On Tuesday night, ahead of a match up against the Detroit Red Wings, the Wells Fargo Center was lit up rainbow. Sticks were taped with pride tape, pride merch was on display, and Gritty proudly waved the progress flag at center ice. It was the Flyers’ annual Pride Game, a celebration and recognition of the LGBTQ+ community, and this year it felt more important than ever. We spoke to four openly queer Flyers fans to talk about why.
Pride nights and inclusivity in the NHL have taken multiple blows in the last two years. As the political climate has grown increasingly hostile towards the LGBTQ+ community, the NHL’s former pledges towards progress, their “efforts” to make the league a safe and welcoming place for minorities, proved utterly hollow, discarded the instant it was no longer convenient.