The Washington Capitals hosted their annual Pride Night at Capital One Arena on Thursday.
During warmups, a majority of Capitals players showed solidarity to the LGBTQ+ community by taping up their hockey sticks in rainbow colors.
By Ian Oland 1 year ago
The Dallas Stars hosted Pride Night on February 23 against the Winnipeg Jets. The team wore stunning black jerseys during warmups featuring the Stars’ crest in rainbow colors. The Stars also released Y’all Means All shirts that will benefit You Can Play.
Braden Holtby, the Capitals’ former LGBTQ-inclusion ambassador, participated in the event, rocking pride tape on his hockey stick.
Holtby was snapped rocking the rainbow gear by Amanda of Shattered Lens Photography (@shatteredlenstx).
On the same day that the Supreme Court ruled it is illegal to discriminate against LGBTQ workers, the Washington Capitals updated their avatars across social media with a subtle, yet bold update to celebrate Pride Month.
On the t of their wordmark which is shaped like a hockey stick, the Capitals added Pride Tape to the blade.
Monumental Sports and Entertainment announced on Monday that they are holding a Pride Month auction that will benefit SMYAL, a local nonprofit that has empowers LGBTQ youth. The auction begins on June 18, 2020, at 12 PM and ends on June 26, 2020, at 3 PM.
The Washington Capitals, Washington Wizards, and Washington Mystics all contributed items.
All 31 teams in the National Hockey League are expected to recognize the “Hockey is for Everyone” initiative during the 2019-20 season in order to “drive positive social change and foster more inclusive communities.” But the St. Louis Blues won’t be in St. Louis for their HIFE celebration on March 24, as they will be 900 miles away, playing a game against the Washington Capitals.
Instead, Blues fans can instead attend a “Hockey is for Everyone Celebration and Watch Party” at Enterprise Center for the cost of $10 per person. Those in attendance “will have the best view in the city as they watch the game on the center-hung scoreboard in a home-game-like atmosphere.”
The Blues are going to have to do a lot more than just talk the talk if they expect to convince the members of any minority community that they’re included in the Blues’ definition of “everyone.” A “home-game-like atmosphere” is not a home game. St. Louis fans who have the “best view in the city” will still have worse views than any seat in Capital One Arena, since, in St. Louis, they’ll be craning their necks to see the game on the scoreboard, instead of watching their home team play on their home ice. A real commitment to diversity requires actual work, not empty gestures.
The event is an insult to the fans it’s meant to welcome.
By Brennin Weiswerda 3 years ago
Tuesday night’s game against the Ottawa Senators was the Capitals’ Pride Night. While Braden Holtby, the Capitals’ “Hockey is for Everyone” ambassador, didn’t start the game in net, he led his teammates in celebrating the LGBTQ+ community.
Many players taped their sticks with rainbow Pride Tape which supports the LGBTQ+ community. The sticks will be auctioned off in June to support the SMYAL organization, who help local at-risk LGBTQ+ youth.
By Brennin Weiswerda and Donya Abramo 3 years ago
Gritty is not just a Philadelphia sports mascot. To some, he’s a political icon. The Flyers’ fluffy orange monstrosity has “become a symbol of progressive politics and resistance to Trumpism” and his imagery has been adopted by protesters marching against white supremacy.
Earlier this month, Gritty added the role of advocate to his resume by expressing support for the LGBTQ community and inclusiveness in hockey. And he did it with his belly button.
By Elizabeth Kong 4 years ago
The Capitals will hold a Pride Night on February 11 to honor the LGBTQ+ community as part of their Hockey is for Everyone events. They are running an auction for signed sticks and specialty pucks which will remain open until the second intermission of the Kings game.
The sticks were taped with Pride Tape and autographed. The Capitals will use sticks with Pride Tape in warm-ups prior to the game, making this the third year the Capitals have used Pride Tape pregame. Pride Tape is a partner of the NHL and supports You Can Play.
By Brennin Weiswerda 4 years ago
