Breakthriu in LGBT & Sports

[VictoriaVeil]

Today Jason Collins a 12 year Vet of the NBA came out...even his twin brother (who also played in the nba) didn't know.... Its another step peeps!

[dakota87]

On the one hand, I'm trying to figure out why this is such a big deal. In this day and age, most people know that there are gay people all over the place. Is it just because he plays pro ball? And I really don't get other players who'd have a problem with him. Why? On the local radio they were interviewing Brian Dawkins about the possibility of NFL players being gay and even Dawkins was tap dancing about the subject like it was some big taboo that NFL players might be gay and how awkward it would be in the locker room. Really?
One the other hand, seeing as so many people do think it's so odd that gay people might also be pro athletes I commend Jason Collins' courage to put it out there and confront the attitudes.

[TSPornFan]

I don't see this as a step. If someone who is better known and produced on the court came out as homosexual then this would have more meaning. I think this guy did this to keep a job in the NBA. He is a 34 year old unproductive player in the league. His time was up. Now he could have gave himself at least two more years.

[dderek123]

I think the more positive exposure the better.

[bluesoul]

yeah, but this guy won't get any favors from trannies now that he's announced to the world he's gay, so we chasers just need to continue to keep our mouths shut.

[robertlouis]

I don't see this as a step. If someone who is better known and produced on the court came out as homosexual then this would have more meaning. I think this guy did this to keep a job in the NBA. He is a 34 year old unproductive player in the league. His time was up. Now he could have gave himself at least two more years.

And there in a nutshell you have the primary reason why gay people in sport don't come out - fear.

When a soccer player in the UK, Justin Fashanu, came out in the 90s, he was hounded by the media and took his life in the end.

A rugby player, highly respected Welsh international, Gareth Thomas, came out after pressure from the tabloids and retired from the game shortly afterwards.

And just think of the crap that tennis players like Martina Navratilova and Amelie Mauresmo have had to take.

Let's face it, sport is one of the areas in society where gender prejudice remains tighter than in most and the US is no different from the UK, other than the ridiculous hold that religion in its narrowest and worst forms seems to have over vast swathes of American society.

It takes more than courage - if you're not careful it could become a death wish.

[dderek123]

yeah, but this guy won't get any favors from trannies now that he's announced to the world he's gay, so we chasers just need to continue to keep our mouths shut.

The goal is to be a 100% unclockable chaser. No one must know who we really are!

[bluesoul]

The goal is to be a 100% unclockable chaser. No one must know who we really are!

yeah. it's like fight club, without the soap, the witty dialogue and the fact that marla singer isn't as obsessed with us as we are with her.

[tranlove]

Good for Jason , I wish there were more male Athletes man enough to tell the world.

[MacShreach]

And there in a nutshell you have the primary reason why gay people in sport don't come out - fear.

When a soccer player in the UK, Justin Fashanu, came out in the 90s, he was hounded by the media and took his life in the end.

A rugby player, highly respected Welsh international, Gareth Thomas, came out after pressure from the tabloids and retired from the game shortly afterwards.

And just think of the crap that tennis players like Martina Navratilova and Amelie Mauresmo have had to take.

Let's face it, sport is one of the areas in society where gender prejudice remains tighter than in most and the US is no different from the UK, other than the ridiculous hold that religion in its narrowest and worst forms seems to have over vast swathes of American society.

It takes more than courage - if you're not careful it could become a death wish.

Extremely well put Robert. I remember the Fashanu story.

Interestingly there have been quite a number of TS sportswomen, and sports' governing bodies have already had to adapt their rules to accommodate that.

http://wgst303.wordpress.com/2013/03...als-in-sports/

This is an interesting article on a current story that really does pose challenging questions.