The Chicago Blackhawks won’t have players wear gay-pride-related warmup jerseys for Sunday’s Pride Night celebration before a home game against the Vancouver Canucks, citing security concerns for Russian players.
The team cited the expansion of a “gay propaganda” bill that Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law in December and that prohibits any promotion of “non-traditional sexual relations and/or preferences.”
Sources told the Tribune that the Hawks, without further clarity about how the law affects any of their Russian players, aren’t willing to risk “any media” — such as a social media post depicting a player in Pride Night colors — that might put players or their families in conflict with the Russian government.
