The San Jose Sharks took to the ice Saturday night in jerseys clad in colors supporting the LGBTQ+ community but goaltender James Reimer refused to take part, citing his Christian beliefs.
“In this specific instance I’m personally choosing not to endorse something — sexual identity or orientation — [my beliefs] are based on the Bible which I consider the highest authority in my life,” said the 13-year NHL veteran. “I wrestled with it because I know the initial reaction to putting out a statement like this or showing up to warmups and not wearing the jersey can come across offensive or slap in the face.”
“What he believes has harmed our community throughout history and it’s harming us right now,” said Suzanne Ford, executive director of San Francisco Pride. “The San Jose Sharks by itself ought to mean inclusion because it’s here in the Bay Area and people in the Bay Area support the San Jose Sharks.”
The San Jose Sharks said in a statement: “… we also acknowledge and accept the rights of individuals to express themselves… as an organization we will not waiver in support of the LGBTQIA+ community.”
Fans also weighed in, including San Jose Councilmember Omar Torres who was there for the game.
“I’m very disappointed that James Reimer decided not to wear the pride jersey,” he said, pointing to the hundreds of anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced across the nation. “The LGBTQ community is under attack. They are being villainized and dehumanized, and it’s very unfortunate he’s not wearing the jersey this evening.”
“I honestly think it’s right to choose. He can do what he wants. Everyone’s going to have an opinion, but if that’s what he wants to do it’s what he wants to do.” said Sharks fan Jordyn Perez.
“I believe that’s his right to express his beliefs and views how he wants to if he’s not being aggressive or angry about it. Not wearing a jersey shouldn’t be that big of deal,” added fellow fan, Ben Krainbrink.
But Ford says not putting on the pride-themed jersey sends a dangerous message.
“We have suffered under the yoke of people thinking and acting like that. And we have been afraid of it. I know it kept me in the closet, and I’m not going to stand for it,” Ford said. “I’ll meet him wherever he wants to talk about it.”
Original story on KGO-ABC7.
Why, when religious liberty seems to conflict with sexual “liberation,” is it that religious liberty must be suppressed as “dangerous,” but destructive sexual behaviors must be celebrated and acknowledged with pride. Even the LGBTQ spokeswoman spoke of a pride-themed jersey. This is not about tolerance, acceptance or safety. It’s about the totalitarian imposition of an ideology and the silencing of all who disagree with, even question, it. Pride is dangerous. And is anyone in the LGBTQ community really afraid of Mr. Reimer? He is not advocating for (or against) anything. He is simply not retreating from his sincerely and deeply held Christian (and human) belief. We Christians love all persons, but we need not bend our knees before false ideologies.
Beautifully said, a.c. , especially the seldom mentioned thought that pride is dangerous. How ironic that those governed by lies act as if their truth should be imposed on everyone, while those of the Truth (and the Way and the Life) are too often afraid of offending anyone.
The rainbow was created by God as a pledge of the covenant he made with man that never again would he destroy all mankind by a flood.
God was sorry he made man because nothing man conceived of was anything but evil.
He saved 8 people then.
He is now willing to save all people-by belief in the Lord Jesus Christ and baptism.
Pride is dangerous? What is dangerous is rejecting belief in the Lord.
Jesus came to save sinners, not the self-righteous.
God bless James Reimer for having such fortitude, which of course God gave him. The only uniform any team should be wearing is that of its team. I respected the Sharks and used to go their games but I not anymore.
they must hate James in the Bay Area,
bastion of liberal “tolerance”
Correction to my last line: “but not anymore”. “I” was a typo.
The Sharks was one of the teams that was more family oriented and did not have cheap, vulgar half times but was decent. One could take children there without exposing them to smut. Now that will all be ruined if they keep it up.
Makes me want to become a hockey fan.
If he were Catholic or a graduate of Archbishop Mitty High School, he would have worn the pride colors unhesitatingly and unthinkingly.
This would only be a news story in California.
It would be news if someone did wear a rainbow jersey elsewhere.
I do not know. Californians voted down so-called same sex marriage, but others, many from other states, crammed it down our throats. As
a native Californian, I wish they would go back home.
From a scroll found in Babylon:
https://babylonbee.com/news/uh-oh-fine-print-in-noahic-covenant-says-promise-not-to-flood-the-earth-is-void-if-humanity-starts-using-rainbow-colors-to-refer-to-weird-sex-stuff
So that is why California is being flooded. (laughter.) Well at our place our fruit trees are being well watered and fruitful while we are on high ground.
If teams and corporations, etc. would stop pushing this garbage on members and employees and stay out of gender issues, it would be a breath of fresh air. So tired of this. The person’s response that LBGTQ (and on and on) are being persecuted is a joke. They are being held up on a high pedestal for all of us to bow down to. We no longer have the ability to have our religious values respected or even allowed in the public square. It is a great insult and a sullying of the beautiful rainbow that was God’s covenant to never again flood the earth, now associated with perverted sex. We need to reclaim the word of God, not satan.