Part 1 of an exclusive interview with Dr. Kristopher Wells, co-creator of Pride Tape.

"Pride Tape saved my life."

This is what a young teenager told Dr. Kristopher Wells, one of the creators of Pride Tape. 

I was able to speak with Dr. Wells over the phone last week, to get his reaction to the Pride Tape Ban, the steps forward and the creation and impact that Pride Tape has had on the worldwide LGBTQ community. 

"So Pride Tape came about as a way to interrupt these hostile locker rooms and sporting culture to say, '2SLGBTQ people exist here.'"

"Pride Tape saved my life."

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Pride Tape is "just tape" to a lot of people, but to those in the queer community it means so much more. It means acceptance and safety.

"People, maybe, who are questioning whether this is a safe space or wondering if it’s—if they can come out in hockey know that there’s people there that will support and accept them."

The Edmonton Oilers were one of the first teams to wear Pride Tape on their sticks. Former Oiler captain - Andrew Ference - has been an LGBTQ ally for many years. Wells told The Hockey News he was surprised at the response from Ference's teammates when he brought the tape to them.

"We thought success would be having one player use Pride Tape. And then, to our astonishment, every single Oiler came out with their stick taped."

That show of support had an incredible impact on those in attendance.

"We thought success would be having one player use Pride Tape."

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"You looked around the arena and there were people with tears in their eyes, who never thought that they’d see their hockey team supporting them and their community.”

That's a huge response to something that has never been mandatory for any NHLer to wear. 

"We didn’t want to force people to use it...We wanted it to have meaning and that when somebody taped their stick, they knew what it was about and they were going to stand behind it."

Everyone who uses Pride Tape can make a tremendous impact on someone's life for the better. The young teenager I mentioned at the beginning of this story is one such case.

"And then, to our astonishment, every single Oiler came out with their stick taped."

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Dr. Wells shares their story, "I was suicidal and despondent and depressed, dropped out of hockey and, you know, and then I saw my teammates who wrapped their sticks in Pride Tape and invited me back into the game that I love and created that space. And I knew I wasn’t alone and that I had support."

"And that meant everything to that young person." Wells continues, "And that’s often what happens with the power of the closet. It tells you that you’re not loved —and you’re alone, and you’re isolated, and you’re scared.”

Pride Tape holds immense power. But there is another message Dr. Wells wants everyone to take from all of this.

"The NHL, they can ban Pride Tape, but they’re never going to be able to ban pride."

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