Keeping to his promise to fight against homophobia, Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke was the featured guest yesterday at Egale Canada’s launch of their new Web site, MyGSA.ca. Burke apparently asked cameras to be shut off as he tried to speak about his son, Brendan, so they did not capture his tears. From all reports, he wasn’t able to offer more than a couple brief comments about his deceased son. From the Globe and Mail:
Mr. Burke says he’s sure that there are gay athletes in the NHL, and it’s “only a matter of time” before the culture of fear eases enough for a star to reveal their secret.
Until then, Mr. Burke said he’ll do his part to make that an easier process, even if it hurts.
Halfway through his speech yesterday, Mr. Burke braced himself to say some words about Brendan.
“I probably won’t be able to do this…” he began. His eyes welled up. He turned from the microphone, unable to continue.
Later, he said that he felt like he let his son down. But even as Mr. Burke took his seat, audience members were rising from their seats in a standing ovation.
It’s huge to have a guy like Burke actively taking a position against homophobia: A GM taking this position tells everyone in his organization that they will not lose their job because they’re gay.
Still, I find it interesting that our supporters talk about the culture in pro sports having to change more before anyone can come out. Society is rarely “ready” for social change when it happens: All that matters is that that one person is ready to come out. And as Scott Fujita told me a couple weeks ago, “people will fall in line.”
on May 18th, 2010 at 12:48 PM
Yes, it just takes one person.
on May 18th, 2010 at 2:50 PM
I was told once that Bill Walsh, then the 49ers coach, said a gay 49er would be a one-week story because he would not let it be a distraction and the team would move on. And, yes, people are seldom ready for change, but accept it once they realize it isn’t a big deal.
on May 18th, 2010 at 3:45 PM
Awesome story.
I kinda wish he hadn’t asked them to turn off their cameras. That emotionally-charged moment would have been incredibly powerful and viral on this interweb thing we have. But I fully respect him not wanting to be exposed like that either.
on May 19th, 2010 at 3:11 AM
Look at the big fuss over same-sex marriage… here in Canada there was some strong opposition but thankfully the Federal Government voted in favor of legalizing it… so much fuss – yet now it’s an after thought as critics have realized that it has no affect on their lives.
on May 19th, 2010 at 11:42 AM
I posted this in another thread to but thought it fits this discussion too. Brian Burke did do an interview with Wendy Mesley on the CBC National News last night about Homophobia in Pro sports.
http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/Sports/Hockey/ID=1497912261
on May 19th, 2010 at 12:33 PM
HAHA Pat you beat me to it, I was just about to post that exact same link!
on May 22nd, 2010 at 2:42 AM
Pat, thank you for that link.