A gay rights group has complained to the CBC about the use of the term "pansification" by Hockey Night in Canada commentators.
Hockey Night commentator Mike Milbury coined the expression to describe how the NHL would be softened should the league heed calls to ban fighting. He has used "pansification" at least twice on Hockey Night this season, in November and again on Jan. 17. His colleague, Don Cherry, has also made reference to it.
Egale Canada, a gay advocacy organization, protested last week. But Scott Moore, the head of CBC Sports, said through a network spokesman yesterday that commentators are free to make their own decisions whether to use the expression.
"That's ridiculous," said Helen Kennedy, the executive director of Egale Canada. "So it's okay for people to go around using these slurs - derogatory, stereotypical terms against a group in society? That's outrageous."
Network spokesman Jeff Keay said neither Milbury nor Cherry intended to offend homosexuals by using "pansification," a derivative of the word pansy.
"The point is, it was no way intended to be a reflection on or offensive to gay people," Keay said. "I think the colloquial use of the term was something they didn't associate with gay people. The way the language evolves over time, 20 or 30 years ago it would have been seen, reasonably enough, as a direct slur against gay people.
"But I think with usage now, I'm not sure the association is so immediate."
Kennedy wasn't buying the explanation.
"Words like pansification just further the stereotype and perpetuate the homophobic stereotype in our society," she said yesterday.
Milbury joined the CBC last summer after working as a hockey commentator for TSN. A former NHL player, coach and general manager, he is also a commentator for NBC, where he talked about the "pansification" of hockey on the Jan. 18 NHL telecast.
A Harris-Decima poll found that 54 per cent of Canadians believe the NHL should ban fighting, while 40 per cent favoured continuing to penalize it with five-minute major penalties.
Egale Canada does not have a position on fighting in the NHL. Egale is an acronym for Equality for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere. The Ottawa-based organization was founded in 1986 and reports a membership of more than 4,000.
Kennedy complained by telephone to network ombudsman Vince Carlin last week and said she followed up in writing. However, the ombudsman's office referred her to Moore's office. "Programs always have the right to respond first," Carlin said. "And if the person is not happy with it, then they can ask for me to make an independent review."
Carlin said he isn't sure that he will address the issue. "To tell you the truth, it's on the margin," he said. "I generally handle journalism and tend not to handle sports. But there have been occasions where it is indeed journalism or something's been done. ... To be honest, I haven't decided whether this is in my wheelhouse or not."