If you’ve watched the Buffalo Sabres this season, you may have noticed that goaltender Anders Nilsson has a splash of color on the back of his mask. That spot of color is the pride flag and the story behind it being on Nilsson’s mask is pretty commendable.
[link_box id=”22277″ site_id=”17″ layout=”link-box-third” alignment=”alignright”]Nilsson recently spoke with the Buffalo News about the pride flag and why he chose to have it on the back of his helmet.
“I have a couple friends who are gay, and life hasn’t been easy for them growing up. It’s time that hockey starts to pay some attention to that.
Life hasn’t been easy for them growing up. It’s time that hockey starts to pay some attention to that.
This summer, I thought, why not be the first goalie to put (the pride flag) on the helmet and raise some awareness?”
That’s awesome.
Sports and the LGBT community have a relationship which is improving, but it still has a long way to go. Very few athletes have publicly come out, but that movement is slowly gaining traction and actions like this one from Nilsson will hopefully allow other gay athletes to come out should they desire without fear of persecution.
Wade Davis, director of the You Can Play organization, was thrilled with Nilsson’s decision to wear the pride flag on his mask.
“Anders Nilsson is courageous beyond the understanding of many. He is taking a risk on multiple fronts and is standing up for something that he believes in, knowing the backlash that could come his way. He’s my hero.”
