My boyfriend and I attended a Dallas Stars game last month. That is an unremarkable statement by itself; the hockey team was vying for a shot at post-season play and the victory against the St. Louis Blues that evening moved them to third in their conference. The game was a sellout, and the arena was packed with fans from both teams.

But that wasn't the reason we attended the game. It was the Star's second annual Hockey Is for Everyone night. That's a National Hockey League program held throughout the month of February in partnership with the You Can Play organization. The aim of the program, to quote the league, is to "drive positive social change and foster more inclusive communities." And by inclusion, the league means participation by youth hockey teams, sled hockey for the mobility impaired, women's hockey teams and the LGBTQ community.

You Can Play's focus is narrower. Their mission statement says the organization is dedicated to ensuring equality, respect and safety for all athletes, without regard to sexual orientation and/or gender identity. In addition to the NHL, You Can Play works with Major League Soccer, the Canadian Olympic Team and a couple of collegiate conferences.

Last year, the Stars produced a short video for Hockey Is for Everyone night, and that was about the extent of participation. A number of LGBTQ fans, including me, asked why the team didn't do more. So, this year, the team took some broader steps.

During practice, several players used hockey sticks wrapped in rainbow-colored tape, and the sticks were auctioned to raise money for You Can Play. Defenseman John Klingberg even wore pride tape on his uniform during the whole game as a supporter for You Can Play. The ceremonial opening puck drop featured youth and sled hockey participants and the Stars' Hockey Is for Everyone ambassador, Tyler Seguin. And on the Stars website, you could buy merchandise with team logos done in rainbow colors or pride tape t-shirts spelling out the word "love."

But even more than going after the LGBTQ wallet, the team took a stand on behalf of the community during the last year. In August, the Stars became the first professional sports team in Texas to publicly oppose the so-called "bathroom bill" before state lawmakers to regulate bathroom use by gender. Some might argue that the Stars' move may have been fueled by the fact that they are hosting the 2018 NHL Draft this June at the American Airlines Center, but I believe it's more a reflection on the organization as a whole. As team president Jim Lites wrote last August announcing the team's opposition to the bathroom bill, "We welcome fans from all over the globe, and our roster boasts players from half a dozen countries. Dallas welcomes all, and we welcome all."

In my role as communications and advocacy manager at Resource Center, the LGBTQ community center serving the greater Dallas area, I sent a note to Tyler Seguin congratulating him on being named the team's Hockey Is for Everyone ambassador, and I encouraged him to reach out to the LGBTQ community. Days before the game, I heard back from the Stars, inviting me and my boyfriend to meet Seguin after the game. Little did I know that would also turn into an opportunity to personally thank Jim Lites and team owner Tom Gaglardi for opposing the bathroom bill.

As nice as it is to have a month devoted to the broader principles or inclusion or to sell rainbow-themed tchochkes on a website, true allies stand up in times of controversy. Ultimately, we were there to say thanks to the Dallas Stars for remembering that everyone under the rainbow includes the LGBTQ community.

Rafael McDonnell is the communications and advocacy manager for Resource Center and a Dallas Morning News Community Voices columnist. Email: rmcdonnell@myresourcecenter.org

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