Welcome to The Sunny Side, a little bit of some sunnier news to brighten a darkening world! I am Estelle Ingwersen, and I am happy to have you here.

Over the colder months, people love to cozy up with a show, and for many this winter that was Heated Rivalry, an LGBTQ+ hockey story that took the world by storm. The show, based on a book series by Rachel Reid, was a very different view on hockey than what has been portrayed in the media previously. The impact was astounding, both to queer athletes and simply by bringing the conversation of toxic and homophobic sporting cultures to the surface once again. It inspired many people, some to watch hockey, and some to express themselves more freely. 

One such individual is Jesse Kortuem, a professional hockey player from Canada that credited the show in his coming out. “I loved the game, but I lived with a persistent fear,” he said in his post. He comments on how hard the show is likely impacting other closeted athletes, especially within spaces like hockey that are aggressively masculine and commonly conservative. 

The show was loved by many, and really goes to show why representation in the media matters, especially in spaces where we don’t see that representation as often.