The gay community.....

[User removed 4]

Tell you what Dan, I'll see your 'trot along', and raise you a 'jog on'.

i wouldnt bother woodster !

 

[The Large One]

I have brought an opinion to the table, to be discussed. You have brought nothing, just derided the comments of others, namely me, and called me a liar. It seems that you only listen or take note of comments and opinions which fit neatly inside the small space of your brain and complement your own, everything else must be false in your view.

I think the only person who should now be feeling embarrassed is you, due to YOUR small minded and BIGOTED views. Perhaps you do have something in common with the homophobes?

Or maybe you posted the contents of this 'phone-call' because it tied in with your opinions?

Would you have done so if it hadn't?

 

[sydney]

mince off..!

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

So you think it's 'fine and dandy' for kids to hear homophobic chants aimed at them?

And there was me thinking this was a Community Stadium?

TB

fancy doing some community service then ?

 

[El Presidente]

Seriously, stop now, that hole your digging is getting deeper and deeper.

*snigger*

 

[Tim Over Whelmed]

I can only conclude that what started out MANY YEARS AGO as a bit of banter and was ignored or responded to with humour has now become "an issue", this will now lead to more agressive chanting, angrier responses raising the whole issue to a point that I'll need to explain to my young boys what this is all about.

If we had ignored it in this first place it would have stopped.

Of course those that are complaining NEVER got involved in the 90's loads of money chants, never sung in your Palace slums, never questioned a referees honesty, never shouted personal abuse at a player linke dto any particular issue he's experienced, never .... you get the point.

Man Up indeed!

 

[Grizz]

This topic goes comes around every year on this board, usually tying in with Pride, but I guess a little late this year.

I've been thinking about the whole thing all day to be honest and what I think should be done and what I think will be done.

I don't agree with Bozza's initial post. I think if people want to report it, especially if they're supporters who are in the ground, then they should irrespective of what it costs the club in time and money investigating. If people feel that uncomfortable with the chanting then the club should step in, after all we are their customers. The whole 'man up' argument is pretty obvious and predictable, but for some reason we always demote homophobic chanting to the back burner, something that's always seen as banter amongst fans due to Brighton's gay community, the same as Cardiff/Swansea being sheep shaggers etc. For some of us it isn't. I'm gay and do I find offensive? I'm not sure, having been round it so often I find it a little sad that in 2011 its still an issue and people still seem to want to hush it up hoping it will die down and people will see it as good natured 'banter'. It isn't really. Yes plenty of Brighton fans reply in kind and its seen as a good laugh, but the longer term implications are damaging. You may think I'm being over-dramatic here, but I don't think I am because every season this isn't seriously challenged is another set of young fans who think its acceptable behaviour. Now they may not understand that its 'banter' and quite happily take it outside of the stadium, into the streets or playgrounds and think its acceptable there as well. Now the vast majority wouldn't tolerate it there, so why inside the ground? If you're kids turned out to be gay and their school lives were a living hell because some other kids thought it was acceptable to constantly taunt them, would you accept his argument that he learnt it at the football? Is that still just banter and he/she should 'man up'? I came out later in life, when I was 29, because I was shit scared to admit being gay and it took me that long to realise how liberating it was just to be me. Now the mates I go to watch the Albion with didn't bat an eyelid when I told them, as I knew they wouldn't, but neither do they now join in in the songs that are chanted back to the away fans. I never asked them to do that, but I guess they suddenly realised that maybe it isn't such a laugh after all and that it may actually genuinely upset me.

