Brian Burke honoured by gay rights group
Posted January 17, 2012 7:17 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Brian Burke was honoured by a gay rights group on Monday night, accepting the Ally Award from PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays).
As Burke took the podium to thunderous applause, he appeared shaken and needed several moments to collect himself.
“I have a wonderful speech in my office,” the Toronto Maple Leafs general manager said at Mirvish Theatre.
But he abandoned it, briefly thanking Ron McLean and Rick Mercer, who spoke at the event, and the police groups who also attended.
“I’m greatly honoured. I’ll leave it at that. I’m honoured.”
Burke’s late son Brendan came out publicly in 2009.
“I simply could not be more proud of Brendan than I am, and I love him as much as I admire him,” Burke said at the time.
Burke began marching in the PFLAG contingent at PRIDE parades, and has said that a gay player would welcome on any hockey team he runs.
In 2010, Brendan Burke was killed in a car crash. Later that year, Burke launched a website to combat homophobic bullying.
