Breakthriu in LGBT & Sports

[MacShreach]

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

hahaha are you on the piss tonight?...it's only Monday ffs

[Dino Velvet]

Good for him. I don't know much about basketball but I bet he gets more rebounds next year. Possible success all the way around.

[Ben]

Jason Collins comes out – and clubs and players show their support

Kobe Bryant and Billie-Jean King among those to offer words of praise after Washington Wizards center announced he was gay:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013...ut-gay-support

[dderek123]

hahaha are you on the piss tonight?...it's only Monday ffs

Hahaha yeah I am. And I'm watching Man vs Food episodes on youtube. I'm a wild and crazy guy!

[VictoriaVeil]

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.

HELLZZ YEA

[Ben]

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.

Not only in sport. But fear stops a lot of people from coming out. I mean, everyone wants to belong. People, especially gay men (who are not out of the closet), are afraid of being isolated, of losing friends and family. It isn't easy for anyone.
But, of course, sports has the machismo aspect to it.

[robertlouis]

Not only in sport. But fear stops a lot of people from coming out. I mean, everyone wants to belong. People, especially gay men (who are not out of the closet), are afraid of being isolated, of losing friends and family. It isn't easy for anyone.
But, of course, sports has the machismo aspect to it.

Yes. It's hardly a breakthrough, but it is an encouraging sign.

And not helped, frankly, by a poster here belittling the courage that it must have taken for the guy to come out, by suggesting he was only doing it because his career was over the hill. Shame on you.

[VictoriaVeil]

its ok if franklin thinks this was done as a publicity stunt. he has the right to be wrong. Personally I prefer to look for the good in a moment like this as it provides strength for the fearful and so much more.

[fred41]

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.

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)

[fred41]

On a lighter note...there are probably some sports where no one bats an eye if an athlete comes out -
male figure skating anyone?