Eric and Marc Staal, brothers who play hockey for the Florida Panthers, join the list of NHL players who refuse to wear a rainbow Pride jersey for team warm-ups rejecting a message of inclusion to LGBTQ people.
Eric and Marc Staal statement … pic.twitter.com/EhmVOuXsFa
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) March 23, 2023
“It goes against our Christian beliefs.” — the Staal Brothers. pic.twitter.com/yicNTT0MMF
— Ian Shantz (@IanShantz) March 24, 2023
I think their rejection is actually a very clear judgement on LGBTQ people – “We don’t want you here.”
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has previously signaled he supports players who share their homophobia.
The rest of Team Panthers, like Matthew Tkachuk, had no problem wearing the rainbow-patched jersey for 15 minutes:
"Everybody's welcome in my locker room." ❤️ pic.twitter.com/YwPvqdJYYQ
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) March 24, 2023
By the way – the Panthers lost to the Toronto Maple Leafs, 6-2, with the brothers Staal on the ice.
Related: Pro Hockey Player Refuses To Wear Pride Jersey
Folks on the internet found photos of Eric Staal wearing a Pride jersey in the 2020-21 season when he played for the Canadiens. He still insists he has “never” worn a Pride jersey.
Brothers Eric and Marc Staal of the Florida Panthers declined to wear special Pride-themed warmup jerseys ahead of the team’s 6-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. https://t.co/lTTExVTAcw
— WSVN 7 News (@wsvn) March 24, 2023
#FlaPanthers Eric Staal post-game, when told there is photographic evidence of him wearing a pride jersey in Montreal:
“I haven’t before. I never have. … I haven’t worn a pride jersey before.”
(Staal wore No. 21 with the Canadiens during the 2020-21 season.) pic.twitter.com/aHmOgkRNBo
— Erin Brown (@rinkside) March 24, 2023
Brothers skip Pride jerseys; Panthers lose to Maple Leafs https://t.co/ogyHYaQdK5 pic.twitter.com/hEJ2s4G6WL
— The Globe and Mail (@globeandmail) March 24, 2023
Our statement on Eric and Marc Staal’s refusal to show acceptance and inclusion tonight during the @FlaPanthers Pride Night. #tbay #ericstaal #marcstaal #inclusionmatters #pridenights pic.twitter.com/sofm37gipp
— Rainbow Collective of Thunder Bay (@RCTBay) March 24, 2023