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PRIDE MONTH - OTTAWA PRIDE HOCKEY MEMBER ERIC DEMARBRE (HE/HIM)
June 14, 2024
Ottawa Pride Hockey was founded in 2020 and is Ottawa’s inclusive hockey association, founded and run by queer and trans individuals. They offer league play, pick up games and a skills program. Their mission is to promote a safer and inclusive space for everyone to play. Beginners and seasoned pros of all ages are welcome! Visit them at their website or @ottawapridehockey on Instagram.
We caught up with Ottawa Pride Hockey member, Eric DeMarbre (he/him) who has been playing with the group since their first pick-up session in 2020.
Q: Tell me a little bit about yourself
A: I'm Eric (he/him), a 45-year-old gay male living in Ottawa. I'm pursuing a master's degree at Carleton University, and I've participated with Ottawa Pride Hockey since its first pick-up session in 2020.
Q: How did you get into hockey?
A: I've loved hockey since I was young, picking up being a fan of the Montreal Canadiens from my parents, but I didn't start playing until I was in my late 20s. In grade school, I was a bit small for my age (which is hilarious now), so I didn't play. I was also beginning to feel different from other boys, but I didn't know why. Later, when I came out, I never considered sports in general because they weren't a "gay thing" in my mind. It wasn't until I got involved with gay rugby in Vancouver and then gay hockey in Toronto that I learned about the queer sports community.
Q: Why would you encourage others to get involved in Ottawa Pride Hockey?
A: It can be challenging to be yourself in sports, especially when your gender or sexuality is different from the other people in your locker room. Ottawa Pride Hockey provides a safe and comfortable place for people of any skill level to participate in a sport they love while being supported for being their true selves. I also find the cis-gendered gay male world to be very insular, seeking out mostly our own kind. Being involved in Ottawa Pride helped me to engage a lot more with other members of the LGBTQ2IA+ community and learn their unique stories and experiences.
Q: In your opinion, how could the hockey community work on becoming more inclusive?
A: While it's great that professional sports are showing support for diversity, it needs to happen at all levels of development as part of the culture. Kids should never feel that who they are excludes them from participating in anything they might enjoy. They need support from schools, teams, coaches and parents to eliminate the perceived barriers they might falsely believe exist.