Another player refuses to participate with his team wearing pride jerseys
Sources report that Ilya Lyubushkin, a defenseman for the Buffalo Sabres, will not be joining his team in wearing a special Pride Night celebration jersey during warmups before their game against the Montreal Canadiens. Lyubushkin is citing new legislation introduced by Russian President Vladimir Putin as his reason for opting out. The legislation prohibits the promotion or "praise" of anything other than heterosexuality, and public expression of "non-traditional sexual preferences that are not normal." The implementation of such legislation in 2023 is concerning.
Lyubushkin is not alone among Russian players who have refused to participate in Pride celebrations due to political reasons, and it is unfortunate that this issue persists.
Despite this, the Buffalo Sabres have handled this sensitive public relations situation with care and consideration. They have released a statement expressing their support for both Lyubushkin and the LGBTQ+ community, saying that they are committed to advocating for marginalized groups in hockey, and that they hope their Pride Night event, as well as similar events across the league, will inspire meaningful conversations and encourage support for the LGBTQIA+ community.
| POLL | ||
27 MARS | 66 ANSWERS Another player refuses to participate with his team wearing pride jerseys Should the NHL scrap the pride Night idea? | ||
| Yes | 50 | 75.8 % |
| No | 16 | 24.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
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