Gary Direnfeld

So it was nice to see that sweet scene.

You know, do you think locker room culture in hockey is going to shift over time because of portrayals like this?

Or is the NHL sort of embracing heated rivalry, just paying lip service?

And we have a lot of work to do when it actually comes to the culture between the players.

Okay, so maybe more broadly, like macho culture doesn't go away, but can these queer representations in sports maybe subtly improve mental health outcomes for players who are gay?

Maybe they aren't having big coming out scenes like portrayed in the show, but just that visibility to know that like, if I'm in the locker room and I am privately gay, I haven't told my teammates, I might have like a better outcome and feel more seen.

There must be some good there.

I've seen interviews with actors in the show and they've talked about, no specific examples, but they've talked about the sheer number of people reaching out to them having just seen the show.

In some cases, even NHL players, but that's a different conversation.

Parasocial bonds, the bonds that viewers or fans of famous people get, like they feel like they know these actors.

What do you make of that?

All the fans that are so obsessed with these actors that are reaching out, that are just like so struck by these actors who weren't that well-known before this TV show.

Now, this show being a joyful portrayal of these couples, what does this do for the community, the queer community's health, the gay community's health, to see them represented in media and not have it be this sad, depressing, tough narrative?

Well, you can check out author Trina Orchard's book, Sticky, Sexy, Sad, Swipe Culture and the Darker Side of Dating Apps wherever books are sold.

She's also an associate professor of health studies at Western University.

Trina, I've enjoyed the chat.

Thanks for being on the show.

In a few moments, we weigh in on money dilemmas.

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