Anti-homophobia campaign fails to attract a single gay footballer.

MrStuffins

Article:

The makers of an educational DVD that aims to raise awareness of homophobia in football have expressed their frustration at not being able to secure the support of a gay Premier League player they asked to take part in the film.
In the 13 years since Justin Fashanu killed himself, having become the UK's first openly gay footballer in 1990, no player has followed in his footsteps and come out. But Ged Grebby, chief executive of the Show Racism the Red Card, claims to know of "several gay Premier League players" and had hoped that one would appear in Homophobia: Let's Tackle It!

"We approached him thorough a third party and felt quite confident of getting him involved [in the DVD]. But he ultimately refused. There is a log jam in regards to this issue, a final taboo which, in the short term at least, does not appear close to breaking. We're certainly not going to out anyone against their will but, at the same time, getting gay footballers involved would make a big difference in tackling this issue."
Grebby's frustration extends to being unable even to get recognisable, straight Premier League players involved in Show Racism's film, a problem that has also been faced by the Football Association. Last year, the governing body had to cancel its campaign video against homophobia after the high-profile players they had hoped would front the film refused to take part. This led to the production of a more generic video, which has appeared on YouTube.

"We have a dedicated plan for tackling homophobia and continue to work with a range of bodies in making the game accessible to everyone," an FA spokesman said.
One of those bodies is the Professional Footballers' Association and, defending the refusal of its members to take part in the FA's film, the PFA chief executive, Gordon Taylor, suggested that post-Fashanu, and despite its increasingly diverse nature, British football remains too hostile a territory for players to even associate themselves with homosexuality. "It would be unfair to ask an individual to back a campaign like this in case they got targeted by crowds," Taylor said. "It's a macho environment and we believe the time would be more appropriate when crowds are more civilised."

Grebby said: "Homophobic chanting undoubtedly remains a major issue at grounds across this country. I've heard mums and dads shouting while their kids are sat next to them. It's shocking and it would require a brave player, gay or straight, who has put up with that to speak out. But we're not going to truly resolve this issue until someone does just that."
Show Racism's film, which will be distributed to schools nationwide this year with the aim of raising awareness of the issue and encouraging more players to come out, contains testimonies from openly gay sportsmen such as the former Wales rugby union captain Gareth Thomas and the Irish hurler Donal Cusack. It also features prominent figures from British football, such as the Scotland manager, Craig Levein, Charlton's Chris Powell, as well as the Burnley and Millwall defenders Clarke Carlisle and Darren Purse. Their message, just like that of Thomas and Cusack, is clear: homosexuality is nothing to be ashamed of. "I'd fully support any [homosexual player] at my club," Powell says in the film. "It's a part of life and everyone involved in our sport – players, staff and supporters – should recognise that."

Homophobia: Let's Tackle It! has received the support of the Justin Campaign, the organisation named after the forward which has since 2008 – a decade after his death – fought to raise awareness of homophobia in football. For its co-founder, Paul Windsor, a key element of the film is the testimony of Anton Hysen, the son of the former Liverpool and Sweden defender Glenn, who came out in March. The 20-year-old plays for the Swedish fourth division side Utsiktens BK and says he "couldn't care less" about people's negative reaction to his sexuality.

"Anton's decision to come out has generally been well received in Sweden. This is hugely significant, as was the positive reaction Steven Davies, the England cricketer, got when he did the same," Windsor said. "These are young guys who should be competing for years to come. They will show others that you can come out and still have a career in sport, that, as was the case with Justin, it does not have to spell the beginning of the end."

As a human being, I feel it's ridiculous that a gay man has to hide his sexuality if he happens to be a top footballer. I mean, it's 2011 for God sake!


I understand the sentiments behind this, they probably don't want to receive abuse at the hands of the fans, they think it might alienate their collegues etc.


But footballers face abuse from the touchline all the time. You only have to be a part of the opposing team to receive abuse.


