Gay footballer

Yes, they're narrow minded, that's the point we're getting at.

Edit
Individually they may not be but collectively they are. Dressing room culture is homophobic

 

He just gets on my nerves.

 

I think we may be doing a disservice to the footballers here, I am not sure whether as a collective they are homophonic, they will probably already know which members of their team are gay now, without them coming out to to the fans. If it was a big issue amongst players then I think it would have been raised by now as is race.

 

Then we will have to agree to disagree on this one.

 

Spot on. You can have an inkling about someone on lots of things regardless of their sexuality.

 

It is easy to skew this whole debate - we don't expect straight footballers to suddenly come out as 'straight' so why do we expect gay footballers to come out as 'gay'
Why do we talk about straight footballers being uncomfortable in the dressing room if there are gay footballers there yet no on ever considers how the gay footballers may feel.
Why do some straight people want players to 'come out' - what is it to do with them?

I'm with Gosport Tyke on this one - I don't think footballers are homophobic - if guys can score goals then what they do after nightfall isn't going to bother other players.
My brother plays rugby - asked him about this - tells me two players are gay - no problem at all - the straight top scorer as a person is an absolute sh*t - they all hate him.

It isn't someone's sexuality that is important there are many other important aspects to a person's character.

 

I was saying that the other week when my mate Freddie Elton Jnr said that apparently in every gang of 5 lads theres 1 who will be gay. So i looked around at my other mates who were there and now i'm convinced the gay one is Colin.

 

Just in the interests of balance, so's one of mine and he hasn't.

Nor does he flounce, mince or flame.

He hates Madonna.

There's a lot on this thread that isn't intended to be offensive, granted, but shows the sort of ignorance and lazy stereotyping of gay men which probably contributes to players not wanting to come out.

 

Both my bosses are gay and I had no idea whatsoever... we need to get away from this preconception that everyone gay is really into Abba, fashion and is ultra camp.

 

Totally agree. It was a foot in mouth post.

 

I’d say the reason why women are comfortable been openly gay is because there’s little tribal element to the women’s game. Barring the Americans & maybe a couple more countries most female games have the vibe of a pre-season friendly or a JPT game.

What people find it hard to get their heads round is that a lot of people that would chant ‘we can see you holding hands’ aren’t actually homophobic, they’re just chanting it to wind up the opposition player / fans. In the same way that you’ll get a bloke chanting ‘you fat *******’ at a player when he himself, or his Mrs or his parents are overweight etc.

I bet the amount of people in 2019 who are actually genuinely homophobic & have an issue with a footballer been gay is minute.

Of course it’ll be tough for a footballer to deal with it & it’s hard to know what’s nasty & what’s tongue in cheek.

What it needs is a really brave character who’s comfortable taking the piss out of himself to be the first one to come out. Obviously it’s a different issue but Windass used to own the ‘you fat *******’ chant when he’d rub his belly at the chanters.

In the same way an openly gay footballer who responded to someone chanting something homophobic at them would instantly get the vast majority of the crowd on side & laughing with him if he blew a kiss in the direction of the chanters.

I know it’s asking a lot but it really does need that one player to take the step & I’m sure others would follow because I honestly think the reaction would be a lot better than it would’ve been a decade ago

 

Indeed, boy zone and steps much more likely ;-)

I find it both amazing, yet unsurprising there are people with issue with gay people.

So much hate towards minority groups across the LGBTQ spectrum, into race and nationality, disability and any way life can be split.

Sexuality, gender, nationality are all largely irrelevant, but for many it’s all part of labelling and judgement.

It’s not just this country either. But I think (just opinion, no fact based data) the terraces are slightly more likely to show signs of homophobia. Tribalism, demographic and sheer volume being considerable factors.

But sure there are some environments and coaching set ups and cultures that are more hateful than supportive.

 

Personally, I think that if somebody takes offence, then what has been said is by definition, offensive, whether it’s intended that way or not. So in that respect I don’t think it matters, particularly, if the intention is not to be nasty or if you consider it banter or tongue in cheek, it has the potential to offend. You might say that you don’t care what someone that gets offended so easily thinks, but personally I try and not offend anyone.

 

We've had threads on here in the past where people have absolutely piled in with as many derogatory terms for gay people as possible, and they certainly weren't removed at the time by Admin.
Maybe in 2019 they would be. Any gay person reading them would certainly think twice about coming out! Doesn't mean to say the people using the terms are homophobic, they are just having a cheap laugh, but it still creates a difficult environment for people to feel comfortable being gay when they feel that some people will ridicule them.

 

No worries pal.

 

I get what you're saying but I don't think you can compare fat ******* chants with anything regarding being gay. One is an objectively humourous physical trait which can be altered quite easily, the other is the absolute core of someone's being and identity which they can do nothing about. It's far, far more personal.

That's why it's comparable with racism when we're talking about terrace banter. Monkey chants aren't tolerated anymore and neither should the 'holding hands' chant or anything else that uses someone's sexuality as a source of having a go at someone whilst they are doing their job.

 

NT

 

I completely agree. I do the same but I think a lot of people go into a stadium & throw all that out of the window because they want to wind up the opposition. I’m not saying that’s right but it’s the way it is, it doesn’t mean they’re all homophobic’s who mean anything by it.

Ive seen plenty of players come to Oakwell who have long hair or look a bit camp & get abuse but I bet you most of them abusing them would’ve gone over & had a photo with them if they got the chance because they aren’t really homophobic.

I honestly don’t think a gay player would have much of an issue in coming out. I don’t think people care that much. In my group there’s a lad we all know is gay, he knows we know but he’s never come out & it wouldn’t change a thing if he did. Most people will have a relative or a mate or a colleague or an in-law that’s openly gay these days. It’s far more accepted.

 

I agree with you but I think it’s the quickest way for it to stop.

One brave player comes out & has a bit of fun with the situation at least publicly would do wonders for any other players wanting to come out but scared to be the first.

Once a few come out fans will self police, they always do, any chants will gradually die down as fans say around tell them to shut up & eventually you’ll get to the stage like racism where it’s quite rare to hear it.

 

For my three student years I shared a flat with a guy who happened to be gay.
Sometimes I would go with him to one of the local gay clubs.
On one occasion I was introduced to a gay couple who were both professional footballers.

Some years late one of the footballers signed for Barnsley and became a crowd favourite. (His then partner signed for another Yorkshire Club.)

There have always been gay players. Let us focus on their footballing skills not their sexuality.