Are you offended by the gay taunts from opposing fans

[Thunder Bolt]

I've gone 'other' because for me it doesn't sit as neatly as those poll categories. the vast majority, that I have been aware of, is basically good natured and either a bit boring or, occasionally, even quite funny.

But on a couple of occasions it has crossed a line in terms of what i think is OK - because of the sheer offensiveness of what was being shouted at me or because I was with a young child and yet the language and gestures continued regardless. I'd imagine most decent people have a line somewhere.

I agree with this. It is also illegal as is racial abuse. It should also be considered that as many as 1 in 5 gay people commit suicide.

 

[Phat Baz 68]

It's not them saying " oh you bunch of bumboys" etc that's not good but it's when they start saying things like I hope you
die of AIDS !!
If they had sat with someone and watched them die of an AIDS related illness over a night like I did when Nursing then the pathetic little idiots would change their minds pretty quick !!!!

 

[tubby]

Inside the ground it does not bother me and consider it to be banter. Outside it should be stopped.

It is also a compliment to our city that we are recognised nationwide as a cosmopolitan, gay-friendly city where people can be themselves without the idiots who target certain groups of people (other than the occasional incident).

 

[severnside gull]

It is, in my view, generally intended to be reasonably good humoured - I will avoid using the term "banter" which I think is too often used to excuse the inexcusable - and I love the equally frivolous responses from Brighton fans (1-0 to the batty boys and you're too ugly to be gay).

However sometimes - and it seems to be increasingly often - the chants from opposing fans are ugly, vicious, and filled with hatred. In those instances they can be a precursor to violence whether verbal or physical.

And no, I don't accept the "it's football" excuse that excuses anti social behaviour as being "normal" purely because it occurs at a stadium. It starts online in social media, in pubs and on the streets. Football doesnt make it okay.

So do you accept the mildly abusive and counter it with humour or do you seek to stop all comment just in case it turns nasty? It's a conundrum - at least for me as I am not gay but I am still a target for abuse. When exactly does acceptable or "putupwithable" become a step too far?

The trouble is that most people - the "authorities" in particular - know where the serious problems exist.

I had to raise an eyebrow at Colin saying an ex Leeds player could have come out as gay while playing there. From my experience I think not.
Millwall, Palace, Wolves, Sheffield, Huddersfield............
If anyone has doubts about attitudes to sexuality and barely repressed violence just read the fans' forums - a good place for the FA the FL and their member clubs to begin.

Football has changed - commercially it relies on whole families rather than just father & son - that makes any abuse whether verbal or physical less liable to be tolerated than in the past.

How to stop it? Prosecute the forums who openly promote homophobic hatred? Close stands at clubs where sections of the fans are "unacceptably" hostile (whether racially, homophobic or inciting violence in any way?). Of course it wont happen. Practical difficulties aside there is no will from the clubs, the league, or the wider authorities.
Meanwhile I support the Albion and as Gus says "we have our own identity.........." Not entirely sure he was talking about the same thing though

 

[Max Paper]

Water off a ducks back. I find it amusing that they think they are being really clever and funny when it's been the same for years at ALL away grounds. 1-0 to the nancy boys usually shuts them up! If any gay fans are genuinely offended I'd be surprised.

 

[Gullys Cats]

Some of it can be funny but when my son starts asking to many questions that's when I think it is a bit out of order, my son will find out sooner or later, he's only 23!

 

[Fungus]

Not so bothered by "we can see you holding hands", but when I hear "they should all be shot", etc, outside the ground, it shows a line needs to be drawn.

 

[CC2]

I just find the irony hilarious. As a heterosexual man, who attends football with his wife and kids, being called gay by a group of young men spending the day together :safeway: is frankly just amusing.

Also, it shows that Brighton actually has an identity, unlike most of the grim northern towns that the perpetrators generally seem to come from.

 

[Coldeanseagull]

Can't see why it should bother me, its aimed collectively at our cosmopolitan City rather than directly at me. My missus works with a lot who keep wicket, most moving down from places afar, showing a less than liberal attitude to people of a different persuasion than we do down here. It's also a pack mentality thing. Would they really turn round to you if they were on their own and say ay oop luv?

 

[Twinkle Toes]

At best, I find it tedious & unimaginative (eg Inside the stadium & 'We can see you holding hands...' ).

At worst, I've witnessed groups of knuckle-dragging scum, c/w contorted fugly faces, letting out a stream of sheer homophobic hatred towards Albion supporters in order to provoke a reaction (& thus 'giving them an excuse' to use wholly unwarrented & unacceptable violence).

Whether the two above examples are inextricably linked is highly debatable, but I'd like to see all clubs - & certainly the Police in attendance at matches - to start countering this shit by weeding-out the worst culprits & charging them accordingly. By doing nothing, they just aid & abet these gobshites; & perpetuate the idea that at football matches people can get away with behaviour that would ordinarily see them end up being cuffed & charged.

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

some feel very strongly, most shrug if off with a sigh or a laugh...i think

poll should sort it

i lose sleep over it constantly , i've resorted to therapy treatment to help me , wish me the best

 

[Jimmy's gonna get ya!]

When gay chants are directed at us, I feel like we are being congratulated on being such a cosmopolitan, forward thinking city. Not stuck in the 70's and still bitter over mine closures.
To me its no different to someone singing "Does your grandad know you're here?" Well yes he does, how strange you should ask. Does your probation officer?
I am gay, but not offended in the slightest.

 

[The Merry Prankster]

My personal opinion is that we'd vibe better off without it but I don't get very worked up on the subject but what I do find ridiculous is the pathetic behaviour of the authorities. Both plod and the FA condemn it but then shrink from actually doing anything about it. It's almost line saying " oh we know that in these modern times we need to pay lip service to this kind of nonsense but actually we are going to behave as though we condone it".

 

[Sheebo]

It doesn't offend me massively but it's wrong, against the law and needs stamping out...

 

[blue2]

Don't care and to be honest feel proud that the Gay pond is spent in Brighton after all where else why would you want to spend it Croydon!

 

[Brightonia]

I don't get offended by it, it's just so boring, the fans singing it think they are so clever and singing something nobody has ever sung before!

It's amazing to think that some of the people singing this actually think we are all gay, in reality I personally don't know any gay Albion fans, I'm sure there are lots but that's the same with any club!

To be fair I'd rather be accused of being gay than when we sing "are you saville in disguise" to Leeds fans or "we pay your benefits" to countless northern teams etc etc

 

[Grapes of Wrath]

It's been going on for years, who gives a toss. Why are people getting so worked up about it now, if people are genuinely upset by a bit of football banter then get a life or find another sport, and join the "Ban everything brigade"

 

[Hamilton]

I'm not offended, just disappointed. I'd like to think we could move away from all that.

 

[JBizzle]

Doesn't bother me personally but I think it's something should be stamped out all the same.

 

[Weststander]

With the vast majority of Albion fans being heterosexual, even these knuckle draggers from Cardiff and Millwall etc have the intelligence to know that, so I take it as just a chant to try to wind-up and insult all Brighton fans.

In my opinion, it does not mean those same knuckle draggers are out to harm gays outside the ground or anywhere else.

Can't see how the mass singing can be stopped.

Real homophobia in society should be. This is just a football insult.