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Does this girl really want to see behind-the-scenes of hockey players?! |
Posted on 10/11/2004 3:00:23 PM PDT by swilhelm73
A 14-year-old girl hockey player has won the right to share the same locker room with her male teammates.
News Brunswick's Human Rights Commission has ruled that Brigette LeBlanc's rights were violated when she was forced to use a separate change room.
LeBlanc has been playing hockey since the age of five. Her sense of camaraderie took a hit three years ago when she was made to use a separate change room.
It felt like I was alone. I was always alone and I was the only girl on the team," she told ATV News.
While she didn't mind at first, LeBlanc realized she was missing out on important coaching tips.
Her parents asked for a change to allow her to use the same change room, but that request was denied by Moncton's minor hockey association.
The next step was filing a complaint with the provincial human rights commission, which the LeBlancs did in August 2002, when Brigette was 12. It ruled co-ed hockey team players can't be segregated.
"They don't have to feel like second-rate players and teammates," said Nicole LeBlanc, Brigette's mother. "They are there and they deserve equality. It's not a privilege to be there with the boys. It's not a privilege to be treated equally -- it's their right. And that's the way it has to be."
The ruling does come with a proviso: The boys must wear shorts at all time and girls must wear shorts and t-shirts. Showers must be taken at separate times, although many shower at home anyway.
Former coach Joe Richard endorses the changes.
"For the girl, if they get to dress in the other dressing room, they don't get to chat with the players," he said.
"And even when you have before the game, when the coach comes in and say how we going to play the game and talk about it," he said, adding female players also lose out on the camaraderie.
Bridgette is trying out for a girl's high school hockey team this year, so she may not benefit from the victory.
But her parents say it's still important because it changes the sport for future generations of female hockey players in New Brunswick.
With a report from ATV's Nicolle Carlin
How do you think they'll rule on the coming sexual harrassment lawsuit?
weve had girls in out locker rooms when i played..none of cared cause she was on the team
Gives new meaning to the act of "high sticking", eh?
If I were a 14 year old boy, I wouldn't complain about having a girl in my locker room, honestly.
Law of Unintended Consequences will go into action: If this ruling is a problem for a team, cut the girl. Viola no more "locker room issues".
In effect, it kicks the males out of the locker room. They'll now be forced to change in a restroom or somesuch place..
Speaking as the father of a few hockey players, and a figure skating daughter, there is not a chance in hell I would let my daughter change in a room full those kids.
Yeah, I have to say I kind of agree with this ruling. It remind me of the locker room scenes in Starship Troopers, without the nudity of course.
Ah, yes...common sense takes a backseat to political correctness yet again. Well done!
Yes, and if you were the parent of the (possibly soon-to-be) pregnant girl teammate you would...
Have these losers seen our hostages getting their heads cut off?
LOL. Those stupid libs are always good for a laugh.
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Does this girl really want to see behind-the-scenes of hockey players?! |
Absolutely not allow it!
I'm not saying it's right, just that at 14 I wouldn't have objected.
friggen' ridikulus.
So when they shower it becomes wet a shorts and tee shirts contest.
"No, Bridget, you can't play with mine! You already broke yours off, eh?..."
Did you have the 'shorts and t-shirts' rule?
"old time hockey eh"
Awwwwwwwww. Not her sense of camaraderie! Stop the mad merry-go-round till we can sort this out.
It felt like I was alone. I was always alone and I was the only girl on the team," she told ATV News.
Ummmm, maybe you were alone BECAUSE you were the only girl on the team. If I joined the girls' beach volleyball team, could I get into THEIR locker room? That would almost be worth learning to play volleyball.
While she didn't mind at first, LeBlanc realized she was missing out on important coaching tips.
In the locker room???!!! Honey, I've been in a few athletic locker rooms, and while you may be missing out on some things, coaching tips ain't one of them.
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