All of the above, I would think.Whoever and whenever, how will they be treated? As an innovator, a role model or as a target for homophobes and unaccepting people who still don’t agree with such things?
All of the above, I would think.Whoever and whenever, how will they be treated? As an innovator, a role model or as a target for homophobes and unaccepting people who still don’t agree with such things?
Relief and acceptance.They shouldnt have to open up, thats my point. What would said player gain by saying 'hey i have a different sexual preference to most?'
I think this is a huge factor personally, becoming the poster boy for gay footballers would overshadow almost any players actual footballing worth.Both, he will be targeted in the stands for his sexuality but he will also be revered by the gay community and will become a poster boy for them.
I dont think it is. I genuinely dont see much homophobia in the streets these days, the internet is another thing entirely, but its not 1993 anymore. The only way to make this change is for it to be more public, i can accept that the first person who comes out is going to act as a lightening rod and will take the brunt of the shit, but its going to have to happen at some point.I think that's very Idealistic and naive.
Unfortunately, this is only one side of it. The other is inviting pressure from a big portion of people for something that has nothing to do with football.Not having to hide a huge part of his life? Just a guess like.
I’m not sure that it is, we have openly gay people in every walk of life, politics, media and sports. Gareth Thomas came out while still playing pro rugby and there wasn’t actually a huge fuss, most people have forgotten now. This would likely be the same, interviews and headlines at first and some abuse from the stands,but once a few people have been banned for homophobia and the news cycle has moved on, it will become normal.
Think that's very Idealistic and naive.
Are you suggesting that someone can be influenced into being gay?Thomas Hiltzelsperger came out after retirement if i remember correctly. Why come out though.... nothing to be gained from it other than influencing the next generation, which i am against personally.
Relief and acceptance.
The overall gain is that gay kids (and adults) all over the country might feel a little bit more confident within themselves when coming out to family, friends and colleagues.
Gay footballers go on holiday and can’t post to Instagram, or show affection in public, for fear of being outed. So the suggestion that they can just crack on as they are is simply bollocks. Already, gay footballers will be privatising aspects of their lives that otherwise straight footballers would not.
You would probably be aware of this if you weren’t a brainless homophobe.
To show young gay men that's it's OK, and they shouldn't be scared of pursuing something they love because of their sexual preferences.
To make it more accepted and in time help reduce the amount of abuse others will get.
To make it normal. Because right now, in football it isn't.
Good points - can't say anything back to these. Put me right - the beauties of a forum..... No need for the bolded part though.Not having to hide a huge part of his life? Just a guess like.
This touches on a good point. Already footballers have to privatise a lot aspects of their life so I imagine of hiding 'something else' has become normalised.Relief and acceptance.
The overall gain is that gay kids (and adults) all over the country might feel a little bit more confident within themselves when coming out to family, friends and colleagues.
Gay footballers go on holiday and can’t post to Instagram, or show affection in public, for fear of being outed. So the suggestion that they can just crack on as they are is simply bollocks. Already, gay footballers will be privatising aspects of their lives that otherwise straight footballers would not.
You would probably be aware of this if you weren’t a brainless homophobe.
They shouldn't have to but they do.They shouldnt have to open up, thats my point. What would said player gain by saying 'hey i have a different sexual preference to most?'
Yeah, look at the end of year awards all the players bring their wife of girlfriend. A gay player that isn't out cant bring their significant other without fearing abuse and backlash.This touches on a good point. Already footballers have to privatise a lot aspects of their life so I imagine of hiding 'something else' has become normalised.
Not saying it's good but I can imagine the rationale behind it. It's hard to judge their actions in the same way as your average person.
I dont think it is. I genuinely dont see much homophobia in the streets these days, the internet is another thing entirely, but its not 1993 anymore. The only way to make this change is for it to be more public, i can accept that the first person who comes out is going to act as a lightening rod and will take the brunt of the shit, but its going to have to happen at some point.
Statistically 2.1% of people are gay in the UK, which means pretty much every football club is probably going to have a gay player somewhere in their squads if you're including youth teams.
You don't see that much racism walking down the street, yet argubly labour are rife with anti-semitism, Tories islamophobia, and forgetting about the people who run this country, you go into football grounds and you hear all sorts of racist chants.I’m not sure that it is, we have openly gay people in every walk of life, politics, media and sports. Gareth Thomas came out while still playing pro rugby and there wasn’t actually a huge fuss, most people have forgotten now. This would likely be the same, interviews and headlines at first and some abuse from the stands,but once a few people have been banned for homophobia and the news cycle has moved on, it will become normal.
Your first post in the thread intimated that children might decide to be gay if they are influenced by gay footballers.Good points - can't say anything back to these. Put me right - the beauties of a forum..... No need for the bolded part though.
