Lack Of Acceptance Of Gay Men In Sports

Perhaps a prominent example of recent times involves the use of the word ‘gay’ or indeed the ban of the word, on the back of a personalised NFL jersey, serving as a reminder of an underlying lack of acceptance of the gay man in sporting circles. The ignorant yet all too common perception of the towering or graceful sportsman is certainly non compliant with any uncultured yet common ideas, or discernments surrounding the image of a gay man.

Sports fans and stars alike can be accused of harbouring, or in the very least, allowing the singling out of gay men through the toleration of homophobia to the point where the NFL have been reported to have banned the names of some of their most popular players, Randall Gay, Ben Gay and William Gay on shirts, pendants or flags of any kind. This is of course ludicrous and comes at a time where England’s own Football Premier League has experienced severe cases of homophobic behaviour, including the public abuse of England and Portsmouth star, Sol Campbell, amidst rumours created by the media over his sexual preferences.
Emphasising a clear lack of acceptance of gay men in football, and the expression of what can only be described as ideals and views straight out of the Stone Age; Campbell has suffered a barrage of abuse from the terraces for a number of seasons. However, perhaps providing a chink of light at the end of a very long tunnel, a number of fans have in fact been brought to justice via the courts for the abuse of the Portsmouth full back, although the star is still subject to anti-gay feeling from the terraces today.

In relation, tragic ex-footballer Justin Fashinu who committed suicide 11 years ago preceding severe abuse at the hands of fans and fellow team mates, due to his just reluctance to hide his sexuality, became the victim of blatant embellishment on the part of the media. They had run the headline ‘My gay brother is an outcast’ supposedly a direct quote from his brother and fellow footballer John Fashiniu.

Although times are changing with initiatives such as Stonewall FC, an all gay football squad, making clear progression on a global scale, winning competitions such as the Euro Games, the question of why an all gay football team needs to be formed just to allow gay men to progress in the game, is certainly a valid one.