Blackhawks will not wear pride jerseys due to safety concerns for Russian players: report

The Chicago Blackhawks were slated to wear rainbow-colored warm-up jerseys on Sunday for the team’s Pride Night, but that will no longer be the case.

The Blackhawks will not wear the LGBTQ-themed jerseys, attire they have worn previously, citing safety concerns of their Russian players for the decision, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

New Russian law has banned “gay propaganda,” and the team reportedly had conversations with security officials regarding the laws.

The law made it illegal for Russians to promote or “praise” the LGBTQ lifestyle.

The Blackhawks have three players with Russian heritage or have family in Russia: defenseman Nikita Zaitsev, forward Philipp Kurashev and Kazakh goaltender Anton Khudobin.

The NHL and several of its teams and players have come under fire in recent months for backing off on wearing pride uniforms despite previously advertising such.

Philadelphia Flyers’ Ivan Provorov cited his Russian Orthodox religion in January as to why he did not join his team in wearing such jerseys.

The New York Rangers promoted its Pride Night in January, saying players would wrap pride-themed tape on sticks as well as similar jerseys, but that plan was also nixed with no explanation. The same thing occurred with the Minnesota Wild earlier this month.

SHARKS GOALIE OPTS NOT TO WEAR LGBTQ-THEMED WARM-UP JERSEY ON TEAM’S PRIDE NIGHT

This past weekend, San Jose Sharks goalie James Reimer cited his Christian faith as his reason to forgo wearing a rainbow jersey on his team’s Pride Night – the team continued to tweet LGBTQ+ information and statistics throughout that game, and Reimer said he had “no hate in my heart for anyone.”

Nashville Predators prospect Luke Prokop, the first openly gay player under an NHL contract, said he felt “disappointment in what feels like a step back for inclusion in the NHL.”

“Pride nights and pride jerseys play an important role in promoting respect and inclusion in the LGBTQIA+ community, and it’s disheartening to see some teams no longer wearing them or fully embracing their significance while the focus of others has become about the players who aren’t participating rather than the meaning of the night itself,” he said.

“Everyone is entitled to their own set of beliefs, but I think it’s important to recognize the difference between endorsing a community and respecting individuals within it.”

The Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus and DJ Zel, a member of the LGBTQ community, will perform during the intermissions. The Chicago Gay Hockey Association will also compete in an on-ice intermission competition.

The Blackhawks did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.