Brendan and Brian Burke
There was an awesome interview yesterday with Brian Burke, general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, about whether the NHL is ready for an openly gay player. Burke’s son, Brendan, was gay and died two years ago in a car accident. Brian Burke has become a strong public advocate for gays in sports. Here is what he told George Stromboulopoulos of the CBC:
Oh, it’s going to happen. It’s going to happen and it’s gonna take less courage than that player thinks.
Right now, a player who’s contemplating that is thinking the whole world’s going to be arrayed against him and be this mountain he’s gotta climb. And I think he’s gonna find — I really believe this, watching the acceptance that my son got when he came out, in the hockey community at Miami University — this athlete that has the courage to come out, is going to find that hill’s a lot less steep than he thinks it is. That there’s a lot of support. I know the players on our team have all spoken to me about it, and said, absolutely, a gay player is welcome here.
“A lot less courage.” Thank you, Brian Burke! I get sick of hearing how “impossible” it is for a gay player to come out and the hand-wringing that goes on and keeps these guys in the closet. Here is an NHL G.M., a guy with the power to hire and fire, saying a gay player would be welcome on his team.
The whole interview is great, including where Burke talks about how he never allowed discriminatory comments of any kind in his household:
on Feb 3rd, 2012 at 5:49 PM
In-part it’ll depend on if his own teammates already know he’s gay, versus it being a surprise for everyone when he publicly comes-out in the Press.
on Feb 3rd, 2012 at 7:39 PM
I’ve never thought, in recent years, that the critical issue is his teammates’ reaction. The fan reaction at home (yes unfortunately) and definitely on the road worries me the most. Will the teams in the league ensure that the player isn’t mercilessly taunted in every visiting rink he plays in? We all know there will be a number of bigots lying in wait so they can verbally assault the guy.
on Feb 4th, 2012 at 12:44 AM
That’s life, Rick. Grow.a.pair. pro athletes.
on Feb 4th, 2012 at 6:54 PM
It certainly is only a matter of time before a pro hockey player comes out to the rest of the world. And I, for one, will applaud whoever it is that decides to take such a huge leap forward. Progress is definitely what the gay world needs so desperately right now, and progress would definitely be gained if a pro hockey player, or any pro player from a major sport for that matter, took those steps forward to encourage the rest of us. Of course, that is easy for me to say when I’m forced to live in the closet myself out of fear of rejection by my family.
on Feb 5th, 2012 at 2:52 AM
Mike, gay people do not need validation. Gay people have themselves. We wouldn’t have this problem, which you contribute to, if every average gay person came out.
on Feb 5th, 2012 at 5:28 PM
Steve, there is a big difference between validation and progress. I’m not saying gays need to be accepted in order to move forward. All I’m saying is that having a pro athlete come out to the world would be a gigantic leap forward in terms of progress for the gay world.
Many stereotypes would be disproven (like not all gays are overly dramatic and feminine), light would be shed on what is a serious issue, and finally I believe that first athlete would be the first domino to fall in terms of gay athletes coming out. I am not criticizing or trying to pressure anybody to come out… just saying that progress would be made if one did.
By the way, I’m not the average gay person, so it is very difficult for me to come out. I live in a very conservative state and come from a very conservative and religious family, so coming out (in my case) is easier said than done. When the time comes for me to come out to my family, then that will be great, but I don’t feel I should be criticized for my personal choices which affect nobody but myself.
on Feb 5th, 2012 at 6:43 PM
Gay people need nobody, but gay people to come out.
And, the closet affects everybody. When you grow up and become a man, you’ll understand this.
on Feb 5th, 2012 at 7:04 PM
Maybe you are the one who needs to grow up. I find your attitude way more immature and I say that as an openly gay individual. Belittling members of your own community does more harm than anything else. Mike is not hurting anyone and the decision is very personal.
on Feb 5th, 2012 at 11:49 PM
You know, Steve, it’s the narrow-mindedness that you display in your apparent ignorance that aids in pulling the straight and gay communities further and further apart.
As a wise man who was fighting for equal rights in another area once said: “Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” So which are you displaying, Stevey boy, the former or the latter?
on Feb 6th, 2012 at 1:20 AM
There are gay people who have come out under far worse circumstances than either of you combined. God bless them.
Take care!
on Feb 6th, 2012 at 1:31 AM
Steve, thanks.
on Feb 6th, 2012 at 1:45 AM
Sympathy for the closet in 2012? Really? Closet cases are a pathetic, cowardly group. Especially snarky ones.
on Feb 6th, 2012 at 2:00 AM
“If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door.” – Harvey Milk
That’s a wise quote.
on Feb 6th, 2012 at 2:41 PM
How would you know, Steve? I can’t believe I’m even on this website arguing over this, but you don’t know my circumstances. I shared a couple, but you should know that every person’s circumstances are different. To lump everybody into one category, and call them all cowards for not deciding to make a life changing decision when everybody else wants you to is flat out irresponsible.
When the time comes for me to come out (which I hope will be in the very near future), that will be great, but as Chris said, the decision to do so is a very personal and critical one for a person to make.
Also, I find it a bit odd that Steve, “Mark”, “Kyle”, and “Kyle” all post within a half hour of each other in the middle of the night on an article that only had five initial comments to begin with. Steve, are you sure that Mark and Kyle aren’t the multiple voices in your twisted mind?
on Feb 7th, 2012 at 1:44 PM
Mike, I was reading your blog and you claimed to be “twenty-something” which means you must over 25 or older. I thought you were a 16 year old. Yes, I agree. It’s high time you grew up, came out, and became a man.
on Feb 7th, 2012 at 3:05 PM
Wow, I never realized how narrow-minded certain members of the gay community are. Like I said before, you would think that they would be the most understanding, and I guess it is unfair to lump them all in one group.
Maybe it’s a regional thing? I don’t know, but my gay relatives and gay friends here in Texas have a totally different mindset that many of the people that I see posting on here.
And since when did twenty-something start meaning twenty-five or older? And when did coming out correlate with becoming a man? One of these days, you’re gonna tell that to the wrong person and wish you didn’t. Just saying.
on Feb 7th, 2012 at 3:07 PM
Then again, I guess it’s a lot easier to make such bold statements on the internet.
on Feb 10th, 2012 at 5:30 PM
Mike, you love to attack the gay community. You need some serioues therapy. I wish I could block you. You are a troll.