• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Ice hockey player declines to wear pride jersey due to counter beliefs

Home> News

Published 09:35 20 Mar 2023 GMT

Ice hockey player declines to wear pride jersey due to counter beliefs

James Reimer said his Christian beliefs are the reason why he was unable to wear a pride jersey

Gregory Robinson

Gregory Robinson

A professional ice hockey player has declined to wear a pride jersey because of his beliefs.

San Jose Sharks goalie James Reimer was absent during the pregame warmups on Saturday night (18 March) which he explained were due to the team’s decision to wear Pride-themed jerseys in support of the LGBTQ community.

The jersey would have gone against Reimer’s religious beliefs, he explained in a statement. The 35-year-old is a Christian and said he ‘always strived to treat everyone with respect’ and declared that members of the LGBTQ community should be welcome in hockey.

James Reimer declined the chance to wear a pride jersey.
Sipa US / Alamy Stock Photo

Advert

Reimer stated: “Under the umbrella of the NHL’s Hockey is For Everyone initiative, the San Jose Sharks have chosen to wear jerseys in support of the LGBTQIA+ community tonight.

“For all 13 years of my NHL career, I have been a Christian – not just in title, but how I choose to live my life daily. I have a personal faith in Jesus Christ who died on the cross for my sins and, in response, asks me to love everyone and follow him. I have no hate in my heart for anyone and I have always strived to treat everyone that I encounter with respect and kindness.”

He continued: “In this specific instance, I am choosing not to endorse something that is counter to my personal convictions, which are based on the Bible, the highest authority in life.

James Reimer released a statement.
ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy Stock Photo

Advert

Reimer concluded: “I strongly believe that every person has value and worth, and the LGBTQIA+ community, like all others, should be welcomed in all aspects of the game of hockey.”

The hockey team released its own statement and clarified that while they respect the LGBTQ community, they also respect an individual’s freedom of speech and expression.

“We also acknowledge and accept the rights of individuals to express themselves, including how or whether they choose to express their beliefs, regardless of the cause or topic,” the statement reads.

Twitter

Advert

They added: “As an organization, we will not waver in our support of the LGBTQIA+ community and continue to encourage others to engage in active allyship.”

Reimer isn’t the only hockey player this season to refuse to wear pride-themed jerseys. Russian defenceman for the Philadelphia Flyers Ivan Provorov refused to wear a rainbow jersey and said the decision was down to his Russian Orthodox religion.

“I respect everybody. I respect everybody’s choices,” Provorov told reporters in January. “My choice is to stay true to myself and my religion.”

Featured Image Credit: The Canadian Press / Alamy Stock Photo

Topics: Sport, LGBTQ, US News

Gregory Robinson
Gregory Robinson

Gregory is a journalist for UNILAD. After graduating with a master's degree in journalism, he has worked for both print and online publications and is particularly interested in TV, (pop) music and lifestyle. He loves Madonna, teen dramas from the '90s and prefers tea over coffee.

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

10 hours ago
11 hours ago
12 hours ago
  • 10 hours ago

    People losing their minds after seeing what the inside of a kangaroo pouch looks like for the first time ever

    It's not a pouch you'd like to crawl into

    News
  • 10 hours ago

    Hurricane Erin tracker reveals seven states most at risk as experts issue deadly warning

    The National Hurricane Center has since issued a warning

    News
  • 11 hours ago

    Relationship coach shares controversial opinion on why it could be 'your fault' your significant other cheated

    The relationship coach has explained her reasoning

    News
  • 12 hours ago

    Horrifying video shows flames erupting out of plane’s' engines as passengers describe sending ‘goodbye texts’

    The plane was traveling from Corfu, Greece, to Düsseldorf, Germany, when an engine malfunctioned

    News
  • Professional hockey player refuses to wear LGBTQ jersey for pride round because it goes against the Bible
  • Former Superman actor announces he's joining ICE in a bid to 'save America'
  • Staggering amount US government is paying new ICE recruits
  • Father killed in hammer throw accident due to 'atrocious' mistake