Girls’ hockey players have been blatantly discriminated against ever since I started playing 15 years ago… We get worse ice times at worse arenas and are seen as a "lesser" version of the boys’ game.

This makes me sick, but I have to admit, that I had almost come to accept this as "the way it is"…Until this week.

For the past week here in Toronto, all the papers, radio stations and TV stations have been following the story of a local girls’ hockey association, Toronto-Leaside, that is threatening to launch a human-rights complaint for sex discrimination unless the city makes sure the girls get their share of ice at their community arenas.

I coach one of the teams for Leaside, played for them growing up and still play for them now. I am extremely proud to be part of an organization that refuses to sit back and accept the way things are and is taking the action necessary to get our girls what they deserve.

But this is not just about our association. And it’s not just about Toronto. It’s about each and every girl who plays girls’ hockey who is treated as a second-class citizen.

It’s about girls having the right to play hockey in their local community arenas, just like their brothers and friends do, instead of being forced to find ice time that costs twice as much at a rink that is an hour away.

Here are some of my "favorite" comments that have been made about this issue from the organizations that are shutting us out:

"We must honor our traditional users."

"We have gender equity because the majority of
the figure skaters are girls."

"The hockey league at our rink accepts girls."

Are you kidding me?!?!?!?! Are we still in the dark ages here?

Sure, girls’ hockey wasn’t a huge factor when it came to getting ice time 30 years ago. But now we are the ONLY segment of the hockey population that is growing in Canada. Enrollment in boys’ hockey has consistently gone DOWN for the last 5 years, while enrollment in girls’ hockey has gone through the roof.

We aren’t asking to have the boys sit on the sidelines…
We don’t want to take anything away from them at all…

We just want what we’ve been promised. Equal access to ice time in our own community.

Our mayor has come out and said that this needs to change. But as you and I both know, SAYING that things will change and DOING the things necessary to enforce that change are two very different things.

That’s why I need your help.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

We are being discriminated against. Years of polite requests, meetings and presentations have gained little or nothing. It’s time to fight for our rights.

So what can YOU do to help?

I am always talking about how important it is to TAKE ACTION and now is the time.

Please show your support by signing the "Fairness For Girls’ Hockey" on-line petition at:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/girlshockey

Even if you don’t live in Toronto, Ontario or Canada, it’s time to send a message that we will not be treated like 2nd class citizens any longer.

This petition will be presented to Mayor of Toronto at the end of this month. And if action is not taken, we will take the next step and take legal action.

The time to take action is now. Because enough is enough.

PLEASE pass this message along to anyone and everyone you know who is a supporter of girls’ and women’s hockey.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Your friend and coach,

~ Coach Kim

PS - I can’t stress enough the importance of taking action on this!
Please sign the petition today!

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/girlshockey

View Original Post at totalfemalehockeyclub.com

• Filed Under:  
• Skating, Ice Hockey, Sports, SportsPLUS, Discrimination/Title IX