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I want progress in the NHL as much as anybody else and I want queer players to feel safe, so I hope that Heated Rivalry can be a catalyst for a shift in hockey culture. I really, really do.
But we canât let this blind us to the fact that Gary Bettman is a member of Trumpâs council of sports. Their goal is to prevent trans women from participating in womenâs sports at all levels. Gary Bettman also tried to ban the use of pride tape and wearing pride jerseys during warm up. It was only reversed when players chose to do it anyway, risking fines.
Needless to say, I donât care if Bettman liked Heated Rivalry as long as he continues to be involved with a government that is actively hostile to not only trans people, but all queer people. I donât give a shit if those two fictional gay hockey players were interesting enough that he binged the show as long as Bettman refuses to take meaningful steps to make the NHL safer for real queer people.
