ESPN lifts mask off gay hockey players: Son of Brian Burke brings it out onto the ice [video]
”I would prefer Brendan hadn’t decided to discuss this issue in this very public manner. There will be a great deal of reaction, and I fear a large portion will be negative. But this takes guts, and I admire Brendan greatly, and happily march arm in arm with him on this. There are gay men in professional hockey. We would be fools to think otherwise. And it’s sad that they feel the need to conceal this. I understand why they do so, however.”
Hockey legend Brian Burke speaking with ESPN about his gay son, Brian Burke, who also played hockey but had held back on seeking a professional career in the sport. According to the article, he was uncomfortable living closeted and causing a rift in locker room camaraderie between other players, much of which is said to involve banter laced with gay slurs. (ESPN)
”Imagine if I was in the opposite situation, with a family that wouldn’t accept me, working for a sports team where I knew I couldn’t come out because I’d be fired or ostracized. People in that situation deserve to know that they can feel safe, that sports isn’t all homophobic and that there are plenty of people in sports who accept people for who they are.”
Brendan Burke discussing his decision to come out as gay. (ESPN)
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