NEW YORK — Gay hockey fans in New York are upset about what they say is a pervasive sense of homophobia at Rangers home games, the New York Times reported last week. Crowds call long-time season ticket holder Larry Goodman a “homo” via chant when he does his trademark goofy dance. Homophobic epithets are shouted to players and the crowd booed when the name of the New York City Gay Hockey League and a recreational group, was flashed across a jumbo screen at Madison Square Garden. Kevin Jennings, a Rangers fan who is gay, said he stopped attending home games for about a month this season because he felt so uncomfortable.
Ray Stankes, 50, of Bayside, Queens, said he canceled season tickets he had had for 25 years in part because of the anti-gay environment. Jennings and Jeff Kagan, the director of the gay hockey league, wrote to Rangers General Manager Glen Sather in November and asked him to create a fan-education program that denounces anti-gay remarks. Since the complaints, the Rangers have broadcast warnings that they will remove fans who behave offensively and said they have posted additional security throughout the arena. Some fans think it’s much ado about nothing. “It’s a hockey game,” said Ricardo Pereira, 25, a season-ticket holder from Huntington on Long Island. “Hockey players are tough. Deal with it.”
From staff and wire reports
The
following comments were posted by our readers and were
not edited by SOVO. We ask that you
treat others with respect; any post deemed offensive will
be removed.
