Breakthriu in LGBT & Sports

[robertlouis]

While I agree with the overall gist of what you are saying - I think it's much harder to come out in a team sport...and I think it's probably much harder for men than women.
I don't really see too many ways that coming out in a sport like tennis will affect an athlete, anymore so than anyone else coming out... in any walk of life.(I doubt it hurt Navratilova's career all that much)

Maybe didn't hurt Martina's career too much, but she had to deal with all kinds of hate from the media and anti-gay groups, and both she and Mauresmo faced attacks from other female players that their lesbian nature somehow gave them male characteristics in their play and an unfair advantage, a hideous confusion of gender politics and gender reality.

And my point is that it still goes on - sport lies way behind many other areas of society, when it could do so much good by becoming more progressive in its attitudes and showing the way.

[TSPornFan]

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.

You misunderstood my comments. An unknown player who has been unproductive came out as homosexual. He is 34 years old and is at the end of his career. He will also be a free agent this summer. Coming out as a homosexual has put pressure on teams to give this man a job. If this man is not in the league next year then that could give the league public backlash. The league would be accused of discrimination.

[BluegrassCat]

You misunderstood my comments. An unknown player who has been unproductive came out as homosexual. He is 34 years old and is at the end of his career. He will also be a free agent this summer. Coming out as a homosexual has put pressure on teams to give this man a job. If this man is not in the league next year then that could give the league public backlash. The league would be accused of discrimination.

If he's unknown to you, you don't follow the NBA. Don't confuse your ignorance with ulterior motives on his part.

[luvs2lick1385]

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

Dderek:

I agree. As far as my secret life is concerned my motto is "If more than one person knows your secret, it's not a secret anymore". NO ONE knows my secret desires

[Ben]

Obama: 'Couldn't Be Prouder' of Jason Collins:

[dderek123]

Dderek:

I agree. As far as my secret life is concerned my motto is "If more than one person knows your secret, it's not a secret anymore". NO ONE knows my secret desires

This is awkward. I actually wrote that comment as a joke. There should be a sarcasm emoticon on here. I can definitely see the benefit of keeping a trans attraction a secret and especially if it is only a fetish. I'm sure the people that suck on toes don't feel the need to tell everyone whose toe they have sucked or would like to suck. What people do in the bedroom is their business. Just have your fun and stay safe and everyone will be happy.

But when in a relationship I think it's ideal to accept your partner for who they are, who they've been and who they will be. If that doesn't happen then it would be a major obstacle for building trust. And if you can't build trust your relationship isn't one. If someone is really going to be a part of your life then the other important people in your life will and should know about it.

[MacShreach]

You misunderstood my comments. An unknown player who has been unproductive came out as homosexual. He is 34 years old and is at the end of his career. He will also be a free agent this summer. Coming out as a homosexual has put pressure on teams to give this man a job. If this man is not in the league next year then that could give the league public backlash. The league would be accused of discrimination.

Gosh that's taking conspiracy theory a bit far, isn't it?

[MacShreach]

This is awkward. I actually wrote that comment as a joke. There should be a sarcasm emoticon on here. I can definitely see the benefit of keeping a trans attraction a secret and especially if it is only a fetish. I'm sure the people that suck on toes don't feel the need to tell everyone whose toe they have sucked or would like to suck. What people do in the bedroom is their business. Just have your fun and stay safe and everyone will be happy.

But when in a relationship I think it's ideal to accept your partner for who they are, who they've been and who they will be. If that doesn't happen then it would be a major obstacle for building trust. And if you can't build trust your relationship isn't one. If someone is really going to be a part of your life then the other important people in your life will and should know about it.

If it's a fantasy, I think you're right...men are far more sexually adventurous in their heads than most are in life. Conflicting priorities like work, family, responsibilities etc keep most males' fetishes secret, and really there is no more need to spread the word that you jack to TS porn than that you've got a terabyte or so of GG porn in that there password-protected, encrypted partition. Fantasy is fantasy and it should stay that way.

As soon as someone else's emotionsare involved it's a totally different thing, as you also say. There are a lot of men who 'date transsexuals' but who are NEVER going to tell their families or be seen in public. That's not fair. I actually think that a lot of the resentment towards 'chasers' by transwomen is not only because of the interest in the cock but because of all the other stuff--like not going out together in public, home to meet the family, kids, parents, buddies, whatever.

[sucka4chix]

This is such a non story. The guy is basically irrelevant in the NBA (averaged less than 2pts) and basically unknown outside of that. Yea he told everyone he's gay. First of all it's nobody's business, but second of all nobody cares what Jason Collins is doing. Now he's famous...just by sharing his sexual preference. I compare this to Dennis Rodman.
When Kobe announces he's gay, then it'll be a step towards something. I don't know what, but something. This guy said in an article on ESPN.COM. that the US is ready. Read the comments that followed and get back to me. This gets a big MEH from me.

[SpoogeMonkey]

You misunderstood my comments. An unknown player who has been unproductive came out as homosexual. He is 34 years old and is at the end of his career. He will also be a free agent this summer. Coming out as a homosexual has put pressure on teams to give this man a job. If this man is not in the league next year then that could give the league public backlash. The league would be accused of discrimination.

Totally spot on brother.

this puffter only dreams of a career now as a GAY basketball player. His career as a Basketball player, who just happened to be a gay, is over. He'll play the pink dollar with either "Coming out killed my career", or he'll appear in tears on every single talk show and then blog, then form a group, then do everything else but actually play basketball. He'll be a celebrity queen,.. or made into one. When somebody people have heard of comes out he'll be claiming its because he did it first.. etc etc....

Robbie Rogers the shit US footballer (soccer for you rimtards who think throwing a ball to cunts in pads is 'foot'ball) stopped playing at 25 because he came out. You think if Lionel Messi told the world he liked sucking man cock he'd not have a career any longer? Fuck off...

This is a cynical move designed to elongate a shit career.