Brock McGillis is trying to combat hockey’s homophobic culture, one locker room at a time.
The former college and semi-pro player recently launched his “Culture Shift Tour,” during which he will meet with 100 minor league hockey teams in 100 days in all of the NHL’s Canadian cities.
Using his own story, McGillis, who feared retribution as a gay player, shares the damaging effects of homophobic language and taunts. A 2022 Hockey Canada study found the most penalized language in the sport was about sexual orientation or gender identity.
“I think the message is for athletes,” he said. “Having them recognize their influence in society and how they impact things positively or negatively. I hope that really hits home with them.”
McGillis says he fell into advocacy work after publicly coming out in 2016. There is a dearth of out gay figures in hockey, and people started reaching out for advice. Soon, he started speaking to corporations and hosting events.
At the same time, McGillis’ personal life began to blossom. A drag aficionado, he co-hosted a show on WOW Presents Plus, This is Sh*t, with Drag Race alum Mrs. Kasha Davis.
In the finale, she gives the hockey jock a full drag makeover.
While McGillis was trying on his heels, he was also sorting out his dating life. He’s been with his handsome partner, Matt, for six years!
Queerty recently caught up with McGillis ahead of his big tour to talk about his unique approach to advocacy work, affinity for drag and Grindr love story. Here’s what he had to say…
QUEERTY: You’re doing 100 speaking engagements in 100 days! Why so many?
BROCK MCGILLIS: Well, would we be talking if I wasn’t?! Part of it is visibility. It’s catchy, it’s something I’ve never seen done, and something I’ve been determined to do for a while. It’s something so different and unique. I just hope it brings visibility and awareness, and people start recognizing their behaviors and attitudes.
Have there been instances where you’ve changed hearts and minds?
Not that long ago, an athlete said to me, “Is it homophobic if I hate trans people?” And I said, “No, that’s transphobic. Do you know any trans people?” He said, ‘No.” I said, “Then, why do you hate them?” And he said, “God gave us our bodies and we shouldn’t change them.”
I’m like, “Well, do you hate everyone who has braces? Or plastic surgery?” When he started thinking about it critically, his language changed. It became less hateful. If you’re the product of an environment and you haven’t been exposed to diversity of different kinds, it’s sort of what happens. People are a product of that. By having conversations, we can evolve it.
What do you think about the NHL’s Pride ban debacle?
I didn’t care that people didn’t want to wear jerseys, to be honest with you. I love visibility, but I haven’t seen one rainbow eradicate homophobia. I believe in people’s freedom of choice. If people don’t want, whether they’re in a country where they think they’re gonna be persecuted, or their family is gonna be in trouble, yeah, don’t wear it. Being alive is more important than a rainbow jersey, in my mind.
For others, who decided based off of faith, I hope we get to a point where the league and players’ association start to humanize on issues like this. I think they would start to have more thought around it, opposed to an instant “no.”
There are so many pictures of you and fabulous looking drag queens. What do you love about drag?
It’s funny, I have a drag queen sitting in my condo right now! We’re about to have lunch. She actually took the photos for the tour. Drag, in my mind, is like gay sport. Queer people do love sports. I’m not trying to erase us from the actual sports landscape. But there are so many similarities between getting together to watch an episode of Drag Race, just like sporting events. I’ve even seen some fantasy Drag Race leagues now. It’s so cool!
I did a show with Mrs. Kasha Davis for WOW Presents Plus, two or three seasons of a show called This is Sh*t. Drag queens were some of the first people when I was a little, closeted hockey people to welcome me into the community and make me feel safe, and treat me like one of their own. I love the art form. I love the people. I love how outgoing and extra most of them are. It’s part of queer history and our culture, and I want to preserve that. It harkens back to a time where we couldn’t exist, or it was hard to exist. The people who fought for our rights, or people who were on the frontlines of the HIV-AIDS epidemic, fighting for treatments or vaccines or healthcare. I’m glad we’re finally at the point in society where it’s not some taboo, backroom thing, and it’s celebrated within the community.
