CHICAGO — April 12, 2013 – Yesterday’s partnership announcement between the You Can Play Project (YCP), the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA) cements hockey as the professional sports leader in the fight to end homophobia. The league and the NHLPA will work with YCP to develop training and counseling on LGBT issues.
The willingness of the league and NHLPA to publicly declare professional hockey as inclusive to the LGBT community is a monumental step forward for acceptance and tolerance to permeate the game on all levels. The Chicago Gay Hockey Association (CGHA) and our members appreciate the new initiatives that will be developed so that all NHL players may feel safe on their team, as we feel safe on our team. The CGHA is anticipating other professional sports leagues to follow suit and to implement similar programs to break down barriers for LGBT athletes.
“Patrick Burke and the You Can Play team really deserve congratulations for their tireless effort to make this change happen,” says President of the CGHA, Andrew Sobotka. “By promoting inclusiveness for LGBT athletes at the highest level of the sport, we hope that the impact will be felt throughout the hockey community.”
“This is a really significant development”, says Anthony Alfano, Vice President of the CGHA. “This could have a very profo
und impact on not only the discourse surrounding LGBT athletes in professional sports, but also on the lives of many young LGBT athletes. It’s a very exciting time for the LGBT movement and ice hockey. A very warm congratulations to the NHL, NHLPA, and the You Can Play team!”
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The Chicago Gay Hockey Association is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization
that strives to provide
a non-discriminatory environment within the hockey community. Founded in July 2002, the CGHA plays games, hosts events and runs tournaments and welcomes all with a passion for ice hockey—novice or pro, gay or straight, male or female. The CGHA has about 60 players on three teams, each CGHA team plays in a straight league. The CGHA continuously aims to develop further appreciation and support of the game by raising awareness and bringing hockey into people’s lives.
