NHL Prospect Le Prokop Mak History As League's First Gay Player : NPR

hockey gay son

Prokop, who was drafted by the Nashville Predators last year, me out as gay wh a heartfelt statement to fans this week, an admissn he said he hoped would improve gay visibily wh the hockey muny.

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NHL PROSPECT LE PROKOP OUT AS GAY, A FIRST FOR THE LEAGUE

* hockey gay son *

Natnal Hockey League prospect Le Prokop me out as gay via a heartfelt statement to fans Monday, sayg he hoped would improve gay visibily wh the hockey muny. “I hope that sharg who I am I n help other people see that gay people are wele the hockey muny, as we work to make sure that hockey is tly for everyone, ” he wrote. Prokop hasn’t played an NHL game yet, but if he do, he’ll jo que a small club: There have only been two openly gay active players the four largt US sports leagu – Carl Nassib of the NFL’s Las Vegas Rairs, who me out last month, and Jason Colls, an NBA veteran who me out 2013 and retired the followg season.

Homophobic language is often ed among ach and players on youth sports teams. This n evolve to lastg homophobic attus or e gay players to hi their sexualy om their teammat, said Erik Denison, a behavral scientist and lead rearcher on the Sport Incln Project at Monash Universy Atralia, a June terview wh CNN.

But to Brock McGillis, the first openly gay male profsnal hockey player North Ameri, merely ncelg Leipsic is futile. “Every player I’ve been around has ed this type of language: racist, sexist or homophobic language,” McGillis told Outsports.

LE PROKOP COM OUT AS GAY AND MAK NHL HISTORY

Last month, McGillis spoke wh Outsports about the importance of llg out hate-speech hockey, explag why he chose to highlight two-time Stanley Cup champn Dt Penner’s vile nspiracy-filled homophobic Twter timele.

As the first openly gay pro hockey player, McGillis has plenty of first-hand experienc wh the evils of bigotry. Former NHL biser Brandon Pst recently went on a Twter tira about “reverse racism” and star Bs forward David Pastrnak was ught g “you’re gay” as an sult on his Twch stream, though he did tch himself and apologize.

When I go speak, I humanize beg a gay man and playg hockey at high levels.

PROKOP REFLECTS ON YEAR SCE G OUT AS GAY

Le Prokop, a prospect for the Nashville Predators, me out as gay on Monday. Nashville Predators prospect Le Prokop has e out as gay, beg the first active player unr ntract to an NHL team to do so. High-level female hockey players, such as Olympic gold medalist Meghan Duggan, have prevly e out as gay, acrdg to the league.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* HOCKEY GAY SON

Prokop reflects on year sce g out as gay |.

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