What will be done about it? The club took the initiative a few years back and I was quite hopeful then, but in all honesty they've pretty much only paid lip service to the problem. I know there's been a hell of a lot of upheaval in the past few years and the club have been concentrating on others areas, but you can't start something and want to be in the fore-running and then when it actually comes to the crunch do nothing. And in all fairness from what I've seen, and I emphasis that as I have no idea what the club has done in the background and they haven't communicated anything, there seems to be little movement on the subject, until now. Now is the time for the club to take a stand, just as it was when racist chanting became wholly unacceptable, homophobic chanting is unacceptable as well. It wouldn't take a lot. Making sure visiting clubs knew the policy and that breaches would result in ejection from the ground. If the club was highly public with it then fans would soon get the message. Might need extra policing for a season or two, but if you're going to take the lead then you can't make half-hearted efforts.

Will it happen? Nope I doubt it very much, especially as the FA couldn't care less, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't take a stand as a club. Its amazing that in 2011 even players are still shit scared about being honest about their sexuality because of the 'consequences'. Surely that isn't right? For all those that say its just banter, surely someone living in that fear can't be right? Will it stop me going to watch the Albion, nope, but it does still sadden me every time i witness it.

 

[JBizzle]

Its against the law. Therefore it doesn't matter what any of us think, including the aforementioned "married couple". Banter is one thing but it is ILLEGAL and as a result there needs to be action. Although the chants at Albion games don't bother me in the slightest, homophobia is not acceptable in modern society and 1,000's of people chanting en masse cannot be allowed in the same way that 1,000's of people shouting racist abuse should be.

And for the chap commenting about insulting the ref, no its not great but its not illegal.

 

[Pbseagull]

This topic goes comes around every year on this board, usually tying in with Pride, but I guess a little late this year.

I've been thinking about the whole thing all day to be honest and what I think should be done and what I think will be done.

I don't agree with Bozza's initial post. I think if people want to report it, especially if they're supporters who are in the ground, then they should irrespective of what it costs the club in time and money investigating. If people feel that uncomfortable with the chanting then the club should step in, after all we are their customers. The whole 'man up' argument is pretty obvious and predictable, but for some reason we always demote homophobic chanting to the back burner, something that's always seen as banter amongst fans due to Brighton's gay community, the same as Cardiff/Swansea being sheep shaggers etc. For some of us it isn't. I'm gay and do I find offensive? I'm not sure, having been round it so often I find it a little sad that in 2011 its still an issue and people still seem to want to hush it up hoping it will die down and people will see it as good natured 'banter'. It isn't really. Yes plenty of Brighton fans reply in kind and its seen as a good laugh, but the longer term implications are damaging. You may think I'm being over-dramatic here, but I don't think I am because every season this isn't seriously challenged is another set of young fans who think its acceptable behaviour. Now they may not understand that its 'banter' and quite happily take it outside of the stadium, into the streets or playgrounds and think its acceptable there as well. Now the vast majority wouldn't tolerate it there, so why inside the ground? If you're kids turned out to be gay and their school lives were a living hell because some other kids thought it was acceptable to constantly taunt them, would you accept his argument that he learnt it at the football? Is that still just banter and he/she should 'man up'? I came out later in life, when I was 29, because I was shit scared to admit being gay and it took me that long to realise how liberating it was just to be me. Now the mates I go to watch the Albion with didn't bat an eyelid when I told them, as I knew they wouldn't, but neither do they now join in in the songs that are chanted back to the away fans. I never asked them to do that, but I guess they suddenly realised that maybe it isn't such a laugh after all and that it may actually genuinely upset me.

What will be done about it? The club took the initiative a few years back and I was quite hopeful then, but in all honesty they've pretty much only paid lip service to the problem. I know there's been a hell of a lot of upheaval in the past few years and the club have been concentrating on others areas, but you can't start something and want to be in the fore-running and then when it actually comes to the crunch do nothing. And in all fairness from what I've seen, and I emphasis that as I have no idea what the club has done in the background and they haven't communicated anything, there seems to be little movement on the subject, until now. Now is the time for the club to take a stand, just as it was when racist chanting became wholly unacceptable, homophobic chanting is unacceptable as well. It wouldn't take a lot. Making sure visiting clubs knew the policy and that breaches would result in ejection from the ground. If the club was highly public with it then fans would soon get the message. Might need extra policing for a season or two, but if you're going to take the lead then you can't make half-hearted efforts.

