Does the NHL tolerate homophobia?

September 28, 2011

By Adam Bink

I’m a hockey fan. A big one. I could go on and on about why I think my Buffalo Sabres could make a run this year, but I’ll skip that for now.

When I was a kid, several Sabres were my favorite people on planet Earth. Cooler than the Power Rangers. Dominik Hasek. Michael Peca. Rob Ray. I followed their every move and watched every game I could. I can honestly say I looked up to them.

Earlier this week, Philadelphia Flyers player Wayne Simmonds called New York Rangers forward and marriage equality advocate Sean Avery a “fucking faggot.”

Now, when Lakers player Kobe Bryant did this a few months ago, the NBA swiftly verbally disciplined him and handed him a $100,000 fine. Kobe apologized. A model of a mistake and a correction.

This case? The NHL comes up with a lame excuse about how it wasn’t verified by the refs and Simmonds glosses over what he did. Thing is, video can be found here on Towleroad. Unless he was using a different language, it’s clear evidence of what he said.

Not acceptable, NHL.

This morning, we’re petitioning the NHL to reconsider. Please sign and share this action.

You can also tweet:

RT @couragecampaign Fight homophobia in sports! Tell @NHL to discipline Wayne Simmonds. Sign here: bit.ly/pOD4AP

This stuff matters. Why? Google Wayne Simmonds and you’ll see this is on ESPN, USA Today, Huffington Post. There are kids watching who don’t think calling someone “faggot” matters. There are parents watching who think it’s no big deal for their kids to use that kind of language. Culture and sports set a tone. The NBA set the bar. The NHL isn’t living up to it. For all the impact of “It Gets Better” videos, it would be nice to start with the source of the bullying and get it right from the start, wouldn’t it?

Sign here.

Update: A good piece from Johnette Howard at ESPN looking at the history of epithets hurled around in sports and what the NHL should be doing.

Filed under: Community/Meta

9 Comments Leave a Comment

  • 1. James Sweet  |  September 28, 2011 at 9:50 am

    Thank you for your final paragraph, it really helped me to crystallize how I feel about this issue.

    One thing that troubled me about the Kobe Bryant fine, and about possibly signing this petition, is that I don't think the fact that one player called another a "faggot" in the heat of competition necessarily indicates that person is homophobic, or really indicates much about their character. It ought not to be used as an insult, of course, but if you grew up in a situation where it was an insult (which is everywhere in the US) then it can be very difficult to expunge that from one's vocabulary. I don't really feel any anger towards Bryant or Simmonds.

    But I get it now: That's not the point. The point is about the league saying, "Hey, we don't approve of this," and sending that message in a way that is unambiguous and indicates that they are serious about it. The point is not about judging whether Bryant or Simmonds are "bad guys" for their respective slip-ups; the point is about, as you say, "setting a tone." I think that makes more sense to me now.

  • 2. Adam Bink  |  September 28, 2011 at 9:53 am

    Yes indeed, well put.

  • 3. Alan_Eckert  |  September 28, 2011 at 9:59 am

    This is jusr ridiculous. However much fun it is to try and find other phrases that match his lip movements, it is still reasonable to assume that he yelled out "fucking faggot" because that is not uncommon. Shame on the NHL!

  • 4. Ronnie  |  September 28, 2011 at 10:25 am

    Subscribing & sharing…..

    Op-ed: Back-to-School Could Be Better Than Gay Parents Think
    Fears of discrimination can come for gay parents sending their kids to school for the first time. But there's reason to believe it will all turn out all right. http://www.advocate.com/Politics/Commentary/Oped_…

    "In the autumn of 2009, Principal magazine estimated that between 8 million and 10 million school-age children are living with a gay parent. And that reality has brought with it an evolution in the mindset of educators in how they look at families."

    (me) Most Excellent op-ed….

    Stonewall Inn Gay Basher Gets Two Years in Prison http://www.towleroad.com/2011/09/stonewall-inn-ga…

    "Matthew Francis, who pleaded guilty to felony hate crime on September 9 for attacking Benjamin Carver, a DC resident on a visit to New York City, in the bathroom of the Stonewall Inn in October 2010, was sentenced to two years in prison yesterday"

    (me) Good, that neanderthal deserves it…

    & Jamey Rodemeyer's Sister Talks About the 'We're Glad You're Dead' Chants at Homecoming Dance: VIDEO http://www.towleroad.com/2011/09/alyssa.html

    Anderson Cooper speaks with Alyssa, Jamey's (RIP) sister…… "Said Alyssa: "I don't know who would have the heart to disrespect someone even after they're dead. It's mindblowing." …… (sighs) warning: have your tissue box in both hands to 1.) have something to squeeze because you may be angry, 2) have the tissues ready for the tears…… I'll say it again, the parents of these bullies need to lower their heads in shame….. Here is the video….. >( …Ronnie:
    [youtube 4gGkSskh3ws http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gGkSskh3ws youtube]

  • 5. Reformed  |  September 28, 2011 at 11:15 am

    I wonder if the "Marriage"Anti Defamation Alliance" would be interested in this. Probably not.

  • 6. Reformed  |  September 28, 2011 at 11:15 am

    opps, forgot "so called". Sorry.

  • 7. Rev. Will Fisher  |  September 28, 2011 at 12:27 pm

    While I dislike the Flyers, I read that Simmonds denied making said epithet. While I hope the NHL does something about it, they're probably a much more tolerant warrior culture than say the NFL. NFL players are disproportionately Southern and rural, while NHL is disproportionately Canadian and European. In any case, if there is a fine, I hope it's in line with what Simmonds actually earns (a lot less than Kobe). My two cents.

  • 8. Bill  |  September 28, 2011 at 2:57 pm

    This is especially troubling, as Wayne Simmond had a banana peel thrown at him on the ice at his last game.

    A vile, racist statement for sure.

    But isn't Wayne Simmond participating in the same kind of abuse?

  • 9. Prop 8 Trial Tracker &raq&hellip  |  March 5, 2012 at 1:00 pm

    [...] recently, the Flyers’ Wayne Simmonds called Sean Avery of the NY Rangers a “fucking faggot,” without response or punishment from [...]

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