You’ve dressed up in drag a few times. What’s your drag name?
Alaska called me “Trixie Thunderstorm,” because I can’t walk in heels. Walking in heels, though I was on carpet, is harder than skating! If you can walk in heels, you can skate on ice. I want to do a series at one point where I teach drag queens how to play hockey. Wouldn’t that be incredible to watch?
I have two other ones: “Regina Gorg.” It’s good timing for Mean Girls the Musical, you fugly sl*t! Another one is “Ash Tray.”
There are also a fair amount of modeling shots on your Instagram. Do you like modeling?
I like when people make me look pretty! I think I’m built like somebody who’s pretty masc and plays sports. So when I wind up looking handsome, I really appreciate it.
How did you and Matt meet?
The stories would differ if he was telling it. So I’ll give you the real story!
I had just gotten out of a four-year relationship. My ex cheated on me. So I went on Grindr. We met. I was living in Northern Ontario, he was living in Toronto. We chatted for a bit, and then I was like, “I’m coming to your city.” Honestly, I thought it was going to be a booty call. And we met, we hung out, and we ended up staying up all night talking. But I was a complete mess from my breakup, so we didn’t date for a full year. We would talk, but I refused to be in a relationship. Then finally, I said, “I think I’m ready to date you,” and then I broke up with him two days later!
Then I saw him on the street after the club one night, and I was like, “Can we go talk?” He said, “Yes.” Then I said, “I think I’ve fallen in love with you.” And we’ve been together since. It’s been six years since we’ve been officially dating.
What do you guys like to do together?
Uhh… fight! We’re pretty fortunate. We have a wonderful group of friends who we like going out with, doing drag brunch or different shows. We like to travel. Honestly, sitting at home and watching The Gilded Age or Hacks or shows like that is a lot of fun. We have a really good group of friends. We like to go out, party and have fun, but we can also sit at home and do nothing. We do a lot of things!
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ShaverC
Nice guy, but he shouldn’t do drag again.
dbmcvey
Why do you care?
Oh, wait, of course! You’re a homophobe.
ShaverC
It’s the pressure men get in the gay community. If you’re masculine, they want to see you feminized in some way. He’s a good looking guy, so why try to lean into these “queer” way of thinking? Best thing to do is juts be a guy that way he could show other gay men that they don’t have to act a certain way.
dbmcvey
No one had to pressure him. It was fun. No one is pressured into doing drag.
You’re a pathetic lying homophobe.
ShaverC
dbmcvey, I find that it appears that many higher-profile gay men are pressured to act more “queer” rather than just be a normal person. You can dress in drag all you want though.
dbmcvey
I find that you have weird theories. He did this because it was fun and he wanted to.
I’m sorry it offends you but not everyone is a uptight as you are.
monty clift
It is definitely imposed. I remember when I was watching an interview with Tuc Watkins, the interviewer was trying to get him to use female pronouns when talking about his childhood self. It was bizarre. Tuc was obviously uncomfortable with it, but he was a good sport about it. I don’t understand their need to feminize every masculine gay man. So much for accepting people as they are.
bachy
I always thought that people would eventually get tired of dressing up to look like a bully’s cliché idea of what a gay man is like!
abfab
@bachy.
Is this something you always thought or do you still think it? Be clear, dear. You’re all over the place and sounding just as messy as the other conservatives.
I see this is a problem for straight people.
dbmcvey
No surprise that 2 of the conservative clones don’t think adult men can make their own decisions. Especially decisions that make them uncomfortable.
dbmcvey
Oh, I missed bachy’s stupid comment.
