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The Stanley Cup comes out … Blackhawks player will carry it in Chicago Gay Pride parade

Jun 22, 2010, 12:00 PM EST

12 Comments

… and a metal, cup-shaped trophy shall lead them. We still don’t have a current American pro athlete willing to come out of the closet, but the Chicago Blackhawks organization struck a huge blow for gay and lesbian equality by agreeing to participate in Chicago’s Gay Pride parade on Sunday, June 27. Defenseman Brent Sopel volunteered to represent the team by carrying the Stanley Cup in the parade. Blackhawks President John McDonough is taking the Cup from the NHL Draft 15 hours early to bring it back to Chicago for the parade, where it will join Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer Ernie Banks for the festivities. The Chicago Gay Hockey Association invited the Blackhawks to the parade last week, and figured they would never get a reply. How wrong they were.

“We are thrilled and honored for them to consider and accept our request,” CGHA president Andrew Sobotka told the Chicago Sun-Times. “It’s just the news we wanted to hear. For the Blackhawks to do this is amazing. It is wonderful to know everyone is helping to make 2010 a year to break down barriers.”

“I am honored to do it,” said Sopel, who will be accompanied by wife, Kelly, and his four kids, Jacob, 12, Lyla, 8, Jayla, 6, and Paul, 20, whom they adopted three years ago after Paul’s parents died within six months of each other.

Sopel is also using the opportunity to honor the late Brendan Burke, the son of Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke, who died in an auto accident earlier this year.

“When Brendan came out, Brian stood by him, and his whole family stood by him, like every family should,” said Sopel. “We teach our kids about accepting everybody. Tolerate everybody, to understand where everyone is coming from.”

As Yahoo Sports notes, there could be some image rehab in play here for the Blackhawks as well.

The words “is gay” were mockingly written by the name of Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger in the Blackhawks’ locker room during their Cup celebration. That’s after the Chicago Tribune put Pronger in a skirt and called him “Chrissy” in a giveaway poster. But the CGHA and other gay hockey players didn’t feel the poster was homophobic.

“For the ‘Hawks, there might have been a little bit of motivation [for image rehab]. We actually invited them before that story broke,” Sobotka said.

This really is a remarkable gesture by both the Blackhawks and the Cubs; both organizations deserve tons of praise. This is what pro sports should be about; diversity, inclusion and bringing communities together.
***
Hawks bringing Cup to Pride Parade [Chicago Sun-Times]
Hawks’ Sopel and Lord Stanley to Join the CGHA in the 2010 Pride Parade! [Chicago Gay Hockey]

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  1. Julie - Jun 24, 2010 at 4:09 PM

    Sopel, You never cease to amaze and impress Chicago Blackhawks fans. Thank you for being a leader on and off the ice! You are going to be missed.

  2. Jack B - Jun 25, 2010 at 12:05 PM

    “We still don’t have a current American pro athlete willing to come out of the closet, but the Chicago Blackhawks organization struck a huge blow for gay and lesbian equality…

    Morel like a “huge blow” against children, and Christian family values. It isn’t “tolerance” to put homosexual and lesbian activists in front of the faces of children and call it normal. I wonder what many NHL stars who were abused by coaches think of this type of public display?
    Shame, shame on the Chicago BH’s and I now wish I had rooted for Philly in the finals.

  3. Tom - Jun 25, 2010 at 12:20 PM

    uhm Jack,
    Did you follow the link from the ironically nameed freerepublic or something? Why are you saying “homosexual and lesbian?” Do you need a dictionary?Also, many gays are either children or christians, I don’t think they’re stiking blows against themselves. Coherence doesn’t seem to be your strong suit.
    Go hawks! go gays!

  4. Exegetic - Jun 25, 2010 at 12:53 PM

    Hey Jack,
    As much as you’d be disappointed to hear this, most people who are gay are NOT in fact child molesters. Speaking of molestation and Christian values, how’s the Vatican doing these days?

  5. tomvons - Jun 25, 2010 at 2:05 PM

    Jack, I think you misunderstand a lot of this world we live in.

  6. The dude - Jun 25, 2010 at 2:39 PM

    The Blackhawks have just made me a fan for life.

  7. naporeon - Jun 25, 2010 at 3:31 PM

    This is an extremely classy move on the part of the Blackhawks organization, and Brent Sopel in particular. As a straight man who is comfortable in his orientation (unlike folks like Jack B, up above), it makes me happy to see such sensitivity from groups in the public eye…especially pro sports teams, who aren’t traditionally thought of as “gay friendly”.
    Thanks, Blackhawks! And kudos to you, Sopel!

  8. beedogs - Jun 26, 2010 at 1:04 AM

    Go away, Jack B. Your hateful way of thinking is dying.

  9. Jake - Jun 26, 2010 at 4:01 AM

    This is impressive. The responses to Jack B are also impressive.
    On a side note, I don’t think the “bad” things that the article mentions when discussing image rehab are bad at all. Getting overly PC and nitpicky about non-hateful things like that just causes more problems and distracts from the real issue – raising awareness so there are less ignorant people like Jack B.

  10. Get A Life - Jun 27, 2010 at 1:35 PM

    That’s the way to show a true winning spirit. The Chicago Pride Parade is just as much a part of Chicago as the Blackhawks, so good on their part. Anyone who has a beef about it…GET A LIFE ALREADY! Have you been to the Chicago Pride lately? It’s become HUGELY mainstream and is attended by all walks of life.

  11. ivy brat - Aug 9, 2010 at 6:01 PM

    Come on man, get a clue.
    Get an education higher than Sunday school/5th grade and stop infesting my country with bigots.
    -Cornell

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