8 Gay Footballers in Premiership

[Tricky Dicky]

I presumed that poster was about twelve.

Maybe, but I agree the gist of your previous post could be true, I'm just not sure I ave that much faith in people in a group.

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

A great example of why we don't see it, when it's used as a term of abuse.

But it's still only one post out of 60+. Why use that one post as a reason for a pro not to come out, rather than the 60 or so posts that are either supportive or apathetic about a player coming out?

 

[El Presidente]

Not that difficult. They simply have to open their mouths and say: 'By the way, I'm gay.' Or even, 'I'm gay' if five words is too difficult.

By all accounts that is what they have said to their team mates, so they have come out.

Revealing their sexuality to the fanbase is a separate issue, and frankly none of our business.

I don't feel the need to discuss my sexuality with my students, why should players discuss it with fans, it's private.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

If I were a gay footballer, I would want to be out in so far that I could do normal things with my partner, but I'm not sure I would want to have to cope with the press attention that would go with that.

I guess it depends on the profile of the players.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Ill say one thing, if Olandi ever came out I'd convert on the off chance he might be interested in me.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

But it's still only one post out of 60+. Why use that one post as a reason for a pro not to come out, rather than the 60 or so posts that are either supportive or apathetic about a player coming out?

I would think for every one that states something like that, there's 20 that think it but don't want to be shown up.

BTW, I'm not arguing that thay shouldn't come, quite the contrary, just citing why I think it could be difficult.

 

[Hyperion]

By all accounts that is what they have said to their team mates, so they have come out.

Revealing their sexuality to the fanbase is a separate issue, and frankly none of our business.

I don't feel the need to discuss my sexuality with my students, why should players discuss it with fans, it's private.

You don't discuss it because it's the so called norm. You don't live in a world where you have to hide a feelings a particular sex. What may seem a big standard conversation about the female sex then becomes rather awkward for people that are hiding their true sexuality.

Telling a team mate in confidence is not coming out though is it.

Having to hide who you really are because of a group of backward apes dotted around the country and the quite frankly crass under hand homophobia that goes on around many work places does make it quite difficult.

Yes, it's not really anyone's business but it also throws up many problems by hiding such things as well as creating some different ones by coming out.

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

I would think for every one that states something like that, there's 20 that think it but don't want to be shown up.

BTW, I'm not arguing that thay shouldn't come, quite the contrary, just citing why I think it could be difficult.

But the extent to which a professional footballer is impacted by what some fans are thinking but don't have the guts to vocalise is even more limited than the (at a guess) 1 in 60 who may be vocal.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

But the extent to which a professional footballer is impacted by what some fans are thinking but don't have the guts to vocalise is even more limited than the (at a guess) 1 in 60 who may be vocal.

But my original point was that people behave differenty in groups. You have one in 60 that would vocalise these thoughts in person, in a crowd, 20 more think it and it only takes one idiot to start a song and you have a significant number joining in, plus more that don't think it, but join in for the sake of it.

These days, if someone came out to their team-mates, I doubt any of them would care, the press would be ultra-cautious in high-lightling it in any manner other than in passing, so I can ony imagine the main reason for them not coming out would be the crowd reaction, especally from away fans. Just my theory, I'm not that fussed either way.

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

But my original point was that people behave differenty in groups. You have one in 60 that would vocalise these thoughts in person, in a crowd, 20 more think it and it only takes one idiot to start a song and you have a significant number joining in, plus more that don't think it, but join in for the sake of it.

These days, if someone came out to their team-mates, I doubt any of them would care, the press would be ultra-cautious in high-lightling it in any manner other than in passing, so I can ony imagine the main reason for them not coming out would be the crowd reaction, especally from away fans. Just my theory, I'm not that fussed either way.

I agree with you as far as team mates go. As for supporters, the players who are gay have an imagined version of what supporters are like. It's not really been tested.

Genuine question to NSC (as I don't know the answer): what crowd response did Justin Fashanu receive when he came out as gay?

Also, even if a player did receive abuse from a minority of 'fans' (and the stewards didn't take action) the players still have a choice of how of whether they will be overwhelmed or be bigger than the abuse coming their way.

 

[Jam The Man]

I agree with you as far as team mates go. As for supporters, the players who are gay have an imagined version of what supporters are like. It's not really been tested.

Genuine question to NSC (as I don't know the answer): what crowd response did Justin Fashanu receive when he came out as gay?

I don't recall Justin playing against us again, but shamefully as an Albion fan I recall playing Wimbledon in an Auto Windscreens cup match at the Goldstone in around 1992, and the North Stand were quite vociferous in reminding John Fashanu that:

"Justin Fashanu's a homosexual"

... not our finest moment, I'm sure you'll all agree.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Genuine question to NSC (as I don't know the answer): what crowd response did Justin Fashanu receive when he came out as gay?

I do not know if he ever played against us after he came out but I do know Brighton fans sang 'Elton John's a homosexual' at Watford in the '84 cup game.

 

[Buzzer]

I'm very bored of the gayers in football debate now.

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

I'm very bored of the gayers in football debate now.

Good. Keep on being bored. It might encourage more players who want to come out to do so, knowing people are becoming indifferent/unmoved by it. As incidental as a 1970s or 1980s football player saying they listen to George Benson and Phil Collins, and enjoy a steak before a match.

 

[Buzzer]

Good. Keep on being bored. It might encourage more players who want to come out to do so, knowing people are becoming indifferent/unmoved by it. As incidental as a 1970s or 1980s football player saying they listen to George Benson and Phil Collins, and enjoy a steak before a match.

As long as certain other Brighton fans agree to shut up about it too and tell whoever asks them that it's not always about Brighton and Hove Albion.

 

[dingodan]

I am happy for footballers to keep it to themselves to be honest. Maybe they don't want to come out to the entire British public? Why do people feel that these footballers should or must come out?

If it really makes no difference, if people really don't care, then let's stop talking about it and get on with the game.

Football has existed for a long time without any need for Footballers to disclosure sexual, political or religious preferences, why can't we just keep it that way?

 

[brightn'ove]

But it's still only one post out of 60+. Why use that one post as a reason for a pro not to come out, rather than the 60 or so posts that are either supportive or apathetic about a player coming out?

because in a stadium situation 1 in 60 becomes a group of about 500 in a 30k stadium. Moronic twats tend to sit together at football and they could definitely make enough noise for a player to hear.

 

[topbanana36]

0 want to come out.

Things need to change. People should not be afraid of being gay. It is just not right.

Premier League - Eight gay players in Premier League keep quiet in fear of fans - Yahoo! Eurosport UK

So there are 8 homosexuals in the premiership big deal.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I don't feel the need to discuss my sexuality with my students, why should players discuss it with fans, it's private.

I don't believe it's about discussing their sexuality. And the problem is that it is private ie they feel a need to hide it from the public. Straight people generally don't have to, unless you're having an affair of course.

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

because in a stadium situation 1 in 60 becomes a group of about 500 in a 30k stadium. Moronic twats tend to sit together at football and they could definitely make enough noise for a player to hear.

'Moronic twats tend to sit together at football'. On what basis do you say this about the homophobic element? (And would we be able to see them holding hands?)

And even if they were able to be heard by a gay player, the player still has a say in his own response. While stewards need to tackle the issue from their end, hearing a bad word is nothing for a player to be scared of if he relates to himself as bigger than any chant by people who do not have his interests at heart. Gay players need to stand up and be counted rather than acting wimpishly about the issue.