Current news coverage on homosexuality

eaglach

Has anyone noticed the incredible amount of LGBT topics that have been in the news lately? There seems to be an incredible amount of coverage on various topics such as Panti, the opposition to Sochi Winter Olympics/Russias policies on homosexuality, the coming out of various sports stars, e.g. NFL player Michael Sam, footballer Hitzlsperger and swimmer Tom Daly.

Is this all coincidence or are have we reached a turning point where homosexuality is becoming accepted throughout society (in the western world at least)?

What are your thoughts?

hfallada

I think if it was totally accepted it wouldnt be reported at all. Why should an NFL player sexuality make a difference? Does Tom Daley having a BF make him any less of a driver? If being gay was entirely acceptable in Ireland, there would be opinion pieces on how wrong it is on a daily basis( in some peoples view). You can barely open a certain broadsheet without a few opinion pieces on "the gays" ( not the irish times).

Although the struggle of being a gay person appears now to being reported as a human rights issue and not just a result of being gay. People are seeing that gay people arent that different and why should they not be allowed to marriage? Being gay is not something that is openly discussed in a fair manner in Ireland. You either have someone who isnt a fair representation of the gay community and an extreme catholic who is just about short of being one of those christians that believe blowing up abortion clinics is what god wants them to do. In recent weeks there has been a logical debate on same-sex marriage and what it is be gay in Ireland.

Peregrinus

Well, some of this is an aspect of celebrity culture. If Tom Dailey announced that he preferred cornflakes to weetabix, it would be newsworthy in certain quarters. And something of rather more personal significance - viz., his romantic life - is always going to get news coverage whether it’s gay, straight or utterly indiscriminate. Celebrities + sex; I can hear the jaws hitting the floor in Independent House as I type.

But it’s undeniably the case that homosexuality is becoming more visible, and this is a big factor it its becoming more socially accepted. The more LBGT people who come out, the more straight people who personally know and/or are close to, one or more out gay people. And I think we all know that nothing breaks down irrational fear and prejudice of a whole group of people faster than actually encountering members of the group.

Much as I despise celebrity culture, it does have its role to play in increasing the visibility of gay people. Famous figures coming out don’t have the same impact on someone as their own brother, sister, friend, child, workmate coming out but, still, these things have a cumulative effect. It’s not that long ago that famously gay people, by and large, were famous for being gay. Now, we get to the point where someone who is famous for competitive diving, or soccer, or American football, is known to be gay. As far as normalising gayness goes, that’s a step forward.

And that, believe it or not, is part of the reason why Panti is in the news, and Sochi is in the news (other than for sporting reasons). The victimisation of gays is more newsworthy than it used to be, partly because more and more people’s awareness of, and encounters with, gay people both in the media and in their own lives leaves them unable to understand or sympathise with homophobic attitudes. In the past, the Olympics have been held of lots of countries that have had anti-gay laws in place; this is the first time it has caused the Olympics a problem. And that’s progress.