NHL's only openly gay player releases statement regarding Pride Night protests

It's been a season of controversy around the NHL and its use of special jerseys for LGBTQ+ awareness and Pride Night celebrations.

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov sort of kick-started the controversy earlier this season when he elected to NOT wear a rainbow-tinged Pride jersey for warmups back in January citing religious beliefs. Since then the New York Islanders and Minnesota Wild have both opted to not wear Pride jerseys as they were scheduled to. Recently, San Jose Sharks goaltender James Reimer opted not to wear a Pride jersey for his team's celebrations, also citing religious beliefs. Funny enough, Reimer is a devout Mennonite a Christian faith known for practicing pacifism and yet he has no problem wearing camo gear on Military Appreciation Night but I digress...

In any case, all of this is to say that the wearing of Pride jerseys and celebrating LGBTQ+ inclusivity has become a big of a hot top in the NHL this season.

The NHL's only openly gay player, Nashville Predators defenseman Luke Prokop, has been mostly silent on these developments but in the wake of the controversy surrounding Reimer, Prokop has decided to speak up.

Check it out:

Personally, I don't care if players choose to wear or not wear the Pride warmup jerseys. But, I also say this as a staunchly heterosexual male. These celebration nights aren't for me and they're not about me. I'm big enough to understand though that for some people there is real value in seeing these sorts of celebrations and I'm not about to hate on something that makes them feel welcomed and safe.

Live and let live, people. It says it right there in your Bible, James...