As far as their collegues go, I honestly don't think that in, for example, the Premier League nowadays, such multi-cultural squads are really going to care whether one of their team mates is gay or not.


it's a tough subject, but I think that it's very important for that first step, a high profile footballer stepping up and saying "Right lads, i'm gay!". I think it will lead to other gay footballers following suit and the day will come pretty soon where people are looking back and saying "Wow, it was only X amount of years ago when the first Top FLight footballer came out? it's so normal now".

So what says you? Do you think a Premier League footballer would be increeibly brave to step up? Do you think they would be incredibly stupid?

cournioni

MrStuffins wrote: »

Article:




As a human being, I feel it's ridiculous that a gay man has to hide his sexuality if he happens to be a top footballer. I mean, it's 2011 for God sake!


I understand the sentiments behind this, they probably don't want to receive abuse at the hands of the fans, they think it might alienate their collegues etc.


But footballers face abuse from the touchline all the time. You only have to be a part of the opposing team to receive abuse.


As far as their collegues go, I honestly don't think that in, for example, the Premier League nowadays, such multi-cultural squads are really going to care whether one of their team mates is gay or not.


it's a tough subject, but I think that it's very important for that first step, a high profile footballer stepping up and saying "Right lads, i'm gay!". I think it will lead to other gay footballers following suit and the day will come pretty soon where people are looking back and saying "Wow, it was only X amount of years ago when the first Top FLight footballer came out? it's so normal now".

So what says you? Do you think a Premier League footballer would be increeibly brave to step up? Do you think they would be incredibly stupid?

What I don't get is why anybody gives a damn. You don't have to broadcast your private life to anyone. You don't see heterosexuals coming out and saying, "I'm hetero". Who gives a toss? A persons business is a persons business.

GavRedKing

As sad as it is, the amount of abuse a gay footballer would get from grounds up and down the country would be just a mess. The F.A. could introduce tough measures, fines, ground closures, point deductions.

To be honest, if a footballer came out and said they we're gay it wouldnt effect me either way, what the indivuals get upto on their personal life is no concern of mine anyway.

MrStuffins

cournioni wrote: »

What I don't get is why anybody gives a damn. You don't have to broadcast your private life to anyone. You don't see heterosexuals coming out and saying, "I'm hetero". Who gives a toss? A persons business is a persons business.

Because homophobia exists, just like racism.The only difference is, you can't hide your black skin, you can't hide the differences with race.

It's quite obvious that homophobia is ever present in football because at the moment, if i'm not mistaken, there is only 1 openly gay professional footballer in the world.

The reason you don't get heterosexuals coming out and admitting it would be pretty obvious i'd have thought. It's seen at the default sexuality and there is no prejudice against it.

And I agree with your last statement, a person's business is their business. Which is why homophobia doesn't make sense.

IvySlayer

Why should people be forced to reveal what bus they are on? A footballer won't wanna say it, imagine the press coverage he'll get. Who would want that attention?

It's not that people are homophobic, anything unique about a player will be sang about...

MrStuffins

gavredking wrote: »

As sad as it is, the amount of abuse a gay footballer would get from grounds up and down the country would be just a mess. The F.A. could introduce tough measures, fines, ground closures, point deductions.

To be honest, if a footballer came out and said they we're gay it wouldnt effect me either way, what the indivuals get upto on their personal life is no concern of mine anyway.

Agreed, but I think if one player was to come out, it would encourage others to come out. It's a big deal now because nobody has yet stepped up. But after someone does, nobody will care anymore. Didn't black players get stick at first in England? who cares about that today? Sure you get the odd couple of idiots, but nothing like back then.

And that's what it could be like for gay men in football.

Scuba Ste

cournioni wrote: »

What I don't get is why anybody gives a damn. You don't have to broadcast your private life to anyone. You don't see heterosexuals coming out and saying, "I'm hetero". Who gives a toss? A persons business is a persons business.

You don't have to hide it either though.

It would be incredibly brave for any footballer to do it, but i doubt most would want the responsibility of being the poster boy for gay footballers. It's an added pressure that most could do without.

