03/21/2008
NYT: Homophobic Pro Hockey Fans Creating 'Toxic' Atmosphere
A homophobic atmosphere and anti-gay chants are making it uncomfortable for gay fans to see pro hockey games at Madison Square Garden, the New York Times reports:
Ray Stankes, 50, of Bayside, Queens, said he canceled season tickets he had had for 25 years in part because of the antigay environment. 'This is a place where I grew up, and I never really felt uncomfortable at the Garden,' Stankes said. 'I didn’t wear it on my sleeve that I’m gay. If I take a friend who is also gay who, for lack of a better term, is not as masculine, I’m always sitting there a little tense. Like, is somebody going to say something to us? And it’s made it not quite as fun as it used to be.'"
Longtime straight season-ticket holder Larry Goodman, whose signature "goofy dance" has apparently become a staple at games is routinely trashed with chants of "Ho-mo La-rry", the New York City Gay Hockey Association was booed by the stadium when their name was announced on the big screen, and homophobic remarks toward players have become more and more common.
Sounds a lot like the trouble that European football officials have been having abroad. Last year they implemented a zero-tolerance policy for such remarks. Maybe that's the solution.
Sounds like a better one than the suggestion offered up by 25-year-old season ticket holder Ricardo Pereira: "It’s a hockey game. Hockey players are tough. Deal with it."
When Tradition and Taunts Collide: Gay Hockey Fans Criticize Garden [nyt]
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Posted 9:48 AM EST by Andy Towle in Gay Slurs, Hockey, News, Sports | Permalink
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what do you expect, they're a bunch of russians and backwoods canadians. was that racist?
Posted by: dw314 | Mar 21, 2008 1:00:43 PM
Were there no stock photos of Rangers players?
The Maple Leafs have been supportive of the gay community so why sully them by having their jersey associated with a story about homophobia?
Posted by: Zeke | Mar 21, 2008 1:39:34 PM
I tend to agree with Ricardo Pereira. I've gone to many a Rangers game at the Garden and it's Testosterone City. It's a very violent sport and it attracts, shall we say, an undiscerning crowd which is typically white, male, very rowdy and aggressive. It doesn't excuse the behavior and I know a lot of people--not just gay--who have stopped going to Ranger games altogether because of those fans. A hockey game at the Garden is no place for "sensitivity issues" and it's just inviting ridicule and contempt. Let it go.
Posted by: mike | Mar 22, 2008 9:48:22 AM
I must disagree with Mike and Mr. Pereira. A civilized society has a right to expect civilized behavior from its members, even at testosterone laden sports events.
It is the rowdy, aggressive fans that must get used to proper public behavior or stop going to games, not the well-mannered fans.
Posted by: David | Mar 23, 2008 12:41:19 AM
What do you expect from the lame bridge and tunnel crowd that goes to the Garden in the first place — as well as the countless long island douche bags and jersey trash.
Posted by: Ty | Mar 23, 2008 3:55:23 PM