Homophobia In Sport: Most Fans 'would Welcome Gay Players' - Bbc Poll

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/37760114

Look at the size of this bloke....no wonder he hasn't had any trouble after coming out !

Lets hope others follow him....the days of bigotry are surely over now.

[naomi24]

1ozzy, why on earth would you expect me to object to my own answers? Your approval is neither required nor sought, but I would like to hope that people who do have a problem with me are man enough to tell me what that problem is. Clearly you aren't.

[-Talbot-]

Anything weird happening to anyone else on this thread?

[ummmm]

Yes, Talbot.

[-Talbot-]

Thank God I thought I was going bonkers.

[mikey4444]

Me too !

[ummmm]

Naomi - many of us are man enough to tell you what the problem is but it's off topic and a separate thread would be removed.

[jackthehat]

Simply kicking/throwing the ball around the pitch is no longer where a sportsman career begins and ends. There are the lucrative endorsements and sponsorship deals which can double/triple a players income....

It is very often the Bean-counters at these businesses who will advise that 'coming out' will damage their own brand and thus threaten to withdraw said endorsements/sponsorship.

You may feel that making 'coming out' some sort of declaration is unnecessary but it is a way of letting people around you that they'll not be seeing you with a woman on your arm any time soon/at the Christmas party/at a social event; telling people in advance can often stave off embarrassing, and therefore quite often hostile, situations.

It was widely trumpeted in the press at the end of the last football season that 2 'well-known' players would be coming-out before the new season kicked off.....it doesn't seem to have happened.

I am sure that the sports-watching public of the UK are able to watch a match without the sexuality of a player being the uppermost thing in their minds.

[naomi24]

ummmm, how very frustrating for you. You have my sympathy.

[Lunol]

"Most gay people have a decent gaydar."

Really? I know many gay friends and they prefer the Grindr app over gaydar

[Mamyalynne]

Ah but for most Gaydar is built in/natural.

I still find it astonishing that in 2016 anyone is remotely bothered about whether anyone is gay or not.

[ummmm]

Mamy - I think it says a lot about the person that's bothered.

[Lunol]

"I still find it astonishing that in 2016 anyone is remotely bothered about whether anyone is gay or not."

Me too as well as what colour someones skin is, what religion they are or where they stand on the social ladder but unfortunately there are some small minded stubborn people around who amazingly prefer to live in the 18th-19th century

[jno]

[i]as a heterosexual player I’d be reluctant to share changing facilities and showers with people who might take a fancy to me[i]

but why? I've shared changing rooms with people (of both sexes on occasion) for many years and couldn't care less. I'd be surprised if any had taken a fancy to me, but so what if they did?

[Old_Geezer]

"I've shared changing rooms with people (of both sexes on occasion)"

I had no idea that communal changing rooms for all were in existence. So why are males and females ever separated then ? Why not a free for all everywhere and unwanted attention not an issue ?

[ummmm]

Ditto, jno.

[Mamyalynne]

Jno, I've never quite understood the notion that gay people may leap on straight people in changing areas - it doesn't compute in my head at all.

[jno]

beats me, OG.

[Lunol]

Jno us women are more subtle as I have Lesbian friends who when in the sauna or hot tub seek eye contact, a smile before homing in.

My gay male friends who are pretty big chaps often joke about cornering a hetrosexual male in the sauna or bathtub or kissing and hugging in front of them and make bets to see how quick they can make the guy jump out or leave the steam room.

Childish I know, but that's these guys for you.

[ummmm]

OG - many pools have mixed changing rooms as well as segregated ones.