Will it happen? Nope I doubt it very much, especially as the FA couldn't care less, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't take a stand as a club. Its amazing that in 2011 even players are still shit scared about being honest about their sexuality because of the 'consequences'. Surely that isn't right? For all those that say its just banter, surely someone living in that fear can't be right? Will it stop me going to watch the Albion, nope, but it does still sadden me every time i witness it.

Really good, sensible and intelligent post. I have to admit that the chants have never bothered me and I have previously just thought of most of it as just "banter", however your post has genuinely made me think again. It is very easy for those that are not directly affected by something like this to just view others concerns as being "over reacting" or having "no sense of humour" but I have come to realise ( after reading your post and a few others recently posted) that it can have an effect on many people who do not view this as either acceptable or indeed humurous, regardless of their personal orientation. I for one WILL NOT join in with any response to the homophobic chanting in future.

 

[arfer guinness]

Why do gays have to have a community, cant they live as normal people with everyone else?

 

[Pbseagull]

Why do gays have to have a community, cant they live as normal people with everyone else?

I think that you will find that we ALL live in communities of one sort or another. What do you mean by "normal people"

 

[Albion Dan]

This topic goes comes around every year on this board, usually tying in with Pride, but I guess a little late this year.

I've been thinking about the whole thing all day to be honest and what I think should be done and what I think will be done.

I don't agree with Bozza's initial post. I think if people want to report it, especially if they're supporters who are in the ground, then they should irrespective of what it costs the club in time and money investigating. If people feel that uncomfortable with the chanting then the club should step in, after all we are their customers. The whole 'man up' argument is pretty obvious and predictable, but for some reason we always demote homophobic chanting to the back burner, something that's always seen as banter amongst fans due to Brighton's gay community, the same as Cardiff/Swansea being sheep shaggers etc. For some of us it isn't. I'm gay and do I find offensive? I'm not sure, having been round it so often I find it a little sad that in 2011 its still an issue and people still seem to want to hush it up hoping it will die down and people will see it as good natured 'banter'. It isn't really. Yes plenty of Brighton fans reply in kind and its seen as a good laugh, but the longer term implications are damaging. You may think I'm being over-dramatic here, but I don't think I am because every season this isn't seriously challenged is another set of young fans who think its acceptable behaviour. Now they may not understand that its 'banter' and quite happily take it outside of the stadium, into the streets or playgrounds and think its acceptable there as well. Now the vast majority wouldn't tolerate it there, so why inside the ground? If you're kids turned out to be gay and their school lives were a living hell because some other kids thought it was acceptable to constantly taunt them, would you accept his argument that he learnt it at the football? Is that still just banter and he/she should 'man up'? I came out later in life, when I was 29, because I was shit scared to admit being gay and it took me that long to realise how liberating it was just to be me. Now the mates I go to watch the Albion with didn't bat an eyelid when I told them, as I knew they wouldn't, but neither do they now join in in the songs that are chanted back to the away fans. I never asked them to do that, but I guess they suddenly realised that maybe it isn't such a laugh after all and that it may actually genuinely upset me.

What will be done about it? The club took the initiative a few years back and I was quite hopeful then, but in all honesty they've pretty much only paid lip service to the problem. I know there's been a hell of a lot of upheaval in the past few years and the club have been concentrating on others areas, but you can't start something and want to be in the fore-running and then when it actually comes to the crunch do nothing. And in all fairness from what I've seen, and I emphasis that as I have no idea what the club has done in the background and they haven't communicated anything, there seems to be little movement on the subject, until now. Now is the time for the club to take a stand, just as it was when racist chanting became wholly unacceptable, homophobic chanting is unacceptable as well. It wouldn't take a lot. Making sure visiting clubs knew the policy and that breaches would result in ejection from the ground. If the club was highly public with it then fans would soon get the message. Might need extra policing for a season or two, but if you're going to take the lead then you can't make half-hearted efforts.