3 of the conservative trolls are upset at the decisions an adult man makes that don’t affect them and don’t hurt anyone.
barryaksarben
wtf is your problem with the feminine? no one and I mean no one is 100% masculine. You have a serious problem dude. Without the feminine people would be horrible. all violence and selfishness no kindness no empathy. I fine that. way too masculine gay men are the worst to date or have a relationship with. they can be great sex but there is something missing from them when. they a re so focused on being so hard. it IS toxic. get some therapy
abfab
Brock ROCKS!
barryaksarben
I have never felt pressured by gay men to be more feminine. I have although like almost ALL of gay. men felt pressured by society to be more masculine even. if It didnt feel right for me. I am a gay man who is not that feminine but have zero problem with anyone who is more feminine than I am. I have more problem with gay men who are so rigid in their views of masculinity that they cant accept others who they feel arent masculine enough for them. It is LUDICRIS to point out pressure from gay men to one more feminine when the TRUE pressure has ALWAYS been to be more masculine by all of society and by straight people. You all need serious therapy for your self hatred. I have done drag twice with my group of friends for Halloween and we even won a contest. it was the best costume ever and was so freeing as many of my friends who I approached in drag didnt recognize me at all and they were close friends. Twice was fun and I didnt have much interest in doing it more but one of my group found he truly liked it and he was construction very butch guy. I found him in bars a few times in drag when mostly he wasnt. he was harming no one and he enjoyed it so where is the problem. Being gay we get to be ourselves so why do so many of you think you can say what we can and cant do. lol you are still in the closet. Im in my 70s a lifelong very top with 3 longterm relationships with total bottom. the love was what was important not. if someone fit my view of masculine. I find many that have such rigid requirements never find love. sad really
barryaksarben
I have to repeat it is laughable to say gay men pressure you to be feminine when all of society pressures gay men to be more masculine. you all need therapy for your self hatred. or you are just stupid ass trolls either way your stupid
Diplomat
Trans trolls are most likely the culprits trying to feminized gay men as it’s their life mission to feminize themselves from a man to a female knockoff. It’s most likely part of their entire package demeaning real women to the max, changing the english language etc. They seem to want to replace real women or”birthing people” as the wak jobs call them. The list of their travesties is far reaching and extremely autocratic. They are trying to recreate society in their own image: insane. They make Trump look life Mother Teresa.
dbmcvey
Thank God these conservative trolls are here to monitor the behavior of adult gay men!
bachy
I wish I felt more copacetic about the rejection of maleness, and the wholesale adoption of women’s personalities, clothing and the radical surgical refashioning of the body by men – but I’m just not convinced it’s the right direction for the gay movement. I’m also not convinced it’s good for society at large.
I understand that there are people here who wholeheartedly support this direction and I respect that choice. I just don’t agree with it. Isn’t there room for differences of opinion within the gay movement without being called a “stupid troll”?
The movement needs progressive opinions – to embrace meaningful change and avoid getting stuck in the past.
But we also need conservative opinions – to avoid gleefully following underdeveloped ideologies and questionable trends off a cliff like a pack of lemmings.
Diplomat
Bachy,
We’re actually working with zombie like creatures out to ruin society as we know it. And many of them don’t know it. This is how dysphoric they are. You’re not a troll, you are a guardian of the natural order and you will prevail over craziness. The trans order is imploding as we speak. They are not wanted here in this world. They made a bad choice upon entry and they are paying for it every second they are alive. Though sentient, they are dark forces at their core.
dbmcvey
“Zombie like creatures out to ruin society.” That’s MAGA!
dbmcvey
Hey bachy, if you don’t like being called a “stupid troll” stop being a stupid troll.
dbmcvey
My god these anti-trans trolls are nuts. A guy puts on drag and masculinity is destroyed. What fragile little porcelain figurines you all are.
abfab
I know. It’s a constant panic attack with these people. If even just for a few days..put down your mass media machines and see the world. I’m not sure, but I think porcelain queens are still allowed to travel.
The narrow mindedess is off the charts db…..Stuck in the past? Conservative opinions! We need them! No we don’t. I think stupid troll fits.
So no. There is no room. We’re over it. And being nice is over-rated. We’re dealing with REPUBLICANS.
WHOLESALE ADOPTION OF WOMEN’S PERSONALITIES? Seriously. Be careful with your dillusions. You really are a mess bachy. Life is scaring you and you’re letting the right’s talking points in.
Lemmings..Oh that’s rich.
Rhodes_9K
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