Rainbow Laces

[Louzie0]

Homophobia is and has always been a problem in football. I know it's a long time ago, but the sport actually prospered so much early on because a Master at Eton, Rev. E.J.Thring, thought team sports were good, because they prevented solipsism which leads to masturbation which leads to perversity, blindness and atheism. And yes, 'perversity' is a very common Victorian euphemism for homosexuality.

Now? Well, we're not so far from when Graeme Le Saux was called gay just for reading the Guardian instead of the Daily Tits or whatever - an event which says many things about the English game even now - nor from Justin Fashanu's suicide, and certainly not from Robbie Rogers saying that being openly gay was 'impossible' in professional sport. However, the fact that Rogers has since found himself a club (albeit in California) is encouraging to a certain degree. However, the problem is persistent here, and it's a problem which is largely so obvious, so assumed, that it has taken a very long time to identify.

Just wanted to say that Montbert has said far more eloquently what I thought of saying. Along with the Victorian attitudes, which I didn't know.

[Navin R Johnson]

I am uncomfortable with this one.   It is the same sort of discomfort I feel about the sky high profile of breast cancer campaigns and appeals.   My wife is a victim of breast cancer but the singling out of a narrow strand of public concern in my view skews compassion and understanding into too easily exploited and manipulated channels.

Why "rainbow" laces?   The inference is that gay men are flambouyant and colourful.   Many are but homosexuality is a normal thing and should not, in my view be stereotyped.   Our postman is gay and a harder, tougher nut I have never met.   He was captain of our village football team when they were feared far and wide.   One of my best friends is in the middle of a sex change and a more level headed, sensible person never put on a frock for the first time in middle age.

The whole thing cheapens and commercializes an issue which is an open door which does not need shoving least of all by a publicity hungry bookmaker.

[Monty]

The rainbow thing has long been a symbol of the gay rights movement, and it has nothing to do with flamboyance - after all, that's hardly the stereotype of gay women, is it?

[Navin R Johnson]

With all respect to you Montbert the word "rainbow" is one which has been used in a number of public awareness drives.   It is a portmanteau word which latterly is tagged onto any situation which requires an acceptance of diversity.

As for gay women not being colourful or flambouyant we are, or at least I am, thinking about gay men playing football.   Sepp Blatter would love to promote gay women football players wearing rainbow laces along with the shorter shorts he advocates.

[Monty]

Technically it's a compound word rather than a portmanteau, but that's pedantry. More seriously, you're right - it's nothing to do with flamboyance, it's about diversity, 'the full spectrum' if you like. My point about gay women is relevant because the rainbow is a symbol of the entire gay rights movement, and has nothing to do with flamboyance. The rainbow laces would represent that.

[bilsim]

Surely it would not be in contravention of the rules for players to wear their own rainbow coloured laces, which they could easily do if they truly believed in the cause. More to the point, I've only ever heard one homophobic chant at a Villa game, directed at Matthew Upson, which although unacceptable, is proof to me that people who make out homophobia to be rife within the game are trying too hard to find something that isn't really there.

South Park, very shrewdly, addressed the issue of using "homophobic language" in a non-homophobic context. "Just because someone's gay, it doesn't mean they're a fag"

I'm certain that almost 99% of the time that "homophobic" language is used, it is used with no homophobic intent but more because the working class, middle-aged people who make up the vast majority of the crowd are desensitised to the original meaning of the words that they are using. Not making excuses for it, but that's how it appears to me.

I also feel that as soon as a player does come out as gay, we will all see what a none issue homophobia in football actually is. It seems to be this "us and them" attitude so typical in modern society. "I'm not homophobic, but everybody else is".

Finally, and this is probably the biggest and most important point, I'm not sure how much weight we can place upon morality within the game when we support a team that plays in the Barclay's Premier League, the most unethical and frankly evil corporation in this country.

[taylorsworkrate]

Here in London (I'm not sure about other parts of the country) it is quite common for the word gay to be used in that way. Mainly amongst younger people I should add. Which goes back to my point about understanding the intention when such words are used.

But surely young people need to be educated/should know already that the use of the word gay to describe something as bad shouldn't be acceptable (its also a sad reflection of many peoples vocabulary)

I doubt anyone would ever call one of my horrendous putts "really straight" as way of an insult, so the word gay should not be used in such  circumstances.

[danlanza]

We are all human beings after all. Who gives a shit.

[taylorsworkrate]

I also feel that as soon as a player does come out as gay, we will all see what a none issue homophobia in football actually is.

Justin Fashanu?

[Louzie0]

And football players have to feel free to play and do what they are best at doing.

'Whether you wear the laces or not, I understand that you are a team', is about where I am on this issue. The laces being problematical from a commercial rather than an ideological p.o.v. This weekend.

[Louzie0]

I also feel that as soon as a player does come out as gay, we will all see what a none issue homophobia in football actually is.

Justin Fashanu?

Go back a couple of pages.

[taylorsworkrate]

I think to be honest it reflects badly on the FA/Premier League/Clubs, that it's taken a bookmaker to join forces with Stonewall to try to make a statement about it.

[bertlambshank]

I think to be honest it reflects badly on the FA/Premier League/Clubs, that it's taken a bookmaker to join forces with Stonewall to try to make a statement about it.

Or a betting company pulling the pants down of a charity for a bit of self publicity.If you want to blame anyone blame Stonewall.Paddy power have form on advert Highjacking,it looks like they have done it again.The more I think about it Stonewall should of said to PP 'thanks but no thanks'.

[taylorsworkrate]

I think to be honest it reflects badly on the FA/Premier League/Clubs, that it's taken a bookmaker to join forces with Stonewall to try to make a statement about it.

Or a betting company pulling the pants down of a charity for a bit of self publicity.If you want to blame anyone blame Stonewall.Paddy power have form on advert Highjacking,it looks like they have done it again.The more I think about it Stonewall should of said to PP 'thanks but no thanks'.

I'm not looking to blame Stonewall or Paddypower, my point is that someone within British football should have come up with a similar idea many many years ago

[Dave]

I think to be honest it reflects badly on the FA/Premier League/Clubs, that it's taken a bookmaker to join forces with Stonewall to try to make a statement about it.

Or a betting company pulling the pants down of a charity for a bit of self publicity.If you want to blame anyone blame Stonewall.Paddy power have form on advert Highjacking,it looks like they have done it again.The more I think about it Stonewall should of said to PP 'thanks but no thanks'.

I'm not looking to blame Stonewall or Paddypower, my point is that someone within British football should have come up with a similar idea many many years ago

Didn't they try something a few years ago but scrapped it because they couldn't find any players willing to front the campaign?