Over the weekend, the You Can Play project launched a truly inspiring campaign for LGBT inclusion in the world of sports.  

This first PSA made its debut on Sunday during the first intermission of the NBC Sports broadcast of the New York Rangers vs. Boston Bruins game, and features campaign founders Patrick Burke (Scout for the Philadelphia Flyers), Brian Burke (Genral Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs) as well as players Rick Nash (Columbus Blue Jackets), Duncan Keith (Chicago Blackhawks), Brian Boyle (New York Rangers), Matt Moulson (New York Islanders), Joffrey Lupul (Toronto Maple Leafs), Claude Giroux (Philadelphia Flyers), Daniel Alfredsson (Ottawa Senators), Scott Hartnell (Philadelphia Flyers), Corey Perry (Anaheim Ducks), Andy Greene (New Jersey Devils), Dion Phaneuf (Toronto Maple Leafs) and Henrik Lundqvist (New York Rangers).

We at GLAAD are extremely proud to have assisted our friend Patrick Burke and the team at You Can Play during the creation of this campaign.

"GLAAD was a great help from the start in providing leadership, inspiration, and ensuring that that a complete rookie to the LGBT community was able to properly communicate our positions in a respectful manner."- Patrick Burke

Millions of young people across the continent, of all ages and skill levels, play some form of organized sports. This campaign tells those young people – through the voices of the athletes they idolize – that our rinks, courts, fields, and gyms should be safe and inclusive spaces for the LGBT community.  

You Can Play tells young people to value sportsmanship, teamwork, and respect for all.

You can follow You Can Play on Twitter, @YouCanPlayTeam - like their Facebook page here - and subscribe to their YouTube channel.