Gay rights isn’t talked about much in locker rooms across the nations, especially in hockey. Yet support from Oregon Hockey as a part of a new initiative by the PAC-8 hopes to stand up against these problems, through a program called the “You Can Play” project.
The project was started in memory of Brendan Burke, a hockey player for Miami University who announced that he was gay in November 2009 and became an important advocate for tolerance in hockey and in sports in general. A few months later Burke was killed in a car accident but his family and friends have continued to support Burke’s ideals by founding the project.
The project’s intentions are to “ensure equality, respect and safety for all athletes, without regard to sexual orientation,” according to a PAC-8 press release.
Oregon Hockey is doing its share in promoting the project by helping raise awareness and taking part in a conference-wide video that will push the initiative even further.

RT: We are taking a stand for #equality in our sport and proud to support @youcanplayteam#PAC8#LGBT#LGBTQ#Allybit.ly/PtS1cC
— Oregon Ducks Hockey (@Oregon_Hockey) October 29, 2012

Matt Hanlon, the Oregon Hockey coordinator is proud of supporting the project and is doing his best to proliferate the initiative’s information.
“I think the culture of sports pushes stereotypes and lack of respect beyond acceptable boundaries,” Hanlon said. “We are proud to be an organization that promotes this inclusive environment and hope that doing so can set an example for other organizations in the Eugene community.”