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by GoPride.com News Staff

Ottawa, Canada — A lesbian couple became engaged during an NHL game in Ottawa, Canada on Saturday night as fans cheered them on. 

Christina, an Ottawa Senators fan, proposed to Alicia, a Toronto Maple Leafs fan, on the ice during the second intermission of the Leafs - Senators game at Scotiabank Place. 

As Christina dropped to one knee, the fans roared and the Senators' mascot raised a sign that read "She Said Yes."

It's another example of the National Hockey League leading the way on acceptance of the LGBT community in professional sports.

With the support of numerous NHL players Patrick Burke launched the "You Can Play" initiative, an advocacy program to change the homophobic culture of locker rooms. 

Burke, a scout for the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers, has been a straight ally in sports since his younger brother Brendan came out as gay while manager of the Miami University ice hockey team. Brendan Burke died in a car accident.

In 2010, the Chicago Blackhawks brought the Stanley Cup to the 41st annual Chicago Pride Parade. Several of the players said they were marching in honor of Burke. 

"When Brendan came out, Brian stood by him, and his whole family stood by him, like every family should," Brent Sopel, a former Blackhawks defenseman, told the Chicago Sun-Times at the time. "We teach our kids about accepting everybody. Tolerate everybody, to understand where everyone is coming from."

Brian Burke is general manager of the Maple Leafs.

Same-sex marriage is legal in Canada, but is currently under fire from conservatives.

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