At the time I brushed it off, as I have with other comments, but looking back I realise how damaging and hurtful it was. These parents were teaching their children to discriminate against fellow human beings, fellow hockey players - who would have helped them to be the best players they could be.
Fear drives people to do things that hurt others, even if they don’t mean it. They are conditioned to push back on the unknown, the different - and end up cultivating hate. We can’t change everyone, but we can, by speaking up, educate and open the minds of those around us, influence many to be better.
Many people in workplaces are not even aware of the issues that LGBTQIA+ people face every day.
Some tend to think ‘It never happened to me’; ‘We don’t have racist or homophobic people in our office’; ‘it’s safe for LGBTQIA people here so why do we need support groups?’.
We need support groups, and we need allies, because we have a responsibility to stand up to hate. Not just when we see it, but before it even happens. Doing this gives rise to continuous conversations - which can often be difficult but are extremely important if we want to change hearts and minds in society.
I said that “not being allowed to play because of who I am sounds ludicrous” – and it was not only LGBTQIA people who are not always able to be their true selves when they are competing athletes. I’m referring too to the latest developments for gender variant and transgender athletes. For me, everyone has the right to play their chosen sport.
