Former Norris trophy-winning defenseman PK Subban, known for his activism and philanthropy throughout his 13-year NHL career, spoke out about the importance of supporting the LGBTQ+ community. While Subban is comfortable speaking out on these issues, he made it clear that not everyone needs to be an activist or wear a rainbow jersey to show their support.
Recently, NHL Pride Night events have been the subject of controversy as some teams and players have objected to participating due to reasons such as religious beliefs. However, Subban believes that individuals can support the LGBTQ+ community without having to wear a hat, t-shirt, or jersey.
As an ambassador for the Kraft Hockeyville program, which promotes making the game more accessible and inclusive for all, Subban stressed the importance of promoting positive stories in the media. He believes that the media should hold themselves accountable for the stories they tell and that they should be careful about the way they perceive a moment.
Subban also rejected the notion that minorities and marginalized children might feel unwelcome in arenas, particularly in small town Canada, after watching their favorite NHL team or player choose not to support some Pride Night initiatives. He believes that the blame lies with the media for only telling half the story and not reporting on the many positive stories out there.
In the end, Subban believes that individuals should be careful about pushing players to do things and that supporting the LGBTQ+ community can take many forms. While not everyone needs to be an activist, Subban’s message is clear: we can all do our part to promote inclusivity and acceptance in the world of sports.