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Maple Leafs GM Proud of Gay Son


BRANDON BURKE X390 (BURKE FAMILY VIA ESPN) | ADVOCATE.COM

ESPN.com writer John Buccigross tells the coming-out story of a college student whose father, Brian Burke, is the general manager of the NHL's, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Brendan Burke, a student manager for the hockey team at Miami University in Ohio, came out to his father in 2007. The older Burke and the rest of Brendan's family were accepting and understanding, according to the story.

"I wish this burden would fall on someone else's shoulders, not Brendan's," said Brian Burke, who managed the 2007 Stanley Cup-winning Anaheim Ducks before joining the Maple Leafs. "Pioneers are often misunderstood and mistrusted. But since he wishes to blaze this trail, I stand beside him with an axe! I simply could not be more proud of Brendan than I am, and I love him as much as I admire him."

Reactions from team members and officials were also supportive.

“For Brendan, it's a very brave thing that he's done, to step out like that and think about his future,” Leafs coach Ron Wilson told The Globe and Mail. “Hopefully he can be a pioneer in the right way and a very positive way. He's certainly got the support of Brian [Burke] and everybody in our organization.”

“Any father would support their kid,” Leafs forward Jason Blake said. “It's one of those things in life. I think you guys [the media] are making it a bigger issue than it is. I don't know why we're even talking about it.”

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Reader Comments
  • Name: ohmygay.tumblr.com
    Date posted: 11/26/2009 8:36:07 AM
    Hometown: Toronto

    Comment:

    Actually Raphael Brendan Burke lives in Ohio, where he attends the University of Miami (Ohio campus obviously). His mom is situated in Mass. So if stays in the U.S. he will still be a second class citizen. But at least he can marriage in a few States there. The full article is worth reading.

  • Name: Raphael
    Date posted: 11/25/2009 9:03:06 PM
    Hometown: World

    Comment:

    A father should be proud of his son, and at least back in Canada he isn't a second class citizen. His parents still have the hope that one day they will be attending their son's wedding.

  • Name: Steve
    Date posted: 11/25/2009 6:47:28 PM
    Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI

    Comment:

    Hmmmm...and Breakfast with Scot used the Toronto Maple Leafs in their movie too.

  • Name: Scott
    Date posted: 11/25/2009 6:12:48 PM
    Hometown: Portland

    Comment:

    Yes, he loves his son just as every boy deserves to be loved.

  • Name: Luke
    Date posted: 11/25/2009 5:41:49 PM
    Hometown: Florence

    Comment:

    Every father should support his son, not every father does. I think it is very appropriate for us to make a big deal out of it every time that it happens to that good examples are held up for others to emulate.



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