Will it happen? Nope I doubt it very much, especially as the FA couldn't care less, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't take a stand as a club. Its amazing that in 2011 even players are still shit scared about being honest about their sexuality because of the 'consequences'. Surely that isn't right? For all those that say its just banter, surely someone living in that fear can't be right? Will it stop me going to watch the Albion, nope, but it does still sadden me every time i witness it.

Quality post.

 

[portlock seagull]

I can only conclude that what started out MANY YEARS AGO as a bit of banter and was ignored or responded to with humour has now become "an issue", this will now lead to more agressive chanting, angrier responses raising the whole issue to a point that I'll need to explain to my young boys what this is all about.

If we had ignored it in this first place it would have stopped.

Of course those that are complaining NEVER got involved in the 90's loads of money chants, never sung in your Palace slums, never questioned a referees honesty, never shouted personal abuse at a player linke dto any particular issue he's experienced, never .... you get the point.

Man Up indeed!

If we'd just given him Poland, I'm sure he'd not bothered us again...

 

[matthew]

Urghhh pisses me off, it's been going on for years and i find it funny. Mearly banter and we give them some back.

f*** off complaining about it, don't go to games if you don't like it. You didn't before.

 

[portlock seagull]

Urghhh pisses me off, it's been going on for years and i find it funny. Mearly banter and we give them some back.

f*** off complaining about it, don't go to games if you don't like it. You didn't before.

I've had plenty of other opportunities to "f*** off" following the Albion than this. In fact if a couple of thousand of us had done so in the late 90s we's possibly not have a club for you to add your ow so intelligent comments on. So I'll pass on your kind offer if that's ok?

Ever thought some people don't see this as banter? Football does say there's a zero tolerance of homophobic chanting. Sorry chum but you're onto a loser here and in the wrong century with such views!

 

[Grizz]

Really good, sensible and intelligent post. I have to admit that the chants have never bothered me and I have previously just thought of most of it as just "banter", however your post has genuinely made me think again. It is very easy for those that are not directly affected by something like this to just view others concerns as being "over reacting" or having "no sense of humour" but I have come to realise ( after reading your post and a few others recently posted) that it can have an effect on many people who do not view this as either acceptable or indeed humurous, regardless of their personal orientation. I for one WILL NOT join in with any response to the homophobic chanting in future.

Fair play mate, glad I posted it now.

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

Why do gays have to have a community, cant they live as normal people with everyone else?

what's normal ?

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

I've had plenty of other opportunities to "f*** off" following the Albion than this. In fact if a couple of thousand of us had done so in the late 90s we's possibly not have a club for you to add your ow so intelligent comments on. So I'll pass on your kind offer if that's ok?

Ever thought some people don't see this as banter? Football does say there's a zero tolerance of homophobic chanting. Sorry chum but you're onto a loser here and in the wrong century with such views!

he's entitled to his views as much as you are

 

[arfer guinness]

I think that you will find that we ALL live in communities of one sort or another. What do you mean by "normal people"

I am white, I don't live in a white community, I am hetrosexual, I don't live in a hetrosexual community, I am English, I don't live in an English community. I consider myself to be normal, I do not consider homosexuality to be normal. Why do gays, blacks, asians, and so many other races have to have communities, why cant everyone treat everyone the same without being in a bracket.

 

[Pbseagull]

I am white, I don't live in a white community, I am hetrosexual, I don't live in a hetrosexual community, I am English, I don't live in an English community. I consider myself to be normal, I do not consider homosexuality to be normal. Why do gays, blacks, asians, and so many other races have to have communities, why cant everyone treat everyone the same without being in a bracket.

Your views I'm afraid are far from normal, IMHO they just show you to be a small minded bigot, and a very sad individual.