We had known about this interview with Brian Burke, the Toronto Maple Leafs general manager, earlier this month, and were pleased it's now posted on youtube. .

The story of Brian and his son, Brendan, is an amazing and inspirational one. Brendan came out as gay, first to his family, and then to the players and staff of Miami University, where he was working. According to ESPN's John Buccigross:

This is far and away more than what you personally expected from your hockey-famous Dad as you prepared coming out to him. When people ask you about your dad's reaction to your Vancouver sit-down, you initially say, "He's been great, but I don't think we'll see him at any gay pride parades any time soon. But he has been really supportive."

So, you are startled this past summer when you get a call from Dad saying, "Hey, Toronto Pride is this weekend, you should fly up." So, sure enough, you fly up, and you and Dad go to the Toronto Pride Parade together.

If someone had told you before coming out that your dad, Brian Burke, would be attending a gay pride parade with you, you wouldn't have believed it. You never suspected Dad would disown you or anything like that, but the way he has handled it and the way he talks about it now has, honestly, really moved you. He was a little awkward about it at first. Today, he doesn't even think twice about it.

You want it known that he has been 100 percent supportive of you. It's important to you that people know that even the president and GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who has a less than sunny public personality, has a gay son and is a firm supporter of gay rights.

And the reaction of the players and staff at Miami University?

The players are awesome. They are very sensitive to language and how we talk in the locker room. Again, it goes back to our culture and working on relationships and behaviors.

[As far as whether a player could come out and be able to function like a normal college player], that's a tough one and I don't want to speak for any other program. As far as Miami is concerned, we are about the person. I believe we would be accepting and honestly not even think twice about it.

I think having Brendan as part of our program has been a blessing. We are much more aware of what you say and how we say it. I am guilty as anyone. We need to be reminded that respect is not a label, but something you earn by the way you live your life." -- Miami University hockey coach Enrico Blasi

Tragically, Brenden was killed in a car accident last year. 

Since then, Mr. Burke has been a powerful and active advocate for lgbt concerns and addressing homophobia in Hockey.

This is a recent message of support and allegiance to the LGBT Communities, appearing with the Toronto Gay Hockey Association, and the Toronto Marlies. The Toronto Marlies played a game against the Albany Devils on December 10th, donating $4.00 for every ticket sale bought through the TGHA towards the Kids Help Phone, an anti-bullying organization.