The New York Islanders and LGBT Network are joining forces to launch an anti-bullying partnership in more than 200 Long Island and New York City schools, an initiative that will set an important example for LGBT youth, officials said Thursday during National Coming Out Day.
"The Islanders are becoming the first professional sports franchise in any major league to participate in our National Coming Out Day campaign, and that sends a strong message to people on the athletic fields in high schools and also to LGBT young people that if they have a dream to become a professional athlete, they are seeing a team like the Islanders and the NHL saying hockey is for everyone," said David Kilmnick, president and CEO of the LGBT Network.