The Times They Really Are A-Changin'

All of the major professional US sports associations have anti-discrimination policies with regard to sexuality, but according to a story in today's NY Times, the National Hockey League has taken the strongest and most advanced position in support of gay athletes.

The N.H.L. said it had formed a partnership with the You Can Play Project, an advocacy group pledged to fight homophobia in sports, and planned training and counseling on gay issues for its teams and players.

Professional sports represent what some have called the last major closet, and people who know say there are and have always been (is anyone actually surprised?) gay athletes in all of the pro sports. It is just that the history has been that they don't come out as gay until they retire.

The NHL denies that the new program is specifically designed to lay the groundwork for the first professional player to come out, but it might just have that effect.