Actually the opposite is true. Coming out whether playing or retired would encourage others considering it to take the leap as well.Thomas Hiltzelsperger came out after retirement if i remember correctly. Why come out though.... nothing to be gained from it other than influencing the next generation, which i am against personally.
How an earth do you begin to change that though. If one was brave enough to come out publically surely that would encourage others to do the same.There are plenty of openly gay professional footballers. They just all happen to be women.
I really can't fault any gay male footballers for not coming out. Sadly the verbal abuse would probably be brutal. In addition, there is also likely to be some stigma within the dressing room.
Gay men are far more at risk of depression and suicide because they fear revealing their true selves to family, friends and public in general. Coming out isn’t a fecking parade in a Barbie doll as you alluded to ina previous post, it’s about being honest with those closest to you, being finally able to act naturally in a public place rather than living in fear of being spotted with your boyfriend. It’s about being able to be you.They shouldnt have to open up, thats my point. What would said player gain by saying 'hey i have a different sexual preference to most?'
Fair enough!Good points - can't say anything back to these. Put me right - the beauties of a forum..... No need for the bolded part though.
Thomas Hiltzelsperger came out after retirement if i remember correctly. Why come out though.... nothing to be gained from it other than influencing the next generation, which i am against personally.
You are against the next generation of footballers being inspired to embrace who they are?Thomas Hiltzelsperger came out after retirement if i remember correctly. Why come out though.... nothing to be gained from it other than influencing the next generation, which i am against personally.
The majority of women's football's audience is other women, who tend to be more inclusive & accepting. Typical "lads" who follow football would be far less accepting unfortunately. The thought of the abuse a player would get from the opposition fans, their own fans after a bad performance, and especially online is pretty depressing.There are plenty of openly gay professional footballers. They just all happen to be women.
I really can't fault any gay male footballers for not coming out. Sadly the verbal abuse would probably be brutal. In addition, there is also likely to be some stigma within the dressing room.
Well claiming that you don't want the future generation to be influenced by a homosexual footballer suggests otherwise.Firstly I'm not homophobic one bit. i just have a slightly different view to you thats all.
Secondly there is no need for a footballer or anyone for that matter to declare their sexuality. Why should it matter? What does it achieve? If there are homosexuals playing the game which there obviously will be then they have already been accepted have they not? no need to make an issue out of it.
For one, racism is now generally less acceptable than homophobia.Not trying to be funny here, but how is a gay footballer going to be subjected to anything worse than a black player is?
Both perpetrators are bigots. You're going to encounter bigots in every walk of life, if you're part of some kind of minority group. I don't understand what is so different between a black player having bananas thrown at them and a gay player having opposition fans scream homophobic names at him? In both instances, the perpetrators would be treated the same and banned from football grounds and the victim would be given moral support by the media, fans and team-mates...…..you would hope.
Yes there will always be the odd team-mate who is homophobic. But I honestly think the vast majority wouldn't care and possibly would even know about it, even if just a hunch,before the player came out.
Be honest, there are doubtlessly hundreds of racist footballers in the PL. Players who begrudgingly share a locker room with African players etc, but behind closed doors are probably right-wing and vocal about it.
Umm...maybe because nobody knows that they’re gay? Bro just stop posting in this thread.Firstly I'm not homophobic one bit. i just have a slightly different view to you thats all.
Secondly there is no need for a footballer or anyone for that matter to declare their sexuality. Why should it matter? What does it achieve? If there are homosexuals playing the game which there obviously will be then they have already been accepted have they not? no need to make an issue out of it.
I just came to say that I support you SIred. As I have nothing against gay people I have a lot against publicly stating your sexual orientation.Thomas Hiltzelsperger came out after retirement if i remember correctly. Why come out though.... nothing to be gained from it other than influencing the next generation, which i am against personally.
i posted this in the mind set of.... Why do we have to know if player X is attracted to men? it has since been explained to me about privatising aspects of their life that they shouldnt really have to. I have stood corrected. CheersUmm...maybe because nobody knows that they’re gay? Bro just stop posting in this thread.
Yet Muslims, Jews, black people and gay people get elected with minimal focus on the fact they they are Muslims, Jewish, black or gay. And yes there are still racist chants, though they get less and less and are dealt with more effectively and they are a minority and disgust more on the terraces than they amuse. What a change from 25 odd years ago when I remember watching Arsenal play Millwall at the old den, when every time Ian Wright got the ball people made monkey noises and threw bananas on the pitch.You don't see that much racism walking down the street, yet argubly labour are rife with anti-semitism, Tories islamophobia, and forgetting about the people who run this country, you go into football grounds and you hear all sorts of racist chants.
