Homophobia in Sports - Keeping Players in The Closet

efb

I was at Arsenal Chelsea on Boxing Day last year, and some of the chants directed at Ashley Cole were vile and homophobic.

I dont want to go back.

LH Pathe

choice words there I imagine. Maybe he should go out of his way to prove he's anything but again by making headlines with his infidelity, again

bradlente

I remember watching this when it was on about 2 years ago,Very interesting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjU2FeU_3qI

Chucky the tree

TylerIE wrote: »

Maybe not fans, but homophobia apparently broke him....

Philipp Lahm




Edited version of what was published in the The Guardian ("Star who was all played out", 5 May 1998) and Washington Blade ("A bright shining star burned out too soon, 11 September 1998")

It was the potential sex assusalt charge of a 17 year old facing him that broke him.

As he wrote in his suicide note...

"I realised that I had already been presumed guilty. I do not want to give any more embarrassment to my friends and family

TylerIE

Chucky the tree wrote: »

It was the potential sex assusalt charge of a 17 year old facing him that broke him.

As he wrote in his suicide note...

And he still would have felt the same way if he hadnt been getting abuse about his sexuality and been rejected by his own family? Straw that broke the camels back...

EJLL

Paparazzo wrote: »

The old "look what happened to Justin Fashanu" argument doesn't work for me. He committed suicide because of allegations of sexual against him. Not because of homophobia in football.

Completely agree with you on the above.

Paparazzo wrote: »

And the whole "think of the abuse a player would get" doesn't wash either. (In englands premier league anyway) If a player came out as gay, and fans abused him, they would be given serious penalties. Same as racist chants.

Not so sure. Le Saux was jokingly labelled gay for reading The Guardian newspaper on the team bus :rolleyes: and the tag stuck with him. He was verbally abused by Paul Ince and gestures were made at him by Robbie Fowler during a match. They went unpenalised. But I suppose that was almost 10 years ago. Hopefully it has changed since then.

Chucky the tree

TylerIE wrote: »

And he still would have felt the same way if he hadnt been getting abuse about his sexuality and been rejected by his own family? Straw that broke the camels back...

Well you are just speculating about that.

Caveman1

Why should people in sports have to come out of the closet? They play a sport cause they enjoy it and thats the talent they have. Its like wanting every straight man that dances as a hobby to come and say hes straight. Nobody really cares do they ?

TylerIE

Chucky the tree wrote: »

Well you are just speculating about that.

Similarly your just speculating in order to defend football.


Im speculating in order to show homophobia is there in one form or another.
Based on the horrific experiences he had its a pretty good assumption.

In reality if all things had been equal, and he was not gay, and the rumours were that he had sexual contact with a 17 year old girl, would the situation have been different?

Chucky the tree

TylerIE wrote: »

Similarly your just speculating in order to defend football.


Im speculating in order to show homophobia is there in one form or another.
Based on the horrific experiences he had its a pretty good assumption.

In reality if all things had been equal, and he was not gay, and the rumours were that he had sexual contact with a 17 year old girl, would the situation have been different?

Not defending football just pointing out the facts actually. Lol, sexual contact? Never heard that term used to describe rape before.

TylerIE

Caveman1 wrote: »

Why should people in sports have to come out of the closet? They play a sport cause they enjoy it and thats the talent they have. Its like wanting every straight man that dances as a hobby to come and say hes straight. Nobody really cares do they ?

Most straight men who play football do come out. They have wives, girlfriends, children.

Gay sports participants who are well known are unable to come out because they fear they face discrimination, homophobia, etc. If coming out became the norm, it wouldnt be a big deal.

Only the other day a Belgium footballer discussed how he went public with his new career, as a porn star, yet when playing football he couldnt even say he was gay

MONDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER 2011

Footballer or porn star? Only one of these industries accepts you for being gay

Ask any professional footballer and they will admit the hardest thing is deciding what to do on retirement.

Some remain close to the game, falling into roles such as coaching, management or punditry.

For many in the 1960s and 1970s the "in thing" was to run a pub or nightclub. Others take on roles such as postmen.

But one Belgian footballer has created quite a stir after hanging up his boots after announcing he has become a gay porn actor.

Jonathan de Falco resorted to the career change after sustaining an injury on the pitch.

Some may see it amusing that the former Racing Mechelen and Oud-Heverlee Leuven footballer has adopted the name Stany Falcone to appear in several adult movies.

But the reason for his change of track is a little worrying.

He told the Antwerp Gazette he hid his real sexuality while he was a footballer because: "The football world is not ready for gay players. There is too much prejudice and generally low tolerance.

"Since I was 20 I have been in gay circles, but when I played soccer, nobody noticed anything. If my orientation would have been known, there would have undoubtedly problems."

It is disappointing that de Flaco felt this way about the lack of support network within the game.

