Is the game ready for gays?

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On a more serious note, I don’t think homophobia in football is in anyway comparable with the treatment of black players in the 70’s and 80’s. There are no homophobic versions of Goodison Park for example. We hear maybe one, two chants a season and directed towards one player. While this stick is only coming his way because he used to play for SHA, if he had remained at Arsenal before going to West Ham, then nobody would bat an eyelid at the man’s sexuality.

[PeterWithe]

There are no homophobic versions of Goodison Park for example.

As, to the best of my knowledge, there are no openly gay players, how do we know this?

[Chris Smith]

I think most people are pretty tolerant these days but even on a fairly enlightened website like this one casual homophobia is not uncommon. I think that’s because to most of us the thought of having sex with another man is just so odd.

So any gay player coming out will have to be prepared for a lot of childish and puerile comments but I don't think he'll experience much outright hostility.

[Lucky Eddie]

I'd be interested to know what Cyrille Regis's advice to a gay footballer would be. 

'Stay in the closet son - you're safer there' or 'grow a pair'.

[Smoke]

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There are no homophobic versions of Goodison Park for example.

As, to the best of my knowledge, there are no openly gay players, how do we know this?

 How do you compare the realty of an incredibly racist and hostile crowd, such as you’d get at Goodison with the “Everton are white, Everton are white" chants and attempt to draw parallels with a fear that something similar might develop at grounds if a player should be openly gay? You're confusing fact and speculation.

[adrenachrome]

If  players do "come out" would  clubs need separate  changing rooms for gay and non gay players?

What about bisexuals? That's three changing rooms right there.

What about trisexuals, those demented souls who will try anything, and are up for anything and also probably up everything given half a chance?

[Chico Hamilton III]

Poor old Justin Fashanu - gay and black - he'll be getting changed on the back of the coach

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

It's a sad world we live in when it's not accpetable for someone to be gay.

Racism was eventually eradicated (as far as I can see in England anyway), so it'd be nice to think homophobia will go the same way.

The number of people who turned out to see the Pope suggests that it won't any time soon

I didn't think it was that many to be honest. Didn't Jedi score higher than Catholic in the last cencus?

[curiousorange]

Homosexuality in football is comparable to naming all the players that smoke or wear glasses - it would be improbable to think that there are none in the professional game, even just in Britain. The only way it will ever be bought into the open is if two or more players made a pact to do it at the same time. Just look at politics - Jeremy Thorpe's reputation was destroyed as leader of the Liberals due to his isolation in people finding out he was gay. Somebody else mentioned Justin Fashanu, which is a similar kind of thing. But usually you find politicians, pop stars, film stars etc all coming out within days and weeks of one another. Football, being a male-dominated culture, will only find it 'okay' if a group comes along as says so.

[PeterWithe]

There are no homophobic versions of Goodison Park for example.

As, to the best of my knowledge, there are no openly gay players, how do we know this?

 How do you compare the realty of an incredibly racist and hostile crowd, such as you’d get at Goodison with the “Everton are white, Everton are white" chants and attempt to draw parallels with a fear that something similar might develop at grounds if a player should be openly gay? You're confusing fact and speculation.

Could you have another go? I don't understand what you are saying.

[PeterWithe]

Homosexuality in football is comparable to naming all the players that smoke or wear glasses - it would be improbable to think that there are none in the professional game, even just in Britain. The only way it will ever be bought into the open is if two or more players made a pact to do it at the same time. Just look at politics - Jeremy Thorpe's reputation was destroyed as leader of the Liberals due to his isolation in people finding out he was gay. Somebody else mentioned Justin Fashanu, which is a similar kind of thing. But usually you find politicians, pop stars, film stars etc all coming out within days and weeks of one another. Football, being a male-dominated culture, will only find it 'okay' if a group comes along as says so.

Its a bit surprising that the more militant groups, I'm thinking Tatchells lot, haven't taken the matter into their own hands and exposed, if thats the right word, a player or two.

[olaftab]

If  players do "come out" would  clubs need separate  changing rooms for gay and non gay players?

I was going to say that perhaps it will change over the next 10 years the way much of racism has been eradicated, but with comments like the above I will say 20 years.

My comment is  not homophobic...3 of my best friends are gay...  and I have discussed this issue with them. No it's about the basics ...think about it why do we have separate changing rooms for males and females?

[PeterWithe]

If  players do "come out" would  clubs need separate  changing rooms for gay and non gay players?

I was going to say that perhaps it will change over the next 10 years the way much of racism has been eradicated, but with comments like the above I will say 20 years.

My comment is  not homophobic...3 of my best friends are gay...  and I have discussed this issue with them. No it's about the basics ...think about it why do we have separate changing rooms for males and females?

Yeah but you don't have separate changing rooms for straight and gay people do you?

[curiousorange]

Homosexuality in football is comparable to naming all the players that smoke or wear glasses - it would be improbable to think that there are none in the professional game, even just in Britain. The only way it will ever be bought into the open is if two or more players made a pact to do it at the same time. Just look at politics - Jeremy Thorpe's reputation was destroyed as leader of the Liberals due to his isolation in people finding out he was gay. Somebody else mentioned Justin Fashanu, which is a similar kind of thing. But usually you find politicians, pop stars, film stars etc all coming out within days and weeks of one another. Football, being a male-dominated culture, will only find it 'okay' if a group comes along as says so.

Its a bit surprising that the more militant groups, I'm thinking Tatchells lot, haven't taken the matter into their own hands and exposed, if thats the right word, a player or two.

You can see how endemic the culture of fear is surrounding the issue by the amount of ex-footballers in the world that have come out since retirement. Fashanu aside, I can't think of a single one.