http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1scxSSCjxo&feature=youtu.be I think he spoke very well on the subject. You have to hope most footballers and fans a like have Ruddy's attitude!
I thought he said all the right things and you can't ask more than that. He also seemed fairly comfortable saying them.
Yeah, it didn't sound forced or like a pre-scripted media soundbite. From what several players have said, we've got an open, hard-working, honest dressing room, and I hope it stays that way.
I think one of the things preventing gay players coming out is the fans reaction or player from other teams, not so much their own team mates. In that sense its similar to the racist abuse thats been swirling around the game in undertones, you can just imagine the chats coming from some of the fans,all to try and put the player off. Or an incident like John Terry had with Anton Ferdinand but with homophobic rhetoric. Given how racism still exists in the game despite very strong punishments what would gay players be thinking about the officials ability to protect them from abuse?
This article from Graeme le Saux highlights some of the issues that he faced, but how much of that would exist now I don't know. Based on government figures, 1.5% of men are gay, which is about 8 in the Premier League, although other sources put the number at anything up to 10%. If a group came out together, rather than waiting for a martyr like figure, I think it'd make it easier on the players in question. For a start it's hard to chant something homophobic if one of your teams players are gay too.
I reckon it's almost impossible to calculate.Sexuality is on a continuum with some people 100% hetero,some 100% gay and a substantial number at some point in between.I have a friend who was distinctly camp and he had a few unsuccessful relationships with women but has now lived with a man for fifteen years.
Gay and straight? We have our own much more important split here on 606. Inner or outer, with bisexuals on the fence.
