defender of fort phillips

Not everyone is going to make the same choices I do. Which is perfectly fine. And I imagine I will still go to some games. But I do encourage everyone who is disappointed or upset to volunteer, donate, or spread the word for grass roots organizations in Detroit. The Ruth Ellis center is a great place to start. If you have more suggestions please add them!

[email protected]

Dear PWHL Detroit Management,

I write to you as a devote women’s hockey fan who has gone to every single expansion game and put down a deposit for season tickets, to express how deeply disappointed I am that Britta Curl Salemme has been added to the Detroit PWHL roster.

Britta Curl has engaged with online intolerance against the black community and the trans community. Last season she partnered with a faith based organization that aims to keep trans women out of sports. This is unacceptable to the community. It is unacceptable in Detroit which has a long history of with the black lgbt community.

It breaks the heart of myself and other fans who hoped PWHL Detroit would love and protect the LGBTQ+ community. However, this decision has made it clear that PWHL Detroit does not have an interest in supporting the LGBTQ+ community. The deliberate choice to sign Britta Curl when every stadium in the league boos her and makes it clear why, shows that this organization will not protect LGBTQ+ fans.

I will be unfollowing PWHL Detroit on all social medias, I will not buy merchandise, and I will not buy season tickets, while Curl and any other player openly associated with transphobia is on the team.

if you deep-down believe any single player in the league personally strongly opposes Curl and her beliefs, you need to get less parasocial about that player

doubly so if you think that player chooses to express their opposition to Curl's beliefs by laying hits or fighting with her on the ice.

Haley Winn landed the most hits on Curl in the season and also liked her Fierce Hockey collaboration. Abby Roque got a black eye in a fight with her and also was at her wedding hugging her in pictures.

I'm not saying every player in the league believes trans women should be excluded from women's sports (and medically transitioning trans men should be excluded from all professional sports). I don't believe that either.