?% Villa (is that a thing, that % business?) Homophobia in Football

[ciggiesnbeer]

I have faith that Villa fans would be completely supportive of any player who came out. In fact I am certain of it. We have flaws but we are a progressive bunch.

I have no doubt that the massive majority would as well, but even 5% of a crowd can make enough noise to make a difference. We haven't totally managed to stamp out racism yet despite players of all colours and nationalities playing in increasing numbers for decades, what chance of stamping out homophobia when it is still considered funny and, yes, "bantz" to make jokes about someone's sexuality?

Honestly I have not been to a Villa game in a couple of years (overseas) but I did not hear any racist comments from Villa fans at the games I did attend for many many years. Other clubs, yes (I am looking at you Millwall), but not our fans. Maybe I was just lucky by seating?

[Dave Cooper please]

I have faith that Villa fans would be completely supportive of any player who came out. In fact I am certain of it. We have flaws but we are a progressive bunch.

I have no doubt that the massive majority would as well, but even 5% of a crowd can make enough noise to make a difference. We haven't totally managed to stamp out racism yet despite players of all colours and nationalities playing in increasing numbers for decades, what chance of stamping out homophobia when it is still considered funny and, yes, "bantz" to make jokes about someone's sexuality?

Honestly I have not been to a Villa game in a couple of years (overseas) but I did not hear any racist comments from Villa fans at the games I did attend for many many years. Other clubs, yes (I am looking at you Millwall), but not our fans. Maybe I was just lucky by seating?

I think (hope) we are better than most, I'm not a regular down VP by any means but at the only game I have been to this season I heard a opposition player referred to loudly as a "dirty black twat" after he fouled one of our players. He was loudly tutted at and I never heard a peep from him after but there you go. But yes, we have mostly managed to get rid of racism at football in this country, and that should be applauded. Now we need the admirable Kick It Out campaign to keep on keeping on to rid us of homophobia as well.

[Lucky Eddie]

Justin Fashanu came out nearly thirty years ago and in that time attitudes towards homosexuality have changed enormously.

It's up to football to break it's own taboo and someone has to be brave enough to be the first.

[Chinchilla Bathhouse]

You keep going on about bravery Eddie, and you're still implying that not coming out is cowardly.  Do you actually know any gay people?  Only I think you're showing a complete lack of understanding and compassion about a really sensitive subject.   

[Lucky Eddie]

You keep going on about bravery Eddie, and you're still implying that not coming out is cowardly.  Do you actually know any gay people?  Only I think you're showing a complete lack of understanding and compassion about a really sensitive subject.   

I know a lot of gay people - they're the bravest people I know.

It's tough as fuck for a young lad to come out in a small town and I've nothing but respect for lads and lasses who made that choice over the last decade or so.

I think they and future generations are being let down until and gay football players and football itself faces its perceived intolerance.

If the times not right now, when will it be right?

[Dave]

You keep going on about bravery Eddie, and you're still implying that not coming out is cowardly.  Do you actually know any gay people?  Only I think you're showing a complete lack of understanding and compassion about a really sensitive subject.   

I know a lot of gay people - they're the bravest people I know.

It's tough as fuck for a young lad to come out in a small town and I've nothing but respect for lads and lasses who made that choice over the last decade or so.

I think they and future generations are being let down until and gay football players and football itself faces its perceived intolerance.

If the times not right now, when will it be right?

When the people who are making that decision decide for it to be so.

[auntiesledd]

You keep going on about bravery Eddie, and you're still implying that not coming out is cowardly.  Do you actually know any gay people?  Only I think you're showing a complete lack of understanding and compassion about a really sensitive subject.   

I know a lot of gay people - they're the bravest people I know.

It's tough as fuck for a young lad to come out in a small town and I've nothing but respect for lads and lasses who made that choice over the last decade or so.

I think they and future generations are being let down until and gay football players and football itself faces its perceived intolerance.

If the times not right now, when will it be right?

When the people who are making that decision decide for it to be so.

This. With bells on.

[dcdavecollett]

'Gay footballers linked with house price crash.'

In capitals, of course.

[cheltenhamlion]

The whole debate is just out of my reasoning when thinking purely in work terms. I work at a big firm with thousands of employees. The notion that someone's preference sexually should be something to hide just isn't something I have experienced in 15 years there. If someone raised an issue of their sexuality being a reason they were treated differently it would hold no credible argument. There is an awful lot of things in the world I could get upset about before someone liking the same sex.

My sister is a rug muncher (to use her oft told description) and I don't think it has ever bothered a member of our family a jot with the possible exclusion of the old gits who find it all very odd.

What I can say on the coming out thing though is she was 25 before she "confessed" to what we all kind of knew from years before anyway. In that time (and other stuff was involved) she fucked herself up that much mentally wrestling with this secret she tried to kill herself twice and at one point didn't leave the house for 3 years.

I don't get it that people at our firm should have working conditions that stop them coming out. The prejudice just isnt there. Bitter experience with Emma tells me different though.

Would I trail blaze if I were a footballer? Would I fuck.

[purpletrousers]

So pertinent to this, and the post match thread, what did 'we', I struggle typing that, sing at Brighton?

[Ads]

Lots of Villa songs, some not very nice ones about the neighbours, one usually reserved for the other Bitter neighbours and then one mocking their part timers for only  owing to see us.

Why?

[Dave]

I'm guessing because some groups of travelling supporters are known to sing fairly dickish songs at Brighton that they don't sing elsewhere.

[Marlon From Bearwood]

Villa's police Twitter page tweeted this during the match;

#avfc #utv Homophobic chants and gestures will NOT be tolerated. Officers are filming offenders and arrests/summons will b made

[VillaAlways]

Villa's police Twitter page tweeted this during the match;

#avfc #utv Homophobic chants and gestures will NOT be tolerated. Officers are filming offenders and arrests/summons will b made

Good

[purpletrousers]

Transplanted from the Brighton post match thread:

6 hours to get to the match from Birmingham. Hey ho.

Villa deserved to win.

2 1/4 hours to get back home.

Favourite chant.

We can see you,
We can see you,
Holding hands,
Holding hands.

The away Villa fans are fantastic. I salute all of you.

There may be other clubs that have better away support than the Villa.

But not many.

 

Did you just celebrate a homophobic chant?
Did we really sing that???
I'll let others say what I'm thinking.

A man at the front had an unpleasant chant suggesting where an item that could be purchased at Ann Summers could be placed. In fairness he did stop when someone politely remonstrated with him. Homophobia hasn't gone away.

That sounded quite an isolated incident, and respect to the fact that that it got challenged.
I think my concern is what seemed by all accounts such a positive night for the club could be tainted by the fact that yes homophobia hadn't just not gone away, but was expressed, by Villa fans. I think I have an unrealistic idea that, well as we say it on here sometimes 'we are better than that'.

I'll copy this whole post to the seperate homophobia thread to leave this one to be about the football, but just to explain I felt sad/concerned that maybe that'd it had been more prevalent?

And then found it bizarre to read someone writing about enjoying it. I guess that's the bit that shocked me.

Replies to that other thread maybe?