seems like a cool guy.

Just a great initiative.
 
Some members of the Calgary Flames -- Chad Johnson, Matt Stajan, Troy Brouwer, and goaltending coach Jordan Sigalet -- take part in the Calgary Pride Parade, in support of You Can Play and the community...


Screen-Shot-2016-09-04-at-2-1040x572_zpsuirgvwsy.png


Story:
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/members-flames-march-calgary-pride-parade/
 
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