Maple Leafs Become First Team to Host Drag Show During Game
PUBLICATION
Wade Messier
April 5, 2023 (12:20)
The Toronto Maple Leafs decided to take a controversial route during last night's game, in the midst of the Pride Night Controversies. In a season where LBGTQ+ friendly events such as team "Pride Nights" have been cancelled left and right, with players refusing to wear the jerseys that come along with it, the Maple Leafs appear to have gone the opposite direction.
Toronto Hosts Drag Show During Intermission
Last night the Toronto Maple Leafs held their annual Pride Night during their match against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Leafs put on a dominant performance and beat the Blue Jackets by a score of 4-2, but that wasn't the talk of the game last night.
In between periods, the Maple Leafs became the first NHL team to hold a drag show. The event was met with mixed reactions by fans, who took to Twitter to voice their opinions on the matter.
Certain fans praised the team for hosting an inclusive event such as the drag show, and stressed the importance of making marginalized people feel welcomed by the sport.
Others voiced their frustration with the team and the drag show. This comes at a time when many teams are cancelling Pride Night events, and vocal support of those cancellations has risen drastically.
Despite the controversial drag show, the Maple Leafs organization opted to not wear Pride jerseys during the warm-ups for last night's game. This came across as an odd choice to many who view wearing a Pride jersey to be much less drastic than hosting a drag show.
As Seen on the Toronto Maple Leafs Twitter
POLL |
Do You Agree With What Toronto Did? |
Yes | 95 | 42.8 % |
No | 127 | 57.2 % |
List of polls |
|
25 minutes ago | By Chris Gerics The Toronto Maple Leafs Don't Need to Trade for a Third-Line Center, They Already Have One |
|
1 hour ago | By Daniel Lucente Utah Hockey Club Blows 3-Goal Lead in Loss to San Jose Sharks, Time to Call the Toronto Maple Leafs? |
|
1 hour ago | By TJ Tucker Edmonton Oilers Coach Kris Knoblauch Shares Crucial Update on Connor McDavid's Injury Status |
|
5 hours ago | By Chris Gerics Toronto Maple Leafs Send Clear Message To Timothy Liljegren With Recent Signing |
|
16 hours ago | By Chris Gerics Connor McDavid Leaves Oilers Game After Suffering Apparent Injury |
|
18 hours ago | By Daniel Lucente Joseph Woll's Fate in Question After Maple Leafs' Latest Decision |
|
20 hours ago | By Chris Gerics The Next 3 Crucial Contracts Brad Treliving and the Leafs Must Secure after Locking in Jake McCabe |
|
21 hours ago | By Chris Gerics Toronto Maple Leafs Make Big Lineup Changes Ahead Of Game Against the Winnipeg Jets |
Previously on HockeyPatrol