Sasky Stewart is using her passion to battle bullying.
Stewart, 21, a bisexual living in Australia, is the founder and director for Hockey Against Hate, a web-based drive spawned from recent anti-gay marriage comments on Twitter, but also the support and anti-homophobic attitudes of the hockey fans around her.
"After seeing this outpouring, all I could think was that there had to be some way to use this moment, to use the attitudes we had and the support we were showing and harness it to collectively make some positive change in the hockey world," said Stewart, who lives in Melbourne. "That's what this is designed to be: a call to arms, a cause to get behind, to be used to change and make the hockey community on and off the ice not only less homophobic, but less racist and less sexist."
Stewart volunteers with the Australian Ice Hockey League and recently enrolled in a Master's degree program. The website ( www.hockeyagainsthate.com ) was launched May 15.
She has plenty of American allies in her fight, including a key Chicagoan.
"I was riding in the tram to work recently, thinking about [anti-gay marriage comments on Twitter] and it stuck with me all of this was in response to one man's hate for something he didn't understand and didn't wish. It was his hate for something that was unknown to him like so many bad attitudes before. And it just clicked—this is what we wanted to stand against," she said. "Short-term, we want to start providing resources and initiatives for people to get behind, to increase education and awareness of homophobia, racism and sexism in sports, and help players, coaches, administrators and fans create sporting environments which are more welcoming and accepting for players and fans of all orientations, ethnic backgrounds and genders.
"Our long-term goal is to change the attitude and environment in the game of hockey. It's as straight forward as that. How we do it … well, we'd love to partner with [the] National Hockey League and other professional and junior-level teams, as well as national and state hockey associations, include USA Hockey."
Stewart said most of her efforts are U.S.- and Canada-based. "I started [the website] because I wanted to make a difference, and hockey is such a big part of my life, and I saw this is a way to make a difference in the LGBT community and the hockey community at the same time," she said. "To do something proactive and worthwhile with my skills and the passion not only of me but for other girls around me.
"When I came up with the idea, I put a call out on Twitter to see if anyone was interested and from that I got the first four members of our team who are spread across the U.S. Each brings a unique skill set and perspective to the Hockey Against Hate ideal that has been invaluable. Between the team we have those who identify [as] LGBT, those who identify as a member of a racial minority and those who like many of us, have friends or family we have suffered through the many incarnations of fear that homophobia, racism and sexism can bring."
Such as Alexa Heinrich, a graphic designer in Chicago.
"Alexa has been designing hockey- and NHL-related merchandise and graphics for a while and I'd always been a big fan of her work that I had seen online," Stewart said. "When she put her hand up to be part of the team, I was ecstatic. In Alexa, we have someone who is not only incredibly talented, and has a great design aesthetic fitted towards the hockey fan, but someone who is incredibly passionate about contributing to the cause and changing our community for the better."
Stewart's core team for Hockey Against Hate also includes Brynna Owens (from Seattle), Hannah Feliciano (Spokane) and Sarah Connors (Boston).
"Hockey Against Hate is for anyone who believes that sports can be a vehicle for change, and that the sporting experience is one that should not be denied to anyone regardless of orientation, ethnic origin or gender," Stewart said. "There is nothing to be gained from sitting back, nothing gained from saying it is someone else's problem and everything to be gained from stepping forward and saying that this, this has to change."
Stewart said bullying is an Australian problem, too, not just in the United States.
"Australia is a very interesting place to address this issue as our laid-back and often blasé attitude to things can see it barely addressed or recognized as an existing problem," she said.
"I grew up a hockey player, and my love for the game has seen me travel all across North America following the puck, my puck friends and internships with professional teams. I was bullied [in] school and ended up changing schools because of it. In many ways I look back now and realize how much of my attitudes and social habits it may have influenced.
"Hockey Against Hate is for anyone who believes in this cause. Saying it's just for women would be sexist, [which is] something we're fighting against too."
