Frustration Over Minimal Pride Efforts in UK Pro Hockey

Pride Efforts in UK Pro Hockey: A Call for Meaningful Change

Zach Sullivan, a defenseman in British professional hockey, possesses a distinctively British form of self-deprecation as he describes himself as "strongly opinionated." However, his opinions carry weight, given his unique position as the only openly LGBTQ player in UK pro hockey since his public coming out as bisexual in 2020, just before his Manchester Storm team’s Pride Week game.

Sullivan is not one to seek the limelight, but as the latest Pride Week concludes, he emphasizes the importance of meaningful inclusivity efforts in the sport. "If we’re not careful with how we handle it, Pride Week is in danger of becoming tokenistic," Sullivan warns.

This year, the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) collaborated with the LGBTQ helpline, Switchboard, promoting the charity on officials’ jerseys and social media. Sullivan welcomes these efforts and praises initiatives by various teams that support local LGBTQ charities.

However, Sullivan points out that despite the league-wide visibility of Pride, the foundational inclusion work is not yet universal. "Some teams should be doing more," he states, echoing sentiments he voiced a year ago, noting last season’s Pride Week left him "overwhelmingly disappointed."

"The tagline is always about wearing a colorful jersey. But it’s more than that," Sullivan insists. "What are you actually supporting? Like for example, an LGBTQ youth group in your city. I think that’s something really simple to do."

Sullivan, who has played over 500 games in the Elite League, commends the league’s media and communications manager, Luke Fisher, for his dedication to ensuring Pride’s success every season. "Luke works harder than anyone in the league," Sullivan remarks.

Yet, Sullivan believes that for all of Fisher’s efforts, there isn’t sufficient coverage regarding the continuous work teams must undertake with LGBTQ charities. Positive examples include partnerships between Belfast Giants and Cara Friend in Northern Ireland, and Coventry Blaze’s support for CRASAC, which provides services for LGBTQ survivors of sexual abuse.

Conversely, Sullivan is puzzled by some teams’ reluctance to publicly commit to supporting LGBTQ causes or to name the beneficiaries of their claimed donations. "I would like to see more public interaction with LGBTQ communities because having the Pride flag on the jerseys is a bare minimum," he says.

Sullivan draws inspiration from Brock McGillis, a former hockey pro in Canada who advocates for LGBTQ inclusion in sports through his "Culture Shift" tour. Sullivan and McGillis have discussed what could be achieved if leagues and clubs extended their efforts beyond symbolic gestures.

"Brock has the best headline for this — Pride in sports is like having a parade before you’ve won the cup. Because can you really celebrate something that hasn’t happened yet?" Sullivan muses.

At home, Sullivan has engaged with his teammates and LGBTQ fans who wish to make a difference. He recounts conversations with teammates questioning the purpose of Pride initiatives. "I tell them that it’s to show we’re inclusive to LGBTQ people," he explains, sharing Brock’s opening line: "I didn’t think I could play hockey and be gay. And I couldn’t stop being gay."

Despite the challenges, Sullivan credits his Storm teammates and owner Ryan Finnerty for their unwavering support, describing Finnerty as "my hockey dad." Sullivan feels a strong responsibility to serve as a role model for young LGBTQ fans who see themselves in his story.

"Certain teams in this league do a fantastic job. Certain teams do just enough," Sullivan observes. "Until every team realizes that this goes beyond hockey, there’s still work to be done."

The reward for these efforts, Sullivan believes, is the loyalty of LGBTQ fans. "Clubs should want to do that work anyway, but if you can show you’re welcoming and accepting of LGBTQ fans all year round rather than just during one week, you’ll find your most loyal fan on the planet," Sullivan concludes.

Advocacy has taken a toll on Sullivan, but his commitment to using his profile for positive change in hockey remains steadfast. He emphasizes that the ask is not enormous, but the impact on inclusivity and community could be.