San Jose Sharks goalie James Reimer refuses to wear Pride-themed jersey
Reimer #Reimer
San Jose Sharks goalie James Reimer is seen at SAP Center on Oct. 14, 2022, in San Jose, Calif. On Saturday, Reimer refused to wear a Pride-themed warmup jersey, citing his Christian faith.
The San Jose Sharks’ Pride Night, which took place Saturday at SAP Center, was supposed to be a fun and meaningful event. The team created a Pride warmup jersey, served up rainbow-colored sushi and partnered with Adolescent Counseling Services, a local nonprofit that supports LGBTQIA+ youth.
But the evening was marred earlier in the day when Sharks goalie James Reimer announced via an official statement that he would not be taking part in the festivities and refused to wear the Pride-themed warmup jersey.
“In this specific instance, I am choosing not to endorse something that is counter to my personal convictions which are based on the Bible, the highest authority in my life,” Reimer wrote in his statement, which was shared by the Sharks.
“I strongly believe that every person has value and worth, and the LGBTQIA+ community, like all others, should be welcomed in all aspects of the game of hockey,” Reimer continued, a sentence completely at odds with his decision.
The team also released an official team statement, which noted that while the Sharks’ stance is to support LGBTQIA+ rights, they “also acknowledge and accept the rights of individuals to express themselves, including how or whether they choose to express their beliefs, regardless of the cause or topic.”
Reimer attempted to explain his decision later in the day when speaking with reporters.
“The way I personally and the people close to me in my life interpret the Bible is you love them, but you can’t support the activity or lifestyle,” he said.
Reimer is a journeyman goalkeeper who has played for four teams over his 14-year NHL career. He signed a two-year $4.5 million contract with the Sharks in July 2021, his second stint with the team.
The goalie also used an “I’ve got a Muslim friend” excuse to attempt to show he isn’t prejudiced.
“In Toronto, Nazem Kadri as a teammate, loved him to death. I don’t know exactly the extent of his faith, his Muslim faith, but he’s a Muslim,” Reimer said in reference to All-Star center Nazem Kadri, now of the Calgary Flames. “And yet, people would understand if I wouldn’t be able to wear a Muslim jersey in warmups, promoting the Muslim faith, being a Christian and a follower of Christ. [Kadri] himself would fully understand that.”
In another strange choice, Reimer apparently autographed a Pride-themed puck, even though he refused the warmup jersey.
Other NHL teams have had to cancel similar Pride-themed jersey plans after players refused to wear them. However, those cancellations were partially believed to be caused by Russian players fearing for their safety in their autocratic home nation, where homophobia is official state law.
But Reimer isn’t Russian. He’s from Canada, a country that legalized same-sex marriage years before the United States.
While Reimer did not participate, the Sharks proceeded with their Pride Night plans, which included a drag performance and sharing information on LGBTQIA+ well-being from the team’s Twitter account in lieu of game coverage.
It did not appear that any other Sharks players refused to wear the jersey.
The New York Islanders defeated the Sharks 4-1, dropping San Jose to 19-37-14 on the season.