Brian Burke
Brian Burke, general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, was honored by PFLAG as an “ally” at a dinner this week. Burke’s son Brendan was an assistant on the Miami of Ohio hockey team and died in a car crash on Feb. 5, 2010. Brendan’s coming out story was told just months prior on ESPN.com. Here is what Brian Burke said in part of his acceptance speech:
A parent’s unconditional love and acceptance of their child is unremarkable, and should be automatic. It deserves no accolades or praise. Make no mistake, the hero here was Brendan. What Brendan did took courage. Coming out in arguably the most macho of the professional sports. Now that was worthy of an award.
Most walls in society have been breached or leveled over time. But not this one – professional sports in North America has no gay presence. And certainly the NHL does not. These walls have not been breached, have not been leveled. Bias, suspicion and prejudice still prevail. Our goal has to be to continue to level these barriers.
Brendan Burke
… My favorite thing about my son telling me he was gay – I didn’t have to take anything back. My children were raised in a home which taught acceptance. This is the first step, practice and teach acceptance. Of the three steps, this is the most important. If everyone practices acceptance, this issue will go away over time.
You should read the entire speech, which was posted on the official website of the Maple Leafs. It’s a beautiful statement of a father’s love for his son and a challenge for all of us to make a difference.
on Jan 18th, 2012 at 9:52 PM
Great Dad. Sad that their time together was so short, but at least it seems there was nothing left unsaid between them.
on Jan 18th, 2012 at 10:12 PM
God bless you Brian. I wish all parents were like you with teaching acceptance. Nothing upsets me more than hearing about parents disowning their children when they come out. Family is about unconditional love.
on Jan 18th, 2012 at 11:26 PM
I wish you could read this Brian, even though I know you won’t. You as a parent are everything that is right with the world. I admire you and wish you and your family nothing but success in the future.