NHL, You Can Play participate in Pride Parades in NYC, Toronto

For the second straight year, the NHL participated in the Pride Parade in New York City and Toronto, celebrating equality and ideals of the League's Hockey Is For Everyone initiative.
The parade, which took place on Sunday in New York City and Toronto, but will be held in Montreal in August 19, drew large crowds to march in the streets.

In New York, 55 NHL employees and their guests participated, waving a flag featuring the NHL logo done in a rainbow of colors. Employees from the New York Rangers and New York Islanders joined the New York contingent and 21 of the 31 NHL clubs are participating in Pride celebrations in their local markets.
"Being a part of Pride shows our hockey family that we are putting our words into action," said NHL vice president special projects & corporate social responsibilty Jessica Berman. "Walking in the parade is a small way to show those in the hockey community, and those outside the hockey world, that we are supportive of the LGBTQ community."
Berman said the League's involvment is another way to deliver on the
Declaration of Principles
, which were unveiled by the NHL and NHL Players' Association in September to advance policies, programs and initiatives, while inspiring fans, players and communities to create the best possible experience for the entire hockey community.
"We announced to the world our Declaration of Principles, and that we pledge to ensure hockey is for everyone for future generations," Berman said. "It's important to continue to use these Principles as a guideline for how we operate daily, on and off the ice, during the season and offseason."
Dre Barone, a gay male who is a referee in the ECHL and LGBT advocate, was one of the marchers in the NHL contingent in Toronto. He said the being part of Pride is important not only to him, but everyone in society.
"It means showcasing to the world that when people from all walks of life come together in the name of love we are stronger together," Barone said. "The rainbow flag is a sign of the LGBTQ community but for it's not our flag anymore, it's everyone's. Whether you're straight, gay, bi or trans, those colours to me represent diversity."

Barone said being part of Pride is also important to the hockey community.
"We're trying to change a culture more than an individual. Being the first openly gay male in pro hockey has given a voice to those in the sport who feel like they don't have one," Barone said. "There is a need to speak honestly about it, the proof is in the thousands of messages I get about how my story helped them come out and accept themselves. The parade is a celebration of small steps taken to change that culture.

Among the league's partners at the march were a contingent from You Can Play, an organization "dedicated to ensuring equality, respect and safety for all athletes, without regard to sexual orientation and/or gender identity."
Tennis legend Billy Jean King was among the New York parade's marshals.
The theme of this year's parade was "Defiantly Different" and a vehicle for the festivities, complete with sound system, was provided by Honda. Over 500 registered groups, including the NHL and You Can Play, participated this year.