Spike in anti-LGBTQ+ bullying reported in Massachusetts school hockey

A prominent Boston civil rights organization reports a sharp rise in bullying and harassment against LGBTQ+ students in Massachusetts high school hockey programs, and is urging state officials to intervene more aggressively.

In a letter sent this week to Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR) said it has received an “alarming” number of complaints from public school hockey players describing homophobic slurs, locker-room intimidation, and discriminatory treatment by teammates and, in some cases, coaches.

According to NBC Boston's reports, several students say they were told not to “play like they’re gay,” while others who are gay or perceived to be gay allege they were benched or denied fair playing time without legitimate performance-based reasons.

Oren Sellstrom, litigation director for LCR, said the surge in complaints appears to track with the growing popularity of the HBO Max series Heated Rivalry, a fictional drama about a long-term secret relationship between two closeted NHL stars.

“We do see a connection between the visibility of the ‘Heated Rivalry’ show and these complaints that we are getting,” Sellstrom said. “The uptick has been dramatic, and it has coincided with the conversation that is happening around ‘Heated Rivalry,’ around what it means to be gay in sports.”

While advocates view the show’s LGBTQ+ representation as a positive step, LCR believes the visibility may be triggering backlash in some school-affiliated programs, exposing deep-seated biases within hockey culture.

“It needs to be addressed from the school level, from the level of civil rights enforcers like the Attorney General, and from the broader community to stand up and say this is not acceptable and we won’t allow it,” Sellstrom said.

The LCR letter also criticizes the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA), accusing the governing body of failing to adequately confront identity-based harassment in school sports.

“Unfortunately, for the most part, MIAA has turned a blind eye to this type of bullying and harassment,” Sellstrom said.

The MIAA did not respond to a request for comment.

The Attorney General’s Office, in a written statement, emphasized that hostility toward LGBTQ+ youth is incompatible with state law and basic standards of safety.

“Homophobia and hate of any kind has no place in our locker rooms, ice rinks, or playing fields, and I am committed to ensuring that all young people feel safe and supported in their classrooms and on their sports teams,” the office said. “My office leads a statewide initiative on addressing hate in schools and sports and takes all reports of bullying, harassment, and discrimination very seriously.”

The AG’s office launched a statewide initiative in 2022 to address hate and bias in school athletics, including regional trainings for school administrators and athletic directors. According to the office, 194 school districts across Massachusetts have participated in those trainings over the past four years.

Officials also pointed to a 2022 resolution with the Danvers Public School District following an investigation into discriminatory bullying on the high school varsity hockey team, as well as updated 2024 guidance for schools on responding to hate and bias incidents. The office encourages anyone who believes their civil rights have been violated to file a complaint directly.

Concerns about hockey culture are not limited to youth programs. Kevin Corsino, a board member of Boston Pride Hockey — an organization dedicated to providing a safe and affirming space for queer players and allies — said interest in inclusive hockey environments has grown since “Heated Rivalry” debuted.

“A lot of the stories we’re hearing are folks saying, ‘Hey, I never felt like there was a place for me in the game,’” Corsino said. “‘I went away from the sport due to issues with harassment, with bullying, and now I'm trying to find a space that feels welcoming and feels like I can actually be myself.’”

Corsino said that while increased visibility of LGBTQ+ players and stories in hockey is encouraging, it is also revealing long-standing cultural problems.

“That visibility has been great, and it's been positive, but it's also showing us in this instance that there's a lot more work that needs to happen in the culture and kind of changing that culture framework in hockey,” he said. “Too many players across the spectrum have been told, either indirectly or directly, that hockey isn’t a space for them.”

For advocates, the goal is not only to address individual incidents of harassment, but to transform hockey into a sport where LGBTQ+ players are fully welcomed and protected.

“The more inclusive the game becomes, the more accepting it is,” Corsino said. “And quite frankly, the healthier the sport is.”