You are here: Home » Featured » Team USA (and Toronto) Manager to march in Pride Parade for son

Team USA (and Toronto) Manager to march in Pride Parade for son

25/02/2010 by JR Russell

Brian Burke, general manager of both the Toronto Maple Leafs and the American Olympic hockey team has said he will march in Toronto Pride in 2010, because he promised his son he would.

Earlier this month, Brian’s openly gay son Brendan was killed in a car accident in Indiana. Brendan came out publicly in 2009 and had always had the support of his father since telling him in 2007. At 21 years old, Brendan hadn’t settled on a career. He had spent a year as an intern for Bill Delahunt (D-Mass), and at the time of his death was a student manager for the Miami University hockey team.

Brandan’s announcement was a major event in sports news, and he received widespread support for his decision to come out publicly. He used the attention to reach out to others who may not have felt as supported.

Imagine if I was in the opposite situation, with a family that wouldn’t accept me, working for a sports team where I knew I couldn’t come out because I’d be fired or ostracized … people in that situation deserve to know that they can feel safe, that sports isn’t all homophobic and that there are plenty of people in sports who accept people for who they are.
Brendan Burke, ESPN.com

Brian Burke has managed several teams, including Anaheim Ducks, Vancouver Canucks, Hartford Whalers and Toronto’s Maple Leafs. Known for his professional and personal dedication, Brian saw his team win in Vancouver only days after Brendan’s death. And while his work commitments haven’t changed, other things have:

Brendan’s causes are Brian’s now. He will do a public-service announcement aimed at eliminating the bullying of gay children. And he plans to march in the Toronto Pride Parade. “I’d promised him I would march with him,” says Burke, who briefly left the Olympics last Friday to attend a memorial service for Brendan at Miami of Ohio. “He won’t be there, but I will.”
from Sports Illustrated

Related articles by Zemanta

• In Memoriam: Brendan Burke (bilerico.com)
• Just Days After Son Brendan Burke Died, Brian Saw the US Olympic Team Win Gold. And Decided to Become a Hero (queerty.com)
• Team USA Hockey Coach Brian Burke to be Gay Rights Advocate in Honor of His Late Son Brendan (towleroad.com)