broomhilljagsfan Posted February 16, 2013 Report Share Posted February 16, 2013 With the news of robbie Rodgers (ex Leeds Utd) coming out http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21479520 How would Thistle fans react if one of our players came out as gay? What if the opposition had a gay player? Most football fans seem to have got over shouting racial abuse at black players but calling someone a "poof" etc still seems acceptable. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twinny Posted February 16, 2013 Report Share Posted February 16, 2013 Really couldn't care less about players sexualities. If there are any players or fans who would be bothered if one of our players or an opposition player were gay, I'd rather they weren't associated with our club. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kni Posted February 16, 2013 Report Share Posted February 16, 2013 Gay footballers are probably afraid of the reaction of their team mates as much as the fans. Surveys suggest that 3 to 5% of the population are gay or bisexual so there must be a significant number of gay professional footballers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindau Posted February 16, 2013 Report Share Posted February 16, 2013 How would Thistle fans react if one of our players came out as gay? I would hit him with my handbag!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MWM Posted February 16, 2013 Report Share Posted February 16, 2013 Couldnt give a shite if a footballer is gay, whether he plays for us or otherwise. What annoys me though are people who go out of their way to be offended about it. It makes for good tv I guess, to pretend like theres some sort of crusade against blacks/gays etc. Just like the Sky tv documentary the other night. Five goons at Millwall shout racist abuse and suddenly we are being told its an issue which is destroying the game. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uberteeb Posted February 16, 2013 Report Share Posted February 16, 2013 Is this thread about Hugh Murray? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cup Posted February 16, 2013 Report Share Posted February 16, 2013 Couldnt give a shite if a footballer is gay, whether he plays for us or otherwise. What annoys me though are people who go out of their way to be offended about it. It makes for good tv I guess, to pretend like theres some sort of crusade against blacks/gays etc. Just like the Sky tv documentary the other night. Five goons at Millwall shout racist abuse and suddenly we are being told its an issue which is destroying the game. This times a million. It's not an issue until someone can use it to their advantage for some self promotion. This like racism will not be fixed by people constantly saying their is a difference between gay people and straight people. Don't feed the trolls! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MWM Posted February 16, 2013 Report Share Posted February 16, 2013 I mean look at that documentary the other night. They had to wheel out ******* Ugo Ehiogu who hasn't kicked a ball in years and he mentioned one incident from donkey's years ago where one single idiot gave him abuse at Grimsby, talk about straw clutching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Incognito Posted February 16, 2013 Report Share Posted February 16, 2013 Really couldn't care less about players sexualities. If there are any players or fans who would be bothered if one of our players or an opposition player were gay, I'd rather they weren't associated with our club. Couldn't have put it better myself. A man's sexuality is his business and his business alone. Gay footballers are probably afraid of the reaction of their team mates as much as the fans. Surveys suggest that 3 to 5% of the population are gay or bisexual so there must be a significant number of gay professional footballers. There probably are, but I don't think we should expect the number of gay footballers to exactly mirror the number of gay people in wider society. Gay people tend to be attracted to certain professions more than others, such as the performing arts or the fashion industry, where their sexuality is less of an issue. Football is still a very macho, overtly hetrosexual male arena in many respects, so I can understand why it might not 'do it' for them. Sadly, I don't think our society is at a point yet where gay footballers could be widely accepted, as ethnic minority players now are compared to a couple of decades ago. The 'hoors, poofs and junkies' and Jimmy Saville/Kevin Webster chants were plentiful both during and after today's game, often emanating from people well into adulthood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodstock Jag Posted February 16, 2013 Report Share Posted February 16, 2013 Gay people are put off football because it's still perceived to be hostile to gay people. It's not because it's macho. It's about how welcoming an environment it is. I'd like to think that if a Jag or any other player publicly "came out" (ridiculous though the situation is, it IS still taboo in football and we need to break that taboo) publicly, that it would either be treated either with indifference or appreciation and understanding. The point at which football can be said properly to have tackled this is the point at which it is thought unremarkable, and people feel genuinely indifferent across the sport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Santana Posted February 16, 2013 Report Share Posted February 16, 2013 Was there not a rumour about Escales? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaggy1967 Posted February 16, 2013 Report Share Posted February 16, 2013 Who really gives a feck ! Not having a go at the poster but in this day and age and all that, is this not old hat ? I was gobsmacked when I heard his reasons for chucking it ! Attention seeking in my opinion ! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1874tilpresent Posted February 16, 2013 Report Share Posted February 16, 2013 If a gay footballer played against us, he would get completely victimised. Absolutely nothing to do with sexuality though, just hoping it put him off. Any honest football fan would probably admit their team would also do this. If any Morton player came out saying they were gay, I'd be absolutely disgusted if any fans or colleagues had a problem with this. It's 2013 ffs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1874tilpresent Posted February 16, 2013 Report Share Posted February 16, 2013 I meant to add. That doesn't mean it's right - I'm just saying it's how football crowds seem to go about business. Unfortunately, slagging a gay player wouldn't bring arrests as such as would slagging an Asian or black player for beliefs or race or religion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaggy1967 Posted February 16, 2013 Report Share Posted February 16, 2013 If a gay footballer played against us, he would get completely victimised. Absolutely nothing to do with sexuality though, just hoping it put him off. Any honest football fan would probably admit their team would also do this. If any Morton player came out saying they were gay, I'd be absolutely disgusted if any fans or colleagues had a problem with this. It's 2013 ffs. As I said attention seeking ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1874tilpresent Posted February 16, 2013 Report Share Posted February 16, 2013 As I said attention seeking ! You'll probably get slated for your comment but I actually agree. It's not right to be slated for it but SURELY he knows what football crowds are like....if I was in a position where I was different I'd turn it into an advantage and probably wind people up. Football players need to be thick-skinned no matter their situation. It's a different world in football. