Recently, the National Hockey League (NHL) has reconsidered its stance on using rainbow-colored “pride tape” on hockey sticks, sparking controversy.
This change is not surprising, considering the pressure exerted by the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) movement. A movement that has a firm grip on American corporations and often rejects any opposing ideas and opinions.
The NHL’s initial ban on players using rainbow-colored “pride tape,” a symbol associated initially with God’s promise not to flood the earth again but was adopted by the LGBTQ+ community, has given way to the league’s decision to allow players to use this tape as a tribute to alternative sexual lifestyles.
NHL statement on symbolic tape in support of social causes. pic.twitter.com/BJN0hAde2W
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) October 24, 2023
A statement from the league reads, “After consulting with the NHL Player’s Association and the NHL Player Inclusion Coalition, players will now have the option to voluntarily represent social causes with their stick tape throughout the season.”
This decision aligns with the NHL’s earlier creation of the “Player Inclusion Coalition” in May—the initiative to advance LGBTQ+ and diversity-related efforts within the sport. The establishment of this coalition followed instances where some players refused to wear “pride jerseys” during their teams’ Pride Night games, prompting the league to abandon the practice.
Notably, Arizona Coyotes defenseman Travis Dermott, playing on a one-year league-minimum contract, recently took to the ice against the Anaheim Ducks with rainbow-colored tape on his stick.
The trend of athletes promoting “social causes” gained traction during the 2020 riots, sparked by George Floyd’s death and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. Various sports leagues, including the NFL, NBA, MLB and even NASCAR, allowed their platforms to be used to promote the message of this divisive, Marxist-inspired faction.
Former NHL Executive Vice President Brian Burke pushed for accepting “Pride tape” earlier this month, branding it as a “powerful community outreach tool.” Nevertheless, this decision met opposition from those who disagreed with the league’s alignment with another left-leaning social justice cause. After all, most people who want to watch hockey don’t care or want to hear about the player’s sexual preferences or their social activist efforts.
In response to the change, Burke stated, “This decision has deprived clubs of a powerful community outreach tool and has diminished meaningful support for Special Initiatives, all in an effort to cater to a select few who are not willing to answer questions about their choices. I hope the NHL reconsiders in order to maintain its standing as a proponent of conservative values.”
