For the second time in the span of weeks, the NHL is in the headlines for all the wrong reasons after a contentious Pride Night.
The Rangers promised fans they would wear Pride-centric jerseys and tape while warming up for their game against the Golden Knights Friday evening, but went back on that promise and wore their usual uniforms.
Saturday afternoon, New York released a statement on Friday's events, according to a report from USA Today's Vince Z. Mercogliano.
“Our organization respects the LGBTQ+ community and we are proud to bring attention to important local community organizations as part of another great Pride Night,” the statement read. “In keeping with our organization’s core values, we support everyone’s individual right to respectfully express their beliefs.”
The Rangers’ backtrack comes after a similar incident on Jan. 17 in Philadelphia, when Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov—citing his Russian Orthodox religious beliefs—declined to warm up in a Pride jersey before a game against the Ducks.
NYC Pride later said in a statement to ESPN that they were not aware of the Rangers opting to not wear the jerseys or use the rainbow tape like in years past.
“In recent years, numerous National Hockey League (NHL) franchises including the New York Rangers have introduced a series of ‘Pride Nights’ to engage the LGBTQ+ community,” the organization said. “NYC Pride has been honored to take part in these celebrations, including as recently as last night at Madison Square Garden. NYC Pride was not made aware in advance of our participation in last night's ceremonial puck drop that Pride jerseys and rainbow tape would not be worn as advertised. We understand and appreciate that this has been a major disappointment to the LGBTQ+ community in New York and beyond.
“We are communicating these concerns with NY Rangers and NHL leadership as we continue to discuss the ways these organizations can work toward inclusion. NYC Pride has a duty to both support our partners and hold them accountable. We are committed to continuing our relationships with the NY Rangers and the NHL and maintaining substantive dialogue with them about meaningful allyship with the LGBTQ+ community.”