Homophobia is still an issue, no one is saying a prem footballer will come out as gay and everyone will just carry on as though nothing has happened, but we are moving forward, yes there will be abuse from the fans, but again like racism, it will be a minority and with public and media backing it will be slowly dealt with, like the Lukaku chant!Your reality is different to others, homophobia is still a real issue within the UK. You're burying your head in the sand if you think any different, just because you might hear slightly less insults on the street or isn't as obvious anymore.
I don't doubt it will become normal, but were nowhere near that in this day and age.
what the fuuuuuuckI just came to say that I support you SIred. As I have nothing against gay people I have a lot against publicly stating your sexual orientation.
The same way I would be against a footballer going out and stating proudly he is into pissing play in sex or something even kinkier. tI is something I do not care and I do not need this info. Just feck whomever you wish and how you both(or more) like it. No need to make it public ffs.
@SalfordRed18 i take it all back! Posts like this prove your point ... I don’t even know where to begin ffs.I just came to say that I support you SIred. As I have nothing against gay people I have a lot against publicly stating your sexual orientation.
The same way I would be against a footballer going out and stating proudly he is into pissing play in sex or something even kinkier. tI is something I do not care and I do not need this info. Just feck whomever you wish and how you both(or more) like it. No need to make it public ffs.
Have you ever thought that your viewpoint here has something to do with the fact that, as a straight man, you've never had your personal and private life scrutinised, criticised or villified?I just came to say that I support you SIred. As I have nothing against gay people I have a lot against publicly stating your sexual orientation.
The same way I would be against a footballer going out and stating proudly he is into pissing play in sex or something even kinkier. tI is something I do not care and I do not need this info. Just feck whomever you wish and how you both(or more) like it. No need to make it public ffs.
There's a difference here though and a very important one. It's indeed irrelevant for someone applying for a job to mention his/her sexual preference, I agree with that.I just came to say that I support you SIred. As I have nothing against gay people I have a lot against publicly stating your sexual orientation.
The same way I would be against a footballer going out and stating proudly he is into pissing play in sex or something even kinkier. tI is something I do not care and I do not need this info. Just feck whomever you wish and how you both(or more) like it. No need to make it public ffs.
We literally just had a trump rally this past week where people were chanting go back home. Just because different demographics are voted in doesn't negate the fact that a large portion of the western world still hold bigoted views. They're just not as open about it as 25 years ago.Yet Muslims, Jews, black people and gay people get elected with minimal focus on the fact they they are Muslims, Jewish, black or gay. And yes there are still racist chants, though they get less and less and are dealt with more effectively and they are a minority and disgust more on the terraces than they amuse. What a change from 25 odd years ago when I remember watching Arsenal play Millwall at the old den, when every time Ian Wright got the ball people made monkey noises and threw bananas on the pitch.
Homophobia is still an issue, no one is saying a prem footballer will come out as gay and everyone will just carry on as though nothing has happened, but we are moving forward, yes there will be abuse from the fans, but again like racism, it will be a minority and with public and media backing it will be slowly dealt with, like the Lukaku chant!
The point is I genuinely don’t think it is naive to think that someone could come out and after a while it would just be normal, especially if others follow suit.
And tbf there are plenty of gay supporters groups who are very open already in stadiums just google gay gooners for example ..... and yes before you worry it is safe for work!
Someone wrote in another thread on here that Ronaldo was better than Messi.How many children do you work with on a daily basis, out of curiosity?
Because your last point is up there with the biggest load of shit I’ve ever read on this forum.
It's surprisingly not that uncommon. There is less of it, but the mentality still exists and yes, I'm talking about in the streets too. Like people asking "why are you flaunting your sexuality?" or similar to two men holding hands, when they ignore straight couples doing it. The most common homophobia isn't gay bashing, or shouting the F word. It's treating people differently.@SalfordRed18 i take it all back! Posts like this prove your point ... I don’t even know where to begin ffs.
Though to be fair this is the minority of the thread and most posters understand how wrong this is.
@SalfordRed18 i take it all back! Posts like this prove your point ... I don’t even know where to begin ffs.
Though to be fair this is the minority of the thread and most posters understand how wrong this is.
I have since been put to bed mate.... Some excellent counter points to mine which i suggest you should read.I just came to say that I support you SIred. As I have nothing against gay people I have a lot against publicly stating your sexual orientation.
The same way I would be against a footballer going out and stating proudly he is into pissing play in sex or something even kinkier. tI is something I do not care and I do not need this info. Just feck whomever you wish and how you both(or more) like it. No need to make it public ffs.
Jesus fecking ChristI just came to say that I support you SIred. As I have nothing against gay people I have a lot against publicly stating your sexual orientation.
The same way I would be against a footballer going out and stating proudly he is into pissing play in sex or something even kinkier. tI is something I do not care and I do not need this info. Just feck whomever you wish and how you both(or more) like it. No need to make it public ffs.