Sky Blue Pete
Well-Known Member
You’re absolutely right it shouldn’t matter but it does to so many
Gay Footballers (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter skybluesam66
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rob9872
Well-Known Member
You're right, but without the first nothing can follow. It's a bit like the first female ref, pundit or the first black, player, coach etc and a pioneer to pave the way so that it can become more representative. You only have to look at the Speedie thread to see how women in the game are still perceived. It will eventually evolve over time as it did with black footballers and as it will do eventually with gay footballers, but until it does happen then it can't move forward.
TomRad85
Well-Known Member
Maybe there are footballers already 'out'. Out to their families, their friends... that have absolutely no interest in being unmasked in a tacky newspaper like some novelty act. I'm not sure who the hell would want the whole country knowing their business, I know I wouldn't.
Brave of you to air this opinion mind you, Hill will rock up and call you a twat soon then pretend to get some fan mail.
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hill83
Well-Known Member
Pretend. There quiet people on here who think you are a bit of a dick, don’t know what else to tell you.
State of your new profile picture as well. Though you were above all this?
Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
There have been in the past, from the sorry tale of Fashanu to more recent examples in Tomas Hitzlsperger.
TomRad85
Well-Known Member
Likewise you mate. There's quite a few people who've noticed you aren't the nice guy you portray when the mask slips. I guess you aren't what you think you are... ironic.
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hill83
Well-Known Member
I don’t pretend to be anything I’m not. I’ve been pissing about arguing on here since 2008 ha ha.
Surprised you haven’t suggested I’m not mentally stable yet.
Grendel
Well-Known Member
I got rammed from behind by Justin Fashanu once
rob9872
Well-Known Member
Was Hitzlesperger still playing here though? Could be wrong but I thought we were still waiting on the first active player - ideally Premiership almost to make a statement. A bit chicken and egg I guess with being secretive, but perhaps would be nice if a bunch announced it together in the way the guys bravely did with Barry Bennel and then others would likely follow more quickly.
TomRad85
Well-Known Member
No I think you're mentally stable, I just think you're a hypocrite.
I guess we both have people that think we're twats though so not much else to say really.
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NorthernWisdom
Well-Known Member
Fashanu was active.
It’s 30 years since Justin Fashanu came out as gay
He was the world’s first openly gay professional footballer
www.petertatchellfoundation.org
hill83
Well-Known Member
Then we both think each other are hypocrites. Might as well leave it. Wrong thread anyway.
TomRad85
Well-Known Member
hill83
Well-Known Member
Fashanu was active.
It’s 30 years since Justin Fashanu came out as gay
He was the world’s first openly gay professional footballer
Before my time. I’m sure I can guess, but what was the general reaction to this?
Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
The former England women's captain did it while still playing, as well as Fashanu.
Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
He wasn't helped by his manager being Brian Clough who was shall we say not very sympathetic.
rob9872
Well-Known Member
I was only quite young but tbh I only knew about him from that goal that was always on the start of Match of the day (absolute Worldie for Norwich) then the next I heard he was arrested for a misunderstanding in USA and then committed suicide. I thought lots came to the fore after his death and dont remember being too much about it before but then I guess I wasnt reading tabloids as a kid.
NorthernWisdom
Well-Known Member
The saddest bits are John Fashanu, his brother, trying to pay him to stop him from coming out and disowning him, and Brian Clough calling him a bloody poof.
I'd like to think (hope!) things have moved on, but given that's the first one, who'd want to stick their head above the parapet after that?
Marty
Well-Known Member
I'm sure that most/all gay footballers are out to family and friends. But like you say, it's none of our business and I wouldn't want my private life plastered all over the news either. So why do people expect footballers to do that very thing. Find it all a bit odd really.
hill83
Well-Known Member
I’ve read the article now. Horrible read that is.
rob9872
Well-Known Member
Tbf that's changed the other way I think where women's football particularly after the 2012 olympics is now much more mainstream. The assumption rightly or wrongly was that it was more of a surprise if you were't gay or at least that's how it was perceived.
Grendel
Well-Known Member
It was all pretty torrid to be honest. His brother paid him to try and prevent him from coming out which he did anyway so he would not speak to him again. Justin was constantly seen around Nottingham in the early 80's propositioning men in gay bars and Brian Clough - who was pissed all the time - I think once called the police to eject him from the training ground
Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
She did it in 2014
rob9872
Well-Known Member
NorthernWisdom
Well-Known Member
It's a story worth checking, though. Here's another good article on him.
'He had some demons but I think you have to put the whole story into perspective'
It’s 20 years since Justin Fashanu died by suicide.
www.the42.ie
Complex character, he was. Not always nice, it would seem - but you also have to put things in context too.
hill83
Well-Known Member
I don’t think there is an expectation for a footballer to do it. But coming out is a thing, so for me it’s more a shame that footballers feel like they can’t come out and have to hide who they are. It’s all individual choice. Ideally none of this would matter at all.
Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
There is also of course the referee who came out this month
The LGBT Sport Podcast - The One with James Adcock - BBC Sounds
The LGBT Sport Podcast - The One with James Adcock - BBC Sounds
hill83
Well-Known Member
Anyone going to do an unfortunate surname joke?
Grendel
Well-Known Member
He ran into a car I was in in 1982 - he and his masseur - he had a very long sheepskin coat on it was all very strange
Liquid Gold
Well-Known Member
I'm hopeful that someone comes out soon. It's not that I give a shit what people do in their bedroom it's that I feel sad that our national sport has such toxicity around it people can't be honest about who they are.
Once one goes I think we'll see a domino effect and a few do it out of solidarity/relief. Homophobia will probably be more visible for a while but that means we can actually target and eradicate it.
Once one goes I think we'll see a domino effect and a few do it out of solidarity/relief. Homophobia will probably be more visible for a while but that means we can actually target and eradicate it.
Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
G has already made the risqué comment a few posts up
Sky_Blue_Dreamer
Well-Known Member
Sadly the first few, and the first especially, would become of massive media interest and even more sadly some form of abuse. But unfortunately it needs to happen for us to reach that stage where it no longer becomes an issue.
Hopefully we will see the day when a footballer reveals they're gay and the response is
Even better will be when they won't even need to reveal their sexuality. They will just be able to go places with their partner and no-one will care.
Hopefully we will see the day when a footballer reveals they're gay and the response is
Even better will be when they won't even need to reveal their sexuality. They will just be able to go places with their partner and no-one will care.
Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
Sadly the first few, and the first especially, would become of massive media interest and even more sadly some form of abuse. But unfortunately it needs to happen for us to reach that stage where it no longer becomes an issue.
Hopefully we will see the day when a footballer reveals they're gay and the response is
Even better will be when they won't even need to reveal their sexuality. They will just be able to go places with their partner and no-one will care.
That’s how it already is in Brighton. Just people allowed to be themselves
TomRad85
Well-Known Member
That day could be today if people wanted it to be but everyone seems determined that some poor sap gets dragged through the press.
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