A goalie on the NHL’s San Jose Sharks refused to wear the team’s Pride Night themed jersey during warmups because of his Christian faith and “personal convictions which are based on the Bible.”
James Reimer, one of the team’s goalies, announced in a statement released Sunday he would not be wearing pro-LGBT themed jerseys.
“For all 13 years of my NHL career, I have been a Christian — not just in title but in how I choose to live my daily. I have a personal faith in Jesus Christ, who died on a cross for my sins and, in response, asks me to love everyone and to follow Him,” Reimer said.
“I have no hate in my heart for anyone and I have always strived to treat everyone that I encounter with respect and kindness,” the NHL veteran continued.
“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. 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.”
A statement from Goaltender, James Reimer: pic.twitter.com/GwhWxhbmb4
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) March 18, 2023
The Sharks released their own statement which expressed respect for Reimer’s decision:
“We 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. As an organization, we will not waver in our support of the LGBTQIA+ community and continue to encourage others to engage in active allyship.”
A statement from the San Jose Sharks: pic.twitter.com/nnhkcBS07V
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) March 18, 2023
The goalie, who is a free agent at the end of this season, admitted in a post-game interview that the decision may hurt his career. However, he refused to not stand up for his faith’s beliefs.
“I’m sure there’s people in management or ownership that won’t look favorably on this. At the same time, I hope that there’s another handful of people in management or ownership that respect me for standing up for what I believe in and that’s a big part of who I am.”
Watch Reimer’s full comments below: