(Pic: nimg.sulekha.com)

(Thanks to Perez Hilton for this story)

I have new found respect for Chicago Blackhawks player, Brent Sopel.  Before this I wasn’t a big fan.  I mean, he was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks and plays for the Hawks *barf* (Sorry, Megan).   But this story totally warms my heart.

Last year, Brendan Burke, son of Brian Burke (Toronto Maple Leaf’s GM), publicly came out as gay.  Because most sports organizations are super homophobic, it was a huge story because no one could believe that a hockey player could be gay.  News flash peeps.  There are approximately 800 players in the NHL; at least one of them is gay.  Anyways, Brian fully supported him and so did his friends and family and it was an all around good story because he was breaking stigmas and changing people’s views.

But just one month later, Brendan died tragically in a fatal car crash.  He was 22.

When an NHL team wins the the Stanley Cup, each player gets one day with the cup to do whatever he wants with it.  What is Brent Sopel doing?  Taking the cup in Chicago’s Gay Pride Parade.

When Brendan came out, Brian stood by him, and his whole family stood by him, like every family should. We teach our kids about accepting everybody. Tolerate everybody, to understand where everyone is coming from.”

Totally friggin’ awesome.  I have so much respect for Brent doing that.  What a great way to honor a friend.

Tanya: Awwww! What a great story! So often you only hear about the hate and not the love <3