Homophobia in Football

[Finnegan]

I resisted posting when reading over some of the crazy rumours in Jan here, but this is too stupid. Homosexuality wasn't legalized in Britain until the 60's. In the 80's the government made it illegal to discuss or 'promote' that way of life right up until Labour took over. They have only recently been given the same rights as married couples. They were rounded up and put in gas chambers in the 40's and are still stoned and killed in many parts of the world. In America, they were sent to clinics and still today religious parents put their kids in 'correction camps'. Gays have had a pretty crappy time, don't claim they haven't been institutionally badly treated.

Makes my picture post look a little bit lazy, but yeah, that's basically what I was getting at.

Secondly, the point most people are missing is the logic of causing offense to the guy in pink. It is irrelevant whether he was personally upset. The logic was that by referring to him as gay because of some stereotype you are insulting him. The chant suggests it's a bad thing to be. You think it's 'harmless'? How many gay people do any of the people on here know? Behave yourself, you have no idea how they might feel sitting in that crowd. I wasn't at the game, but i'd bet all the money in my wallet that there was some kid joining in the chants. Some 10 year old with his dad screaming at the top of his lungs "bender" with his dad. Tell me that is harmless. It's a bit of banter, but middle aged straight blokes sure do like to dish it out without having to take much back.

Top post.

[LE5 Chris]

I doubt I am the only gay fan who reads these forums, but like those footballers who choose to not to broadcast it, football doesn't promote an atmosphere in which you'd feel comfortable with people knowing you are gay. No it isn't relevant to my support of Leicester City and it's not something I'm generally open about (this thread aside of course) but I fully understand why there aren't any openly gay footballers playing today.

The chanting everytime we play Brighton does make me feel uncomfortable, and I consider it no more acceptable than the "town full of pakis" shite we've been listening to from the Leeds fans for the last 20 years. Both are insinuating that either being gay or being Asian are a negative thing. I don't get worked up about it, but I find it pretty small-minded nonetheless. The same goes for the occasional "get up you fooking poof/faggot" though you hear less often now - believe it or not for some of us being gay is a difficult thing to come to terms with so you don't feel very good about yourself when you hear this.

And those people telling others what they should or shouldn't be offended by, how on earth would you know what may or may not hurt someone sitting around you? It's not an issue specific to football, more society in general but football fans need to accept there is a broader cross-section of that society present at games than in years gone by.

[Haydos]

How do you feel about the scenario that was originally mentioned? The guy in the pink jacket having gay-based chants aimed at him, baring in mind they were in fairly good jest. Does it matter to you the context or the aggression or the seriousness of the situation?

Ps. Were you at the game? It would be a lot easier to get a read if you were

[Fox1651]

I doubt I am the only gay fan who reads these forums, but like those footballers who choose to not to broadcast it, football doesn't promote an atmosphere in which you'd feel comfortable with people knowing you are gay. No it isn't relevant to my support of Leicester City and it's not something I'm generally open about (this thread aside of course) but I fully understand why there aren't any openly gay footballers playing today.

The chanting everytime we play Brighton does make me feel uncomfortable, and I consider it no more acceptable than the "town full of pakis" shite we've been listening to from the Leeds fans for the last 20 years. Both are insinuating that either being gay or being Asian are a negative thing. I don't get worked up about it, but I find it pretty small-minded nonetheless. The same goes for the occasional "get up you fooking poof/faggot" though you hear less often now - believe it or not for some of us being gay is a difficult thing to come to terms with so you don't feel very good about yourself when you hear this.

And those people telling others what they should or shouldn't be offended by, how on earth would you know what may or may not hurt someone sitting around you? It's not an issue specific to football, more society in general but football fans need to accept there is a broader cross-section of that society present at games than in years gone by.

Cant argue with you on this LE5 Chris. Your a Leicester fan which means your a top bloke - end of!!!!

[Trav Le Bleu]

Please invest in a dictionary.

If you think that affend is a word then maybe it's you who needs to invest in a dictionary, or at least, a better one than the cheap volume that you obviously use.

Affendi is a word, but it has nothing to do with offence.

[B52]

Oh dear....another bit of banter that gets blown out of proportion

Not really, we're talking about the whole world now. Not just the pink jacket....

[Bob Weasel Fox]

I doubt I am the only gay fan who reads these forums, but like those footballers who choose to not to broadcast it, football doesn't promote an atmosphere in which you'd feel comfortable with people knowing you are gay. No it isn't relevant to my support of Leicester City and it's not something I'm generally open about (this thread aside of course) but I fully understand why there aren't any openly gay footballers playing today.

The chanting everytime we play Brighton does make me feel uncomfortable, and I consider it no more acceptable than the "town full of pakis" shite we've been listening to from the Leeds fans for the last 20 years. Both are insinuating that either being gay or being Asian are a negative thing. I don't get worked up about it, but I find it pretty small-minded nonetheless. The same goes for the occasional "get up you fooking poof/faggot" though you hear less often now - believe it or not for some of us being gay is a difficult thing to come to terms with so you don't feel very good about yourself when you hear this.

And those people telling others what they should or shouldn't be offended by, how on earth would you know what may or may not hurt someone sitting around you? It's not an issue specific to football, more society in general but football fans need to accept there is a broader cross-section of that society present at games than in years gone by.

LE5 Chris - well done, as Fox1651 says - your a Leicester fan and thats all that should matter, not anything else, would any GENUINE City fan mind sitting next to a lady - no, an asian City fan - no, a fat bloke - no (thats me sorted then), a thin bloke - no, a short bloke - no, a pink fan with yellow spots - no, i think what im trying to say in the usual bumbling rambling stupid sort of way is - it doesnt matter who we are, where were from, the colour of our skin, our sexuality, or whatever the fact is we should all stand together as City fans, be loud be proud etc etc

[Bugg]

LE5 Chris - well done, as Fox1651 says - your a Leicester fan and thats all that should matter, not anything else, would any GENUINE City fan mind sitting next to a lady - no, an asian City fan - no, a fat bloke - no (thats me sorted then), a thin bloke - no, a short bloke - no, a pink fan with yellow spots - no, i think what im trying to say in the usual bumbling rambling stupid sort of way is - it doesnt matter who we are, where were from, the colour of our skin, our sexuality, or whatever the fact is we should all stand together as City fans, be loud be proud etc etc

Mr Blobby is a Leicester fan

[Guest BlueBrett]

Alright yeah I can concede that gay people have often had it tough.

I just find it really difficult to decide what is and isn't acceptable to say. I suppose it largely depends whether you privilege freedom to or freedom from. It's pretty difficult to decide when you live in a society like ours when most people don't really experience too many restrictions.

[Bob Weasel Fox]

Alright yeah I can concede that gay people have often had it tough.

I just find it really difficult to decide what is and isn't acceptable to say. I suppose it largely depends whether you privilege freedom to or freedom from. It's pretty difficult to decide when you live in a society like ours when most people don't really experience too many restrictions.

I think it depends on the company you are keeping i suppose and just being aware of who is around you, im not shy of saying a few contraversial things from time to time, i swear all the time for example but people who know me know i mean no offence by this and i certainly wouldnt go out of my way to be disrespectful to another person (whisper it but i even have several F****t supporting friends) and you treat others how you want to be treated yourself generally dont you?

[FuriousFox46]

If you think that affend is a word then maybe it's you who needs to invest in a dictionary, or at least, a better one than the cheap volume that you obviously use.

Affendi is a word, but it has nothing to do with offence.

You're right, affend is actually offend.

and I was simply referring to your poor spelling of freaking or frikkin as you put it.

[FuriousFox46]

I doubt I am the only gay fan who reads these forums, but like those footballers who choose to not to broadcast it, football doesn't promote an atmosphere in which you'd feel comfortable with people knowing you are gay. No it isn't relevant to my support of Leicester City and it's not something I'm generally open about (this thread aside of course) but I fully understand why there aren't any openly gay footballers playing today.

The chanting everytime we play Brighton does make me feel uncomfortable, and I consider it no more acceptable than the "town full of pakis" shite we've been listening to from the Leeds fans for the last 20 years. Both are insinuating that either being gay or being Asian are a negative thing. I don't get worked up about it, but I find it pretty small-minded nonetheless. The same goes for the occasional "get up you fooking poof/faggot" though you hear less often now - believe it or not for some of us being gay is a difficult thing to come to terms with so you don't feel very good about yourself when you hear this.

And those people telling others what they should or shouldn't be offended by, how on earth would you know what may or may not hurt someone sitting around you? It's not an issue specific to football, more society in general but football fans need to accept there is a broader cross-section of that society present at games than in years gone by.

This

[Bugg]

You're right, affend is actually offend.

and I was simply referring to your poor spelling of freaking or frikkin as you put it.

Boring. It's a spelling mistake. Jeeeeeeez

[FuriousFox46]

Boring. It's a spelling mistake. Jeeeeeeez

No need for the extra e's.

[FuriousFox46]

On another note is Ronaldo gay?