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Christopher Boan has been covering sports and sports betting for more than seven years, including stops at ArizonaSports.com, the Tucson Weekly and the Green Valley News.
Capitals Among Top 10 Most LGBTQIA+ Inclusive NHL Teams
Certain NHL franchises have done a better job of being inclusive to their given market’s LGBTQIA+ community than others. June is Pride Month, so it is a good time to see where teams stack up.
BetVirginia.com took a break from reviewing Virginia betting apps because we wanted to celebrate Pride Month by finding out which NHL teams (including the Washington Capitals) are the most LGBTQIA+ inclusive. We created a scoring system based on the number of pride posts on Instagram and X, whether or not the team has a pride logo set, along with the LGBTQIA+ safety of each state and city the team plays in as of 2025.
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Top 10 LGBTQIA+ Ally NHL Teams
Rank | Team | Total Points |
1 | New Jersey Devils | 405 |
2 | Washington Capitals | 305 |
3 | Buffalo Sabres | 245 |
4 | Los Angeles Kings | 209 |
5 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 185 |
6 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 181 |
7 | Colorado Avalanche | 177 |
8 | Anaheim Ducks | 175 |
9 | Seattle Kraken | 164 |
10 | Vancouver Canucks | 147 |
Capitals The Most LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Team in NHL
Of the 32 teams that compete in today’s NHL, only the New Jersey Devils ranked ahead of the Washington Capitals when it came to the categories used to come up with our LGBTQIA+ rankings, with the former scoring 405 points to the 305 that the team based in Nation’s Capital put up.
While Washington wound up falling a spot on our NHL allyship ratings from the 2024 list, the Eastern Conference regular season champs did put up 124 more points overall than a year ago, when Washington had a league-high 181 points in total.
Overall, the Capitals’ LGBTQIA+ inclusivity score put them ahead of other allies like the Buffalo Sabres (245 points), Los Angeles Kings (209 points), Pittsburgh Penguins (185 points) and the Toronto Maple Leafs (181 points).
Rounding out the NHL list, inclusivity wise, were teams like the Colorado Avalanche (177 points), Anaheim Ducks (175 points), Seattle Kraken (164 points) and the Vancouver Canucks (147 points), giving credence to the fact that sports are better when everyone feels welcome to come to games in the first place.
USA Today photo by Geoff Burke
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FAQ
Many NHL teams recognize Pride Month by posting inclusive messages, updating their logos with rainbow themes, and promoting LGBTQIA+ allyship on social media. The level of participation varies by market, but teams in cities with strong LGBTQIA+ communities often go further—organizing Pride Night games, supporting local LGBTQIA+ organizations, and promoting visibility throughout the season.
In 2025, some of the most LGBTQIA+-friendly cities to watch an NHL game include Washington (Capitals), Vancouver (Canucks), and Toronto (Maple Leafs). These cities consistently score high on LGBTQIA+ equality rankings and offer inclusive environments both inside and outside their hockey arenas, making them safe and welcoming for all fans.
LGBTQIA+ allyship in the NHL plays a critical role in creating a welcoming atmosphere for all fans, players, and staff. As a globally recognized sports league, the NHL’s support for Pride Month helps promote acceptance, challenge stereotypes, and encourage a more diverse and respectful hockey culture both on and off the ice.
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