NHL Goaltender Under Fire for Not Wearing Pride Uniform Featuring Gay Shark
He acknowledges that taking a stand could impact his future in the NHL.
Progressives are up in arms after NHL goaltender James Reimer did not don an LBGTQ jersey for a pre-game warm up, the only San Jose Sharks player refusing to do so. The Sharks were celebrating PRIDE night at the arena, decking it out in rainbow hues in order to raise money for gay charities.
Reimer said in a statement:
For all 13 years of my NHL career, I have been a Christian — not just in title but in how I choose to live my daily. I have a personal faith in Jesus Christ, who died on a cross for my sins and, in response, asks me to love everyone and to follow Him. I have no hate in my heart for anyone and I have always strived to treat everyone that I encounter with respect and kindness.
In this specific instance, I am choosing not to endorse something that is counter to my personal convictions which are based on the Bible, the highest authority in my life. I strongly believe that every person has value and worth and the LGBTQIA+ community, like all others, should be welcomed in all aspects of the game of hockey.”
In response to this, hockey analysts were ticked off, with Pierre LeBrun, TSN and RDS Hockey Insider and Senior NHL Columnist for @TheAthletic subtweeting that Reimer was bigot and Senior NHL Writer Greg Wyshynski complaining that Reiner was refusing to help raise funds for the charity event.
Reimer’s contract ends this summer, making him an unrestricted free agent. He acknowledges that taking a stand could impact his future in the NHL.
“I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t something that crossed my mind honestly. I’m sure there’s people in management or ownership that won’t look favorably on this. At the same time, I hope that there’s another handful of people in management or ownership that respect me for standing up for what I believe in and that’s a big part of who I am.”