MrStuffins

IvySlayer wrote: »

Why should people be forced to reveal what bus they are on? A footballer won't wanna say it, imagine the press coverage he'll get. Who would want that attention?

It's not that people are homophobic, anything unique about a player will be sang about...

There are plenty of footballers who love attention.

I mean, rugby player Gareth Thomas came out a couple of years back, he appeared on all the top TV chat shows, he's now having a Hollywood movie made of his life starring Russell Crowe!

Mr. Presentable

MrStuffins wrote: »

[Article[/URL]:







it's a tough subject, but I think that it's very important for that first step, a high profile footballer stepping up and saying "Right lads, i'm gay!". I think it will lead to other gay footballers following suit and the day will come pretty soon where people are looking back and saying "Wow, it was only X amount of years ago when the first Top FLight footballer came out? it's so normal now".

So what says you? Do you think a Premier League footballer would be increeibly brave to step up? Do you think they would be incredibly stupid?

A top flight footballer has already come out - read your reference article. And, despite the oft quoted stat that one in six is gay (2 per match squad) there hasn't been a flood of honesty. Why? Because the fans are often ignorant animals

GavRedKing

MrStuffins wrote: »

Agreed, but I think if one player was to come out, it would encourage others to come out. It's a big deal now because nobody has yet stepped up. But after someone does, nobody will care anymore. Didn't black players get stick at first in England? who cares about that today? Sure you get the odd couple of idiots, but nothing like back then.

And that's what it could be like for gay men in football.

I think for any footballer to come out it would be after their career has finished, it takes a strong individual to stand up and come out in normal circumstances because of homophobia and I cant see anyone coming out in the near future.

Now, if someone does come out I'll applaud them as thats their choice and they could, as you say, become an example, a leading light for others to come out and feel comfortable enough to do so.

MrStuffins

Mr. Presentable wrote: »

A top flight footballer has already come out - read your reference article. And, despite the oft quoted stat that one in six is gay (2 per match squad) there hasn't been a flood of honesty. Why? Because the fans are often ignorant animals

What's with the attitude?

The article refeences 2 gay footballers. Justin Fashanu who wasn't a top flight footballer when he came out, and Anton Hysen who plays in the Swedish 4th division. Can you point out the gay top flight footballer to me? I must keep missing him. it IS early in the morning after all.

JerryHandbag

Really difficult to see a footballer come out in the near future, which is sad. Just look at the flak Graeme Le Saux used to get from fans AND players alike, and he wasn't even gay FFS.

MrStuffins

JerryHandbag wrote: »

Really difficult to see a footballer come out in the near future, which is sad. Just look at the flak Graeme Le Saux used to get from fans AND players alike, and he wasn't even gay FFS.

Thing is though, Le Saux got stick because it was suspected latent homosexuality.

I think if a footballer came out it takes away some of the power of the fans and players to give stick I think.

all personal lives should be kept out of football, be it gay be it straight .

JerryHandbag

MrStuffins wrote: »

Thing is though, Le Saux got stick because it was suspected latent homosexuality.

If I remember right it was because he read broadsheets and not tabloids, he either painted art/collected art (cant remember which) and generally enjoyed some of the finer things in life. Fair enough I can see why he would get stick, its not typical laddish behaviour and its probably typical of society as a whole, the reaction to it that is.

Thats over 10 years ago though, it would be nice to think things have moved on since then but I doubt it has.

MrStuffins

Deleted User wrote: »

all personal lives should be kept out of football, be it gay be it straight .

Indeed. But we live in a world where that doesn't happen.

MrStuffins

JerryHandbag wrote: »

Thats over 10 years ago though, it would be nice to think things have moved on since then but I doubt it has.

And i think a major step in moving on would be if gay footballers came out. Only then can it become the norm for a footballer to be openly gay in the dressing room from the begining to the end of his career.

