rage - goddess, sing the rage

I literally don’t care about Britta Curl as a person. Regardless of anything else the way the cultural landscape moved she has become a symbol. (Which is just a thing that happens. Our brains do that.)

So when we are talking about Curl and bigotry in the league we are also talking about resources and actionable steps right? No matter what you think about her or the discourse you are doing things to talk about or combat the most toxic parts of hockey culture and give support to the communities most effect. Right?

“Let Us Play: Winning the Battle for Gender Diverse Athletes By Harrison Browne and Rachel Browne”

“Blackness Is a Gift I Can Give Her: On Race, Community, and Black Women in Hockey by Renee Hess”

New York Siren’s Guide to Email the League

Black Girl Hockey Club

the way pwhl fans have made Britta Curl the scapegoat for the league will never not piss me off, not because I agree with her beliefs, but because by scapegoating one player and directing all your attention to loudly hating her you don't actually do anything real.

Also, aside from the fact that Britta Curl is not the only player with her beliefs in the league, I actually don't think yelling at the league to fire her is productive! I actually don't think a business should be allowed to discriminate against employees based on their political beliefs! I think that's a dangerous precedent to set, personally!

Like you don't have to spend your money in support of a franchise with players who are loud about politics you don't agree with. But saying they don't deserve to pay their bills and feed themselves is not exactly the most progressive take either.

I just want to also add a masterlist of resources for things you, pwhl blogger, can concretely do to combat transphobia in the PWHL!

Firstly, use this template/guide to email the league and the pwhpa to demand they develop, release, and implement the gender inclusion policy they still owe us.

Additionally, if you have the financial means, pledge to donate in Curl's name. I personally did $5 per point and $1 per PIM this past season, but you can choose whatever donation makes sense for you! Also, here are some places you can donate that advocate for LGBTQ people in hockey/detroit/both:

You Can Play

The Ruth Ellis Center (see @whitecherrylavender's reblog for more details)

The Detroit Chapter of Stonewall Sports (see @royaletigertowelpapertowelpp's reblog for more)

From u/pythagoreanpentagram on reddit: Stand With Trans and Transgender Michigan

You can also follow along with a Detroit fan-led effort to fundraise for trans nonprofits at puckcurl.com

Detroit has been waiting for a team for a long time, and just because there's a player added to the roster that many people dislike doesn't mean she represents them, the city, or that they want her there. the people in the liveblog tags and sitting next to you at games are not your enemy.

(also as others have said, she's not even the only person in the league with the same views, just one of the most outspoken and well known about it)

what you CAN do

send feedback to the league, demand a gender inclusion policy, donate to detroit specific resources for trans people (like those listed above) and trans&queer youth hockey spaces and/or do the same for any resources local to you, amplify voices of real trans people in sports, go on gofundme and see if you can find trans & genderqueer people fundraising for different transition, health, housing, etc needs (I promise you there will be many), or donate to the trevor project and trans lifeline.

https://www.transathlete.com/take-action also has a lot of resources for learning about, supporting, and taking action on various things around transgender people in sports.

I also highly recommend reading some books to further your knowledge on transgender history, rights, and existence such as:

Fair Play: How Sports Shape the Gender Debates by: Katie Barnes

Trans History by: Alex L. Combs and Andrew Eakett

Black on Both Sides: A Racial History of Tans Identity by: C. Riley Snorton

All Boys Aren’t Blue by: George M. Johnson

Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson by: Tourmaline

this post's hypothetical by itself is already ridiculous but the thing that gets me is how the wording implies two very funny things that become funnier in tandem

1. "Accidentally, the pitcher tosses a Christian baby" means this is a mistake on the pitcher's part. i imagine the pitcher is breastfeeding on the field and they pitch and they look down at their hands and they see the ball still in the glove and they go "fuck"