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peagreenboy Posted February 16, 2013 Report Share Posted February 16, 2013 That doesn't mean it's right - I'm just saying it's how football crowds seem to go about business. Unfortunately, slagging a gay player wouldn't bring arrests as such as would slagging an Asian or black player for beliefs or race or religion. It's an interesting question. I'll shout myself hoarse calling players and referees names, and still remember getting a look of shock from Fat Sally McCoist when I yelled at him to eff off. So that's alright to me. But I know if I was in a crowd that started racist abuse I would leave immediately, and reconsider returning. And I'd do the same if it was homophobic. It's that fine line between what is acceptable and what isn't. This is an adult sport for adults to attend and the crowds reflect that. Old Firm fans are disparaged for being '90-minute bigots'. Chanting 'Greenock's a *****hole' is OK. There's a line of acceptability that everyone must choose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaggy1967 Posted February 16, 2013 Report Share Posted February 16, 2013 It's an interesting question. I'll shout myself hoarse calling players and referees names, and still remember getting a look of shock from Fat Sally McCoist when I yelled at him to eff off. So that's alright to me. But I know if I was in a crowd that started racist abuse I would leave immediately, and reconsider returning. And I'd do the same if it was homophobic. It's that fine line between what is acceptable and what isn't. This is an adult sport for adults to attend and the crowds reflect that. Old Firm fans are disparaged for being '90-minute bigots'. Chanting 'Greenock's a *****hole' is OK. There's a line of acceptability that everyone must choose. I agree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1874tilpresent Posted February 16, 2013 Report Share Posted February 16, 2013 (edited) It's an interesting question. I'll shout myself hoarse calling players and referees names, and still remember getting a look of shock from Fat Sally McCoist when I yelled at him to eff off. So that's alright to me. But I know if I was in a crowd that started racist abuse I would leave immediately, and reconsider returning. And I'd do the same if it was homophobic. It's that fine line between what is acceptable and what isn't. This is an adult sport for adults to attend and the crowds reflect that. Old Firm fans are disparaged for being '90-minute bigots'. Chanting 'Greenock's a *****hole' is OK. There's a line of acceptability that everyone must choose. You pretty much said what I was pathetically attempting to say. Football is a different sport in terms of 'banter' to other sports. Half the things spouted at football would cause an uproar in, Hockey, for example. It's way more aggressive and things are said by fans which they'de probably never say outside a football ground in their normal lives. Right or wrong? I'm not in a power to decide, but does it take away an atmospheric edge in football? Probably. As you said, it's a fine line between banter and prejudism/stereotyping et al. Edited February 16, 2013 by 1874tilpresent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lady-isobel-barnett Posted February 16, 2013 Report Share Posted February 16, 2013 Whether a footballer is gay or not means absolutely nothing to me. But I suppose we've all got our prejudices I've gotta admit to being very uncomfortable about cross dressing posters on this very site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Willjag Posted February 17, 2013 Members Report Share Posted February 17, 2013 Is this thread in reaction to the Morton half-time announcer yesterday saying Andy Ritchie used to hit bent shots??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kni Posted February 17, 2013 Report Share Posted February 17, 2013 (edited) Whether a footballer is gay or not means absolutely nothing to me. But I suppose we've all got our prejudices I've gotta admit to being very uncomfortable about cross dressing posters on this very site. No gays or cross-dressers on "What's My Line?" Edited February 17, 2013 by kni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lambies Lost Doo Posted February 18, 2013 Report Share Posted February 18, 2013 Couldn't have put it better myself. A man's sexuality is his business and his business alone. There probably are, but I don't think we should expect the number of gay footballers to exactly mirror the number of gay people in wider society. Gay people tend to be attracted to certain professions more than others, such as the performing arts or the fashion industry, where their sexuality is less of an issue. I understand the sentiment you are trying to make but this did make me chuckle as it's a bit David Brent from The Offfice. The perception of homosexuals are overtly effeminate is a hangover from prejudice from the past. I would not have a problem with a Thistle player being gay and I think the players after a bit of shock for some due to the macho culture you refered to would get on with it. It's a generational thing. However the fans would need to be educated as there would be a lot of abuse from the stands. I still hear a lot of "poof" and "gay boy" thrown at players who are injured. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Incognito Posted February 19, 2013 Report Share Posted February 19, 2013 I understand the sentiment you are trying to make but this did make me chuckle as it's a bit David Brent from The Offfice. The perception of homosexuals are overtly effeminate is a hangover from prejudice from the past. I would not have a problem with a Thistle player being gay and I think the players after a bit of shock for some due to the macho culture you refered to would get on with it. It's a generational thing. However the fans would need to be educated as there would be a lot of abuse from the stands. I still hear a lot of "poof" and "gay boy" thrown at players who are injured. Where did I say - or even imply - that homosexuals are overtly effeminate? Unless, of course, you regard the myriad of jobs that make up the fashion and performing arts industries to be synonymous with effeminacy, as that particular fictional TV character probably would. FWIW, I know of plenty of straight men who been employed or trained in both industries, as well as a disproportionate number of gay men. One the other hand, of the dozens of gay men I have met over the years, with one exception, none have shown an interest in football most probably for many of the reasons already discussed. If that is in any way typical then it has to have an effect on the number of gay professional footballers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p.stromso Posted February 19, 2013 Report Share Posted February 19, 2013 I think it's brave to come out whilst you're still playing, fair play to the lad. But if more ex pro's come out even after retiring, it will still create a slightly better environment for those players in the game who may feel they can do the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.