Gone Drinking

MrStuffins wrote: »

There is a log jam in regards to this issue

I laughed

dsmythy

If he could come out without there being a media furore over it then maybe. But it would be all over the papers and he would immediately become an 'icon' to homosexuality in football. It's impossible to come out and just say alright leave it at that and let's move on.

homerjay2005

bla bla bla, alot of things are not right in football. a few gay footballers keeping their private lives to themselves is not exactly up there on the list of fundemental flaws in the game.

its the football society, people make fun of players personal lives. giggs has songs sung about his affair, ashley cole, john terry, steven gerrard, etc etc etc etc...they are not right and neither would singing songs about gays, but it happens and will continue to happen and well, thats life..

2011 my b*llix, you cant change the way people are supposed to think about certain things.

Paparazzo

I don't think the crowd would be an issue. It's how team mates behaved that's the worry. If a player came out as gay and he had homophobic chants from the crowd, he could easily ask the fa to investigate it and the club would be punished the same way if it was a racist chant.

MrStuffins

dsmythy wrote: »

If he could come out without there being a media furore over it then maybe. But it would be all over the papers and he would immediately become an 'icon' to homosexuality in football. It's impossible to come out and just say alright leave it at that and let's move on.

I reckon that's why they are waiting. Once the first one comes out and all eyes are on him, the 2nd and 3rd will not be under so much pressure.

homerjay2005 wrote: »

2011 my b*llix, you cant change the way people are supposed to think about certain things.

*facepalm*

Yes you can! It's called education.

Also, it's moving with the times. There was a time in America when black people were completely segregated from society. Not anymore. its called progression. And society has progressed far enough in 2011 that if you are a gay accountant, or a gay shopkeeper, or a gay musician, nobody gives a f*ck!

So why should gay footballer be any different?

homerjay2005

an other valid argument, is maybe there are not actually that many gay lads playing top level football???

i dont know a huge amount of gays, but for the ones i do, none of them play football or any sports. i am sure there are exceptions of course, but you could be talking about 10 gays in the PL out of 500+ players.

MrStuffins wrote: »

Yes you can! It's called education.

Also, it's moving with the times. There was a time in America when black people were completely segregated from society. Not anymore. its called progression. And society has progressed far enough in 2011 that if you are a gay accountant, or a gay shopkeeper, or a gay musician, nobody gives a f*ck!

So why should gay footballer be any different?

are people not entitled to their own opinions without being told what they have to accept? i have no problems with gays, 2 of my missus mates are gays and it doesnt bother me. i treat them no differently, but a huge % of the population have a problem with it, as it is seen as not normal so to speak, in many peoples eyes. sport has a cruel attitude and there is no place to hide, not just for gays, so i dont think they are being singled out at all.

Paparazzo

homerjay2005 wrote: »

bla bla bla,
2011 my b*llix, you cant change the way people are supposed to think about certain things.

Just as well we don't all have that attitude or monkey chants at black players would still be the norm

MrStuffins

homerjay2005 wrote: »

an other valid argument, is maybe there are not actually that many gay lads playing top level football???

i dont know a huge amount of gays, but for the ones i do, none of them play football or any sports. i am sure there are exceptions of course, but you could be talking about 10 gays in the PL out of 500+ players.

That's very valid of course. It could be 10, it could be 5, it could be 50!

But that still means 100% of gay Premier League footballers have not come out.

homerjay2005

MrStuffins wrote: »

That's very valid of course. It could be 10, it could be 5, it could be 50!

But that still means 100% of gay Premier League footballers have not come out.

and what is the problem with that? how many footballer have freely come out and said they love orgies with models and sniff cocaine every day, or are alcoholics or gamblers and have a problem??? its their private lives, why do they need to tell people something that will make headlines? people dont need to know and that should never change...

and likewise, maybe there are no gay footballers in the PL.

Gone Drinking

They'd probably be more open about it if there was Pay-as-you're-gay contracts

Leiva

Paparazzo wrote: »

I don't think the crowd would be an issue. It's how team mates behaved that's the worry. If a player came out as gay and he had homophobic chants from the crowd, he could easily ask the fa to investigate it and the club would be punished the same way if it was a racist chant.

Ahh come on .

50,000 people singing nasty homophobic chants is bound to have an effect on your game .

