Homophobia in football

[anotherusedpage]

Ok, everyone in the footie fandom will have seen these already, but I link them here anyway.

On the plus side (and especially given that even Peter Tatchel writing for the New Statesman can't bring himself to call Simon Hughes by the b-word) News of the World here proove that they do at least know the word bisexual, and they're not afraid to use it.

And yes, it reads like fic. And yes, almost whichever players you substitute into that scenario, it makes very pretty head-pictures.

But then, you see, there is this.

In fic, I have taken this scenario and made it the start of a romance.

In real life... in real life, sometimes it feels like the biggots will always win.

Comments

[we-love-smudger.livejournal.com]

*sighs*

I know. Juxtapositioning from hell those two stories. One slightly jolly in a way, the other just depressing.

But still, to concentrate on the jolly for a moment....I have cast Eidur as Player B, yes. Dunno why as Jose likes to play him a striker currently, but the phone thing seemed to fit.

[anotherusedpage.livejournal.com]

*grin* that's such a lovely mental picture.

I'm trying to remember who the last phone-sex fic I read was about. I think it was JT and Frankie, though, and they're both capped england Names, so it doesn't quite fit.

[lucy-lupin.livejournal.com]

I'm not allowing myself to seriously speculate whether Sol is gay or not. It's not my business. I wish that people would just leave him alone.

[anotherusedpage.livejournal.com]

I have such mixed feelings over this one. The thing is, I would really, REALLY like for there to be an out gay footballer in the top flight. And I'd love for it to be Sol, and I'd love to be able to give my support to that. And more to the point, as a slasher, I'd love to know, y'know. I am curious.

I just... kinda don't want the rest of the world knowing at the moment.

And I don't think it's important, or at least I don't think it should be important. But on the other hand, right this moment in time it kinda is important, because of the visible absence of gay men in sport, and the visible presence of homophobia on the terraces.

[lucy-lupin.livejournal.com]

I just think that if there is a footballer contemplating coming out, it should be on their own terms rather than being forced out by the prejudiced jerks. I think if one does come out again, it will have to be someone with a large streak of arrogance who doesn't give a damn what anyone else thinks and Sol, sadly, does not have that arrogance. If he is gay, that is.

[anotherusedpage.livejournal.com]

Icon love!
And yes, I agree. *hugs poor Sol*

[anotherusedpage.livejournal.com]

Also, wasn't there something linking Sol to Elton John at some point in the recent past? Someone famous in the music industry...

[lucy-lupin.livejournal.com]

Some people are just sick. Fortunately the majority of my friends think the same way as the columnist in the second piece, and those who are erring towards homophobia do so in a more I-think-that-people-have-the-right-to-express-their-sexuality-but-I-don't-like-the-idea-of-my-own-gender-being-attracted-to-me than a all-gays-should-burn-in-hell way.

[anotherusedpage.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the vast majority of people I know are queer or queer-friendly, but then that's somewhat self-selecting. It's just... the silent majority of Nice Guys sometimes feel like they're being drowned out.

[lucy-lupin.livejournal.com]

In my experience a lot of people who feel nervous about the idea of homosexuality haven't had a lot of contact with gay people (well, at least not openly gay people) and, so long as they're reasonably open-minded to begin with, once they get that exposure they're fine. One of my friends in Brisbane once told me that she wouldn't sit at the same table at me if I brought a gay acquiantance of mine to the ball. The following year, she was bitching about how another gay guy we knew was too good for a guy he was interested in and what an arse the other guy was (talk about a turn-around). She once told me that moving to Brisbane was the first time she had come into contact with anyone other than heterosexuals and I think the gay men she met and was forced to like as people broadened her mind a lot.

[clumsytraveller.livejournal.com]

I'm sick at the thought this chat was sung at WHL. I love my team, just not some of the people who support them. That song is just as bad as when our opponents' supporters make the hissing noises reminiscent of gas chambers.

I dislike what the defender did to Tottenham and Spurs' supporters but the intensity of abuse leveled at him has gone way, way too far.

[clumsytraveller.livejournal.com]

*chant. this chant was sung.

[anotherusedpage.livejournal.com]

We all know that it's only a small majority of supporters, and I'd never hold it against the team...

[made-up.livejournal.com]

Good post. Especially given that the only out(ed) player ended up killing himself in a lock-up garage in South London (tho' there were other problems too).

My sources have whispered the names Jenas and Lampard. :) If only everybody would be as pleased and proud of them as us!

[anotherusedpage.livejournal.com]

Jenas and Lampard... interesting...

I'm just sitting here praying it's one of the Chelsea boys and not Sol, because it would be so nice if whoever it was ended up being properly outed they could actually cope with it and be all shiny-positive-role-model-y