By Liz Owen
On the ice, Henrik Lundqvist—or “King Henrik,” as Rangers fans refer to him—is a formidable opponent. Off the ice, however, he is one of the more outspoken allies in the sports world, strongly supporting the NHL’s partnership with You Can Play (a nonprofit working to combat homophobia in sports), and creating his own anti-bullying “I Won’t Stand For” video for USA Network’s Characters Unite campaign.
“Henrik Lundqvist is a true ally, working to pave the way for an openly gay player in the NHL,” said PFLAG’s Huckaby. “He often speaks about the importance of opening a dialogue in order to make everyone feel more comfortable being who they are, and that is what an ally does: meets people where they are, and facilitates conversation. We’re truly thrilled to be honoring him this year.”
Said Lundqvist, “I am very honored to receive the Straight for Equality in Sports award from PFLAG National, an organization that believes, as I do, in the ideal of equality and inclusion for all. I am happy to support them.”
To continue reading, please visit PFLAG.org.