He is not the first footballer to admit that there is low tolerance for members of the LGBT community in the sport and sadly he will not be the last.

His new career is not the one most would chose but that is not say de Falco should be looked down on.

Ultimately his choice has given everyone with a say in the running of the game to think again. Why is it that a man can openly admit to being a porn star yet not want to admit to being a gay footballer?

It is a question that those in charge should not be afraid of answering honestly - something which de Falco has only been able to resort to after leaving the sport he truly loved.

On top of this, gay sports people show both younger people growing up gay that its ok to be gay, and show the schoolyard (and indeed workplace) bullies that being gay doesnt make you fair game to be picked on.

TylerIE

Chucky the tree wrote: »

Not defending football just pointing out the facts actually. Lol, sexual contact? Never heard that term used to describe rape before.

So in your eyes hes guilty already....

He had sex, which in that same note you refer to he claimed it was consensual, with a 17 year old (in a state where the age of consent is 16).

So innocent until proven guilty, we cant say he raped a 17 year old.

Chucky the tree

TylerIE wrote: »

So in your eyes hes guilty already....

He had sex, which in that same note you refer to he claimed it was consensual, with a 17 year old (in a state where the age of consent is 16).

So innocent until proven guilty, we cant say he raped a 17 year old.

You're right. He was just accused of raping him.

UglyBolloxFace

I'm surprised this topic has made it to 8 page.

Does anyone really give a **** whether a footballer is gay or not?

TylerIE

UglyBolloxFace wrote: »

I'm surprised this topic has made it to 8 page.

Does anyone really give a **** whether a footballer is gay or not?

No, not until they come out. Then they do.

JupiterKid

TylerIE wrote: »

No, not until they come out. Then they do.

Sadly that's the truth of the matter. It seems like people want to bury their heads in the sand and pretend that homophobia in soccer/football is non-existent.

The reality is quite the opposite.:(

rowerliffey

myself69 wrote: »

Kevin Duffy wrote: »

I know of two gay football teams and a gay rowing club in Dublin and that's without being particularily interested in the issue or participating in either sport, so I'm guessing there plenty more and the exclusion and homophobia is probably a bit exagerrated.

Never heard of a gay rowing club in Dublin. What's the name?

Edit:
Found it. Phoenix Rowing Club. Was jogging past the municipal boathouse recently and wondering what the commotion was.

That's slightly incorrect. We are a social rowing club that accepts all comers be they straight, gay etc. I would imagine that our members reflect the same proportion of gay/straight members as any other club.

yupyup7up

The Justin Fashanu thing shouldn't be any indication as to what would happen an openly gay footballer.

John Fashanu himself spoke out against it and effectively disowned him, not because of his sexuality, but because he came out in a sleazy manner. Justin spoke of bedding MPs, young fellas etc. openly with the press.

When Ryan Giggs was exposed for the Imogen Thomas and his brother's wife scandals, it was viewed in the same light.

I don't think gay people should be given preferential treatment just because they are gay. I know it was a terrible thing that he killed himself, but it was "awh poor Justin" and "that c*nt Giggs". What's the difference apart from their sexuality. The MP he was with was married, as was Giggs. I know Giggs is married, but it's still bad form going off with someone who is married and especially telling the national press about it.

Also, there may be a taboo in terms of the dressing room. What if that gay player is attracted to a team mate and made a move? That would cause problems.

efb

Chucky the tree wrote: »

You're right. He was just accused of raping him.

Like plenty of footballers are.

Nodin

yupyup7up wrote: »

...............

I don't think gay people should be given preferential treatment just because they are gay. I know it was a terrible thing that he killed himself, but it was "awh poor Justin" and "that c*nt Giggs". What's the difference apart from their sexuality. .............

...one being dead, I'd imagine.

Pace2008

yupyup7up wrote: »

Also, there may be a taboo in terms of the dressing room. What if that gay player is attracted to a team mate and made a move?

What, in the middle of the dressing room?

yawha

yupyup7up wrote: »

What if that gay player is attracted to a team mate and made a move? That would cause problems.

Yes. I'm sure that team mate would need years of therapy and anti-depression meds to have any chance of ever being able to get his life back on track.

yupyup7up

Nodin wrote: »

...one being dead, I'd imagine.

Before he died.

Pace2008 wrote: »

What, in the middle of the dressing room?

Anywhere! I wouldn't like to share a dressing room with someone that I know was physically attracted to me and I didn't share the same feelings. I'm sure if a girl had to share a dressing room with a man that was attracted to her sexually would be uncomfortable.

yawha wrote: »

Yes. I'm sure that team mate would need years of therapy and anti-depression meds to have any chance of ever being able to get his life back on track.

Less of the smart a$$ remarks ya?

foxyboxer

yupyup7up wrote: »

Look at Gareth Thomas. I wouldn't slag shag him

:eek: