Gay Sportsman Comes Out

[FredPuli43]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/30/sports/basketball/nba-center-jason-collins-comes-out-as-gay.html?hp&;_r=0

The first active player in any major American team sport to say that he is homosexual has just announced the fact in print. Others have come out but waited until their retirement to do so.

When and why do you think any equivalent British player will do the same ?( "Why?" is more interesting than "When?")

[AlwaysConfused]

Oh, I'd say that the next player to come out will do it for media attention, and probably quite soon.

[Sharingan]

I don't think it will be long either and likewise will probably do it towards the end of their careers and then make a lot of greenbacks off selling their story, writing books and appearing in 'Hello!' etc. It's not the desirable way for it to happen but it will be a path leader for other lesbians and gay men to come out in the sports world (particularly football) so it's ultimately a good thing.

[anotheoldgit]

/// ("Why?" is more interesting than "When?") ///

Most funny what some people are interested in. Yawn!!

[emmie]

i think they don't because they see the treatment that black players sometimes get, so admitting they are homosexual could lead to all sorts of unpleasant jibes and name calling from the terraces.

[anotheoldgit]

em10

Yes and I bet there are dozens of ginger haired players who dye their hair a different colour too.

[Sharingan]

I bet there are but I wouldn't be one of em AOG xx

[ummmm]

Why bring gingers into it?

[Sharingan]

Dunno Ummm, it'd be like me bringing old gits that wear rugs into it wouldn't it? Totally besides the point xx

[ummmm]

Totally besides the point.

Although 'some' gingers might get teased they don't have to face discrimination like gay people.

[DTCwordfan]

what shyte that is, Fred - what about Gareth Thomas in 2009? (Rugby)

and what's big effing deal in this day and age? Not exactly sensational now is it?

[Sharingan]

No there's generally no comparison, it can go to far sometimes for some people and has resulted in a few deaths and suicides, but it doesn't equate to the bias gay or black people face. Wiki has a bit on it though:-
''A UK woman recently won an award from a tribunal after being sexually harassed and receiving abuse because of her red hair;[58] a family in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, was forced to move twice after being targeted for abuse and hate crime on account of their red hair;[59] and in 2003, a 20 year old was stabbed in the back for "being ginger".[60] In May 2009, a British schoolboy committed suicide after being bullied for having red hair.[61] The British singer Mick Hucknall, who says that he has repeatedly faced prejudice or been described as ugly on account of his hair color, argues that Gingerism should be described as a form of racism.[62][63]''

[Sharingan]

*too far*

[DTCwordfan]

Here's one that went wrong - ooops

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/02/28/john-bercow-ben-cohen-_n_2780473.html

[emmie]

why people discriminate on any grounds is beyond me, but having been because of gender, age, it isn't only blacks, gays
and i have gone grey so let them pick the bones out of that one...

[ummmm]

Lol...I know Ben.

[naomi24]

Considering all the flack blondes come in for, I'm wondering why they aren't categorized similarly. Maybe they're able to maintain their dignity and rise above such childish petulance - hence rather smarter than their reputation would suggest.

[Gromit]

// // When do you think any equivalent British player will do the same? //

They already have but to less fuss over here probably because religion plays a lot less of a role in life than in the US.

Earlier this year, England cricker Teven Davis came out
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/8350779/Steven-Davies-England-cricketer-announces-he-is-gay.html

Footballer Justin Fashinu came out in the 1980s. 

[emmie]

or mother in laws for that matter, the butt of many a comedian

[ummmm]

Good point, Naomi.

[naomi24]

To answer the question, I think it's a good thing that he's stood up and said 'I'm black and I'm gay'. I like that. When people are attacked for being black, or gay - or ginger - the best defence is to agree with the attacker. 'Yes, I am black, gay, ginger .... etc ....' - now what?