Yes the FA could take action but i dont think it would stop the masses .
I dont think any player would wanna come out (yet) and be a trailblazer in this area at risk of destroying their confidence and already short football career .

Cause thats the risk IMO .

MrStuffins

homerjay2005 wrote: »

and what is the problem with that? how many footballer have freely come out and said they love orgies with models and sniff cocaine every day, or are alcoholics or gamblers and have a problem??? its their private lives, why do they need to tell people something that will make headlines? people dont need to know and that should never change...

and likewise, maybe there are no gay footballers in the PL.

Quite a few actually! And why would you equate having "a problem" with being gay? Being gay isn't a problem!

The difference is, the ladish culture of football does not look down on any of the things you have mentioned. I bet that if footballers are having orgies with models and gambling, their team mates know about it.

But their team mates don't know they're gay.

Also, there are gay footballers in the Premier League. The head of Give Racism the Red Card has confirmed it, but they don't want to come out.

homerjay2005

hang on hang on, why would the fa get involved in chants against gays and not get involved in chants about people who decided to have s*x with somebody who is not their partner?

neither are right, but this " the fa can investigate" is just nonsense....if they had issues with this, then they would have to stop every offensive player chant in the game

MrStuffins

mixednuts wrote: »

Ahh come on .

50,000 people singing nasty homophobic chants is bound to have an effect on your game .

Yes the FA could take action but i dont think it would stop the masses .
I dont think any player would wanna come out (yet) and be a trailblazer in this area at risk of destroying their confidence and already short football career .

Cause thats the risk IMO .

Well the crowd would be a problem but, again, in football all you need to be is a member of the opposite team and you get called "W*nker" and all sorts of names from grown men who bring their children to games.

Football stick has to be taken with a pinch of salt though. I doubt footballers go home and cry and think to themselves "It's true, I really do ****! Oh the shame!"

MrStuffins

homerjay2005 wrote: »

hang on hang on, why would the fa get involved in chants against gays and not get involved in chants about people who decided to have s*x with somebody who is not their partner?
neither are right, but this " the fa can investigate" is just nonsense....if they had issues with this, then they would have to stop every offensive player chant in the game

No they wouldn't, because adultery is not covered under any discrimination legislation!

Crazy Horse 6

Deleted User wrote: »

all personal lives should be kept out of football, be it gay be it straight .

In the real world that's just not possible.

Paparazzo

mixednuts wrote: »

Ahh come on .

50,000 people singing nasty homophobic chants is bound to have an effect on your game .

Yes the FA could take action but i dont think it would stop the masses .
I dont think any player would wanna come out (yet) and be a trailblazer in this area at risk of destroying their confidence and already short football career .

Cause thats the risk IMO .

If that did happen (dont think it would) then there next game is played behind closed doors.

leggo

Shocked there's any opposition to the OP tbh. I thought it would've been obvious why this was important.

Also shocked that someone compared being gay to being a cocaine or gambling addict. That's why this is necessary, right there.

DOC09UNAM

It's none of or business so who gives a ****, as long as their friends and families know then that's good enough.

homerjay2005

MrStuffins wrote: »

No they wouldn't, because adultery is not covered under any discrimination legislation!

and singing gay chants are? well thats news to me and seen as you seem to know everything about gays in football society and care about it alot more than i do, there aint much point me trying to debate with you about it as its not something that i particulary have thougths about.

my opinion is clear though, the players shouldnt have to "come out" just to keep people happy and be role models. society is cruel, not just to gays and football society is even crueler. there are many problems in football, a few gays having to keep quiet is not one of them.

efb

Gone Drinking wrote: »

Do you think, if a group of footballers came out and their boyfriends/husbands went shopping and watching their games together..

That they'd be labelled the FAGs?

What does that stand for?
PABs or HABs I'd assume.

Craig Bellemy or Aggrelluo could call me whatever they wanted...

Liverpool have(had) the hottest players! Where's macherano now?

IvySlayer

Can you blame any footballers for not wanting the public to know? Can you?

