NHL bans ‘Pride Tape’ use for 2023-2024 season
In a move first reported by LGBTQ sports blog Outsports, the National Hockey League has banned the use of “Pride Tape” across all 32 teams in the league.
This comes a week after ESPN reported the league clarified in a memo, sent out to all team franchises, regarding “special initiatives” teams could participate in including LGBTQ “Pride Nights.” ESPN’s Ryan Clark reported that one section of the memo stated: “Players shall not be put in the position of having to demonstrate (or where they may be appearing to demonstrate) personal support for any special initiatives.
A factor that may be considered in this regard includes, for example, whether a player (or players) is required to be in close proximity to any groups or individuals visibly or otherwise clearly associated with such special initiative(s).” This past June, the NHL’s Board of Governors agreed that players will no longer wear special rainbow-colored Pride-themed jerseys during warm-ups next season.
The specially-designed jerseys will continue to be manufactured and sold, and players will still have the option to autograph or even model them.
