NHL doubles down on its Pride Night policy in 2023-24
A new rule change restricts players' ability to express themselves.
HockeyFeed
According to multiple online reports, the NHL has effectively banned the use of rainbow colored hockey tape used to show support for Pride and the LGBTQ+ community for the upcoming 2023-24 season.
The NHL, of course, made a policy change regarding the use 'special interest' jerseys for the upcoming season banning the use of Pride jerseys, Military Appreciation jerseys, Hockey Fights Cancer jerseys and other special interest jerseys. Today's news regarding the Pride tape, however takes things to the next level.
From LGBTQ+ publisher OutSports:
Outsports has learned that the NHL has issued a league-wide ban of Pride Tape on the ice with the players during warm-ups, games and even practices. A league spokesperson has confirmed this change in policy with Outsports.
- OutSports
The NHL was also forced to clarify a memo sent to every team recently after some expressed confusion. The main part that had teams unsure was:
Players shall not be put in the position of having to demonstrate (or where they may be appearing to demonstrate) personal support for any Special Initiatives. A factor that may be considered in this regard includes, for example, whether a Player (or Players) is required to be in close proximity to any groups or individuals visibly or otherwise clearly associated with such Special Initiative(s).
Personally, I feel like this is taking things a bit far.
If a player wants to show support for a cause and they do it in a subtle way, I can't see how anyone can have a problem with it. Having rainbow tape on your stick does no harm to any one or any group... for the life of me I can't see what this policy aims to accomplish. Just more nonsense from the NHL... but what else is new?
