Everyone except, presumably, Martin Brodeur. The New York Times’ John Branch reports New York Rangers pest / fashion plate Sean Avery is the latest participant in a series of PSA’s support the right to same sex marriage, following luminaries such as Julianne Moore, Michael Bloomberg and Sam Waterson. Avery, writes Branch, “is one of only a few active athletes in American team sports to voice support for gay rights, and is believed to be the first in New York to publicly advocate for same-sex marriage.”
“The places I’ve played and lived the longest have been in West Hollywood, Calif., when I played for the L.A. Kings, and when I moved to New York, I lived in Chelsea for the first four years,” Avery said in a phone interview. “I certainly have been surrounded by the gay community. And living in New York and when you live in L.A., you certainly have a lot of gay friends.”
Avery said anti-gay slurs remain in wide use in hockey. He suspects they may be used against him even more now that he is speaking out on behalf of same-sex marriage.
“People have been calling me names for 10 years just because I like to wear nice suits,” he said. “It’s going to take a lot to get me upset or to get under my skin. I’m O.K.”