Als tackling acceptance
TEAM PARTNERS WITH LGBTQ GROUP TO RAISE AWARENESS
Jean- Sébastien Boudreault has a simple dream. He hopes to see the day when a professional athlete can announce his sexual orientation, bring their partner to a ceremony or party and there won’t be any whispers, innuendo or staring.
“People will look at him and say he’s one hell of a football or hockey player. Who cares who he sleeps with or lives with? I hope we’re going to see that one day,” said Boudreault, the vice-president of Fierté Montréal.
Boudreault said he was pleasantly surprised in April when Alouettes vice-president of marketing Bernard Asselin approached him, saying the CFL team wanted to form a partnership with Canada Pride Montreal. Although he dressed for only one game in 2015, defensive end Michael Sam became the first openly gay player in CFL history when he signed with the Als. This came after he became the first openly gay person drafted by an NFL team.
As part of the first national edition of Canada Pride — an 11- day event celebrating Canada’s LGBTQ community that began Aug. 10 in Montreal — the Als and event organizer Fierté Montréal engaged in a joint venture. A section at Molson Stadium was devoted to Canada Pride Montreal for last Friday’s game against the Toronto Argonauts, with $ 5 from every ticket sold donated to Equipe Montréal, an organization representing LGBTQ sports leagues in Quebec.
Alouettes general manager Kavis Reed recorded a bilingual video, posted on Facebook, in which he implores everyone to work toward a more inclusive world. The player’s helmets were adorned with the rainbow flag and the logo will remain on the back of their helmets this Saturday, when the teams meet again at Toronto’s BMO Field.
Boudreault was quick to applaud the Als for what he deemed to be a genuine commitment.
“One of the last bastions, where there’s still so much homophobia, is in professional sports,” said Boudreault, who hopes to work with the Als on an annual basis and has approached the NHL’s Canadiens.
Reed said he has relatives and friends in the LGBTQ community.
“If I stand in a room and I’m different and someone else is different, and I have a lack of tolerance or acceptance, that’s hypocrisy,” he said. “Inclusiveness in sports, just like in society, is very important. Everyone should be accepted for who they are and what they stand for.”
The Sam experiment didn’t work out. Sam was on the field for 12 plays, but failed to produce a tackle in his only pre-season game and left the team. Sam later said he never wanted to play in the CFL.
Reed said it was “extremely tough” for Sam in the dressing room and some players were uncomfortable being around him.
Boudreault said he can understand this; that things will always be complicated in a locker- room where players shower. A gay athlete must be mentally strong enough to handle any controversy. But, he added, the organization must be there to support them.
Two seasons ago, Reed was in a position to befriend Sam and provide a comforting shoulder. He is also the architect of a team that is trying to make the playoffs.
“Our goal’s to win games. I wouldn’t let sexual orientation preclude the Alouettes from having the best players.”