NHL Players Speak Up For Equality

The Advocate’s Josh Hinkle reports 10 NHL players have joined Patrick and Brian Burke to speak out against homophobia in a new public service announcement for the You Can Play Project.

Players James Van Riemsdyk, Mark Fayne, Frans Nielsen, Tyler Bozak, George Parros, Brandon Prust, David Steckel, Andy Greene, RJ Umberger, and Brian Boyle make appearances in the project's recently released video.

"My brother Brendan fought for tolerance, equality, and gay rights in sports," Patrick Burke, a scout for the Philadelphia Flyers, says in the PSA. Brendan was a student manager for his college hockey team and came out as gay shortly before his death in a car accident. Brendan and Patrick's father, Brian Burke, is president and general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

You Can Play—Second Period (below) is one of nine PSAs produced by the You Can Play Project. To see the other eight videos, visit the You Can Play Project's YouTube page.

Read the original article “NHL Players Lend Their Voices To You Can Play Project” on Advocate.com