Nashville prospect comes out as gay in NHL milestone
A Nashville Predators prospect has come out as gay, a milestone moment for the sport of ホッケー as the first player 調印するd to an NHL 契約 to make that 宣言 公然と.
Luke Prokop said he was proud to say he is gay. The 19-year-old Canadian who was a third-一連の会議、交渉／完成する 選ぶ in the 2020 草案 last 落ちる, 地位，任命するd his 告示 to Twitter on Monday.
"It has been やめる the 旅行 to get to this point in my life, but I cannot be happier with my 決定／判定勝ち（する） to come out," he said. "From a young age I have dreamed of 存在 an NHL player, and I believe that living my authentic life will 許す me to bring my whole self to the rink 改善する my chances for filling my dreams."
No active NHL player has come out as gay. Prokop said he hopes his example shows that gay people are welcome in the ホッケー community.
Don Fehr, (n)役員／(a)執行力のある director of the NHL Players' 協会, said, "We know the NHL ホッケー community will support Luke as he 努力する／競うs toward his goal of playing in the NHL, and we applaud the example he is setting for those in the game of ホッケー and beyond."
This comes on the heels of Las Vegas Raiders 防御の end Carl Nassib becoming the first active NFL player to come out in June.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman commended Prokop "for 株ing his truth and for 存在 so 勇敢に立ち向かう."
"I 株 his hope that these 告示s can become more ありふれた in the ホッケー community," Bettman said n a 声明. "LGBTQ players, coaches and staff can only 成し遂げる at their 絶対の best if they live their lives as their 十分な and true selves. We do not take the meaning and importance of this 告示 lightly."
The Predators said in a 声明 the club is "proud of Luke for the courage he is 陳列する，発揮するing in coming out today, and we will support him unequivocally in the days, weeks and years to come as he continues to develop as a prospect."
A 6-foot-4, 218-続けざまに猛撃する defenseman, Prokop could be a part of Nashville's 青年 movemen t in the coming years. Owner Harris Turner and 大統領，／社長 Jon Greenberg of the American ホッケー League's Milwaukee 海軍大将s, Nashville's 最高の，を越す minor league (v)提携させる(n)支部，加入者, 称讃するd Prokop for his 決定／判定勝ち（する）.
Prokop is from Edmonton, Alberta. He played parts of the past four seasons with Calgary in the Western ホッケー League. The Calgary Hitmen said in a 声明, "代表 事柄s, and your courage will help so many others."
Bettman 誓約（する）d the NHL will "do everything possible to 確実にする Luke´s experience is a welcoming and affirmative one" and work to 確実にする support for players who follow his path.
Prokop said the past year and a half gave him a chance to find his true self.
"I am no longer 脅すd to hide who I am," he said. "I may be new to the community but I´m eager to learn about the strong and resilient people who （機の）カム before me and 覆う the way so I could be more comfortable today."
Word of Prokop's 告示 went beyond ホッケー. Tennis legend Billie ジーンズ King tweeted, "His bravery will help so many, as he 掴むs the 力／強力にする of living authentically."
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