Brent Sopel loves gay hockey

[BostonAJ]

I'm no homophobe, but this is pretty funny...

The Stanley Cup champion from the Chicago Blackhawks, who actually was traded to Atlanta earlier this week, rode on the Chicago Gay Hockey Association (CGHA) float for the parade this past Saturday. Sopel brought the Stanley Cup and raised it over his head no less than 10 times along the route.

“I had a great time, way better than I expected,” Sopel said in an exclusive post-parade interview. “It was more (fun) than I expected; it was a blast. Everyone was fun, everyone was dancing. But, at the end of the day, I hope it raised some awareness.”

Brent Sopel thinks gay pride is ‘awesome’ – Outsports

Repeat - there's a Chicago Gay Hockey Association.

 

[mattola]

man Sopel is getting every second he can with the Cup. Guess they are giving him more Cup time since they punished him by going to Atlanta .

<soapbox>
this is good for the NHL. good awareness and shows that they are moving WITH the times. the Gay community is a good community to reach out too for a new fan base. Kudos to the Hawks and Sopel for doing this.
</soapbox>

 

[BostonAJ]

It is good to see an NHL player have the guts to do something like this. Props to Sopel.

I'm guessing he heard his fair share of jokes from the crowd. The gay guys I know aren't shy about making heteros uncomfortable. And those gay parades are way over the top. I guarantee he saw some crazy shit.

Still surprised there's any kind of gay hockey association. Just didn't think they needed to distinguish themselves from your regular hockey associations. Unless they play hockey in chaps...

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

Let's all be honest. There are at least 20-40 gay players in all four of the major sports. I really hope that the first active player to come out of the closet is a hockey player. I think that it will be in the NHL, simply because of the fact that nowhere does the team dynamic play so strongly. These guys literally do battle with each other 80 times a year and the locker rooms are very tight. If there is anywhere that a guy could come out and have the full support of his team, I think that it would be the NHL. I read an article a few months back about a big time rugby player who came out and how liberating it was for him and how it made his team even stronger. If a player came out tomorrow on the Caps, I would be all for it and I think that the fanbase would support it as well. I would like to think that hockey fans are some of the most socially progressive fans around.

Hell, I am a gun toting, lifetime NRA member, conservative but socially I could not be more appalled with the "right wing" agenda. True conservatism is based on personal liberty and personal responsibility which would mean that it should support all forms of self expression, including homosexuality. I have always clashed with my other right wing friends on this issue.

Anyway, off the soapbox, Brent Sopel.....good on you man!

 

[BostonAJ]

Also just found out that the Cup was on the Ellen Degeneres Special last night and will be at the Broadway Show Tunes night tonight at the Taste of Chicago.

Hmmm...