Eight per cent of fans ‘wouldn’t watch team containing gay player’

Sorry, I was waffling a bit

I do not like the way scriptwriters show homosexual relationships on tv. No problem with there being homosexual characters, just the way seem to be portrayed.

There was a movement made up of writers who opposed Section 28 and I have no problem with that opposition, just how they sensationlised the story lines to boost viewing figures.

My point is that not all homosexual men and women are promiscuous, but tv soaps tend to show that they are.

 

fair enough
I don't watch any soaps (or much TV at all other than sports or films) so I can't comment

 

Soaps tend to portray absolutely everybody as promiscuous. I'm not sure where you're coming from with that.

 

In 2006 Stonewall produced a report called Tuned Out. This is from it. Times have moved on, but the lack of balance still has not.

" The second stereotype sees gay men portrayed as promiscuous and unable to hold down a stable relationship, or as people ridiculed for promiscuous sexual behaviour. Taken separately, these items are not necessarily offensive, but the lack of overall balance is."

 

Corrie has recently had three lesbian characters (Sophie, Caz and the Connor lass). None of those has been portray

I repeat, soaps portray pretty much everybody as promiscuous.

 

Yes, I'm still waiting for an answer on what "promoting homosexual lifestyles" means, and three people have now asked the question...

 

The same tv soaps show that people who are not gay are very promiscuous.

 

Section 28

 

That absolutely does not answer the question.

But I don't think you really need to; reading between the lines, I think I know what you meant.

 

Great article. Surprised he didn't mention that odious little **** Fowler though.

 

Attitudes are definitely changing. Compared to my Grandparents' generation, society is much more accepting than before. I'm in my mid 20s and someone coming out as gay isn't really a big deal. When I've had friends at University or work who have come out or identified as being gay, I've never treat them any differently to anyone else. However, I know from speaking to my grandparents that for them, they aren't as comfortable about it as I am. It's a shame though that there are people who would go as far as to stop supporting a team due to a gay player. It'd be strange not to watch Lord of the Rings because Ian McKellen is gay, so it's seems sad that there are some who would do this with supporting a football team.

 

Great post Bernstein. I am really interested in your thoughts, Apologies for my ignorance, but do you feel you have totally 'come out' if you haven't with your students or at football?? Absolutely not judging. Hope I don't sound patronising if I say I admire anyone who is openly gay and has had to go through the coming out. I wonder had I been gay would I have had the guts to come out? I suspect not, though it was very different times.
A family member struggled in his teens with this and suffered real mental health issues. After he 'came out' he flourished and is a totally different person. He doesn't try to hide it from anyone (there was a post early in the thread about why have gay pride.. to me it is because many have had to hide the fact they are gay and have had terrible mental battles because sadly in many people's views, it was shameful, and eventually when they came out they realised they have every right to say they are gay and proud).
I'm curious Bernie, isn't the huge issue around 'coming out' the fact that you can be true to yourself and you don't feel you have to hide a part of you? Do you not feel if you are holding it back from certain areas of your life, you are not totally accepting of yourself and 'proud'?`
Feel free to tell me I'm talking bollox

 

Reflecting on what it'd take for gay footballers to come out, I just had a flashback to a time in the 80's when Peter Tatchell was outing politicians and public figures. Seems a very strange action from a Civil Rights leader.

 

It seemed strange to me at the time, but in hindsight what it did do was break the 'who'll be first' hoodoo and maybe made it easier for others after?

 

No, you're not talking bollocks - I know what you're meaning.

You're kind of right - coming out is about accepting yourself for who you are - but it doesn't necessarily mean you have to show everything to everyone. I am very comfortable in myself, and I am comfortable enough to control what people know about me. I could cope if students found out at work - but it would make life a lot harder, so that's why I don't push it. I guess it's like saying have I just come out on here? I don't think so. In the 10 years I've posted on 606 a topic like this hasn't come up, so it only seems logical now to mention it, I haven't deliberately hidden anything.

At City it's different. If we spent a lot more time there, then I would probably come out to the people who sit around me, we get on fine, and I'm sure they'd be okay - but you sit very close to people in the stadium, I sit in the east stand and within earshot are quite a few people who were making some of the comments against the Brighton fans. I have to admit I just prefer to keep schtum in that situation. I go to city by myself, if I went with others who knew me outside, I don't think I'd be as reluctant to be open - but as one person alone the atmosphere has never felt right for me.

I am still accepting of myself, and I am happy with the person I am - I've just learned over the years to provide information as it is needed - it's sad that in 2016 there are places where you have to make decisions like that.

Peter Tatchell has always been a very controversial figure. I don't approve outing anybody; but there is no denying he raised visibility, and that in turn made it easier for people to come out afterwards. It's easy to think that we were always heading for where we are today - but in the late 80s when the government were passing laws like section 28 (which really was an evil piece of very poorly written legislation), there was a chance that gay rights could go backwards, especially in the shadow of AIDS.

The sad thing is if some footballers were outed, there would be less focus on who is and who isn't - which would make this issue an irrelevance in future. Tatchell's tactics, however cruel, worked. But for the record, that is not something I would support - people should only come out when they feel able to do so.

 

Tatchell was outing those politicians who had voted against gay equality law, and public figures who had made anti-gay remarks. Most of it was fair game, therefore, but he has since admitted to regretting some of his actions. IMHO, Tatchell is a hero.

 

I'm really enjoying reading your posts, thanks for sharing.

I know it sounds weird, but I still find it rare to hear from someone who has been through similar situations.