What is really at play there is a much older, much simpler game: stigmatize one's opponents to avoid the intellectual efforts involved with making a cogent argument. One thing Essex Gull missed in his attempt was the logical conclusion that for his statement to carry any weight there must be something tangibly wrong with being gay. Rather ironic, eh?
I'm not really disagreeing with you but if you look at it the other way around they obviously feel the need to keep it hidden currently. Sneaking around hoping the red tops don't blow up the story. That can't be right can it? I think this is or should be the point. I grew up casually homophobic the same as everyone else I knew. In fact the worst insult you could give some one was to call them a Puff. A mate of mine who has done multiple tours of Afghanistan, Iraq, the Balkans and is build like a brick **** house "came out" by which I mean he said "You know what I'm gay". I was gob smacked. I'd have never suspected it in a million years but after a few moments I realised he was still the top bloke he'd always been and was still a good mate despite being fond of a bit of cock! I do however question if he really was telling the truth when he said it his torch sticking in my back in the FUP outside of Basra......
I agree Stockholm, it's not right that they seemingly fear being exposed, I'm just not sure that becoming a cause célèbre moves it forward, as the issue seems to be with the media and society rather than football, then again, I don't know what the right answer is. The whole thing seems geared up to amuse giggling gossips. I'm not convinced most people would react with much more than an 'oh', before saying he's crap, lazy etc.
a couple of years ago US "dont ask dont tell" policy was again in the news and to run along side there was a piece on (im sure it was ) Turkish military conscription - whatever - anyway as more and more people just announced they were gay - the goverment assumed many were lying to avoid conscription - Soooooo they now require proof , actual photographic evidence - im sure the guy interviewed said the army would accept evidence of wearing womens clothes hahaa - !!!
Apparently after Justin Fashanu came out as gay Brian Clough banned him from training with the other players. I didn't know that. That's awful.
Whilst the 'glossy' nature of this isn't particularly to my liking, I think it is fantastic news that two players are ready to come out whilst they are still in a top division. It is no-ones business if two consenting adults are engaging in a happy relationship, but I can't even imagine having a gay footballer I could have looked up to as a role model whilst I was at school. I can imagine being a gay teenager is slightly easier now than it was 10 years ago when I was at that age, but I had the problem of not seeing anyone in the public eye I could relate to. I'm no Graham Norton or Paul O'Grady, so how the hell was I supposed to know I was normal? An out gay footballer would have provided me with a life I could have worked towards instead of closeting myself for years. I might even have carried on playing football, something I loved but have only started doing again in my 20s. I'm not surprised that it has taken so long for football to get to this position, but a lot of the positive (or even indifferent) attitudes just in this thread have show just how far Britain has come with regards tolerance.
Are the two footballers, who are publicly coming out, in a relationship together? There's a multitude of media possibilities for them if they are - they could do a home makeover programme or become the new Ant and Dec. Is it possible to play a competitive , pro sport against your partner and their team? i guess if you dealt out a hefty tackle, you'd have to hug and apologise your partner for it. Some conflict of interest if one is a goalkeeper and the other is a striker. A very immature thread I'm forced to admit. Time to lock it, administration. ESSSEX GULL
When I played rugby union at school, half the team was gay - we called them 'backs' and they did lighter tasks such as kicking and throwing the ball to each other. ESSEX GULL
Maybe they used the extra hour in bed to have a rethink. It must be the biggest non story of the year.
I couldn't agree with you more. The problem with this whole story is that you have a clash of different parts of modern culture. In most walks of life now, no one gives two ****s if someone is gay. Most of the gay people I know never had a big "coming out", most people just guessed when they were going everywhere with another bloke. The problem is now is the Premier League culture. It's not just about football, it's the Hello magazine exclusives, what are the WAGs wearing etc. The fact that gay footballers haven't felt able to just live open lives (as opposed to formally announcing their sexuality) over the last 20 years, like most professions have means pressure has built up - the lack of gays in football isn't normal and so celebrity culture is waiting for the first one. Even if they didn't "come out", the moment they started openly dating another bloke, the red tops and celebrity mags would be building it up anyway. I don't envy the first one to come out - but for all the exposure, I'm sure'll he'll be getting plenty of interview fees in compensation. The first one is basically the sacrificial lamb. Once its done though, there'll be a fair number of gay footballers in the league, and the magazines won't want to interview them all. Like everywhere else; no one will care.
Transference neurosis ... they know who they are. I agree fully with your first statement, but the low-life types that engage in either form of 'communication' are generally not bright enough to understand the difference. Your second statement ignores the fact that much of the Midwest and Texas are infested with Bible-thumpers who actually believe the GBLT-ers are sinners. I believe that if they choose to like Guacamole, Bacon, Lettuce & Tomato in their buns, that's their choice, not mine.
The actual topic is worthy of a thread. It's all over the net in the news for a start. The attempts to derail it since, however, are immature and ridiculous.
Quite I've no interest in who City's players are shagging or who they fancy But if they are crap, or lazy, (or really good) that's important