Let's face it, there's a lot of immature pricks out there that will make his life hell. No-one came out, so maybe people should get the message and back off?

MrStuffins

homerjay2005 wrote: »

and singing gay chants are?

Yes.

well thats news to me and seen as you seem to know everything about gays in football society and care about it alot more than i do,

At which point did I say I know everything about gays in football? Now now, just because you have some sort of deep seeded prejudice and most of your points up until now have been complete rubbish, doesn't mean you should start that!

there aint much point me trying to debate with you about it as its not something that i particulary have thougths about.

You obviously DO have thoughts about it, you even said:

my opinion is clear though, the players shouldnt have to "come out" just to keep people happy and be role models. society is cruel, not just to gays and football society is even crueler. there are many problems in football, a few gays having to keep quiet is not one of them.

I, nor anyone, everr said gay people "have to" come out. What I DID say was that if this taboo was finally broken, we would reach a point some day where gay footballers didn't have to come out at all, having a gay team mate would be just like having a black team mate, or an asian team mate, or a team mate of a different religion. Who cares?

Your angry opposition to this is quite scary actually. Especially your comments about not changing people's views!

MrStuffins

IvySlayer wrote: »

Can you blame any footballers for not wanting the public to know? Can you?

Let's face it, there's a lot of immature pricks out there that will make his life hell. No-one came out, so maybe people should get the message and back off?

I see what you are saying, but my point is football should not be an environment where homosexuals are excluded. It's wrong and it shouldn't just be accepted!

IvySlayer

MrStuffins wrote: »

I see what you are saying, but my point is football should not be an environment where homosexuals are excluded. It's wrong and it shouldn't just be accepted!

But gay people are not being excluded. They turn up, play some ball and go home, just like everyone else.

I don't give a **** about their personal lives.

omg *claps* he's gay he just made a fabulous pass!!*

*I know a bit about this subject :P :P

MrStuffins

IvySlayer wrote: »

But gay people are not being excluded. They turn up, play some ball and go home, just like everyone else.

I don't give a **** about their personal lives.

omg *claps* he's gay he just made a fabulous pass!!*

*I know a bit about this subject :P :P

Well you are in the very small minority here. If you think that a gay footballer coming out would be met with this attitude then you are completely wrong.

The fact is, it's not just that they are "not coming out". They feel they are in a position that they have to lie and hide their true sexuality. There is a massive differece here.

homerjay2005

MrStuffins wrote: »

They feel they are in a position that they have to lie and hide their true sexuality. There is a massive differece here.

that is a society problem, not a football problem.

MrStuffins

homerjay2005 wrote: »

that is a society problem, not a football problem.

Nope. Not true! There are openly gay people in all walks of life but for some reason gay footballers are scared enough that they don't want to come out.

I fear that you are living in some sort of time warp!

efb

homerjay2005 wrote: »

that is a society problem, not a football problem.

Within the sphere of football- so it is a football problem

IvySlayer

How many gay footballers have said they are afraid of coming out then?

They just don't want the media attention.

MrStuffins

IvySlayer wrote: »

How many gay footballers have said they are afraid of coming out then?

They just don't want the media attention.

Er........ well we don't know. We have no idea which ones are gay! Isn't that the point?:rolleyes:

There's at least one though, he's spoken about the the OP!

IvySlayer

MrStuffins wrote: »

Er........ well we don't know. We have no idea which ones are gay! Isn't that the point?:rolleyes:

No, some people need to stop speaking for others.

mikemac

Just an invitation to bring abuse down on yourself
Ok it shouldn't happen but it does

Sure "Fat Frank" Lampard and yet he's super-fit.
I even started a thread here before as I could not figure out the nickname, there's not an ounce of fat on the man

Yet the name is there and it'll follow him until he retires, ridiculous

Players need confidence and the chants would bother anyone.

MrStuffins

IvySlayer wrote: »

No, some people need to stop speaking for others.

Well some of these people need others to speak for them, because they are afraid to stand up and be counted.

Seriously, the opposition to gay footballers being openly gay here is astonishing! No wonder they don't feel they can come out!