Rainbow Laces Campaign

[Kitchandro]

Just thought I'd recognise this, an excellent response and I agree with 90% of it.

 

The law is irrelevant as it can and wil be changed at various points throughout time, at many points in history having sex with a 13 year old girl was considered completely natural and normal whilst homosexuality was punished by death, in a lot of parts of the Islamic World that is actually still the case.

 

Why have we changed on that? Gay sex was originally legalised down to 18, then it went down to 16, 16 isn't the age of an adult so I don't see how the argument of "two consenting adults" can actually be used anymore. In Greece you can have gay sex at 15.

 

Can anyone say with definity that the gay sex age won't be lowered to 14 in the future? Of course they can't. So the point about how we'll be " probably be legalising peadophilia" in 50 years can't just be thrown away as from what it was 50 years ago, we already have legalised it.

 

Isn't that the case with straight sex as well though?

[Guest MattP]

Isn't that the case with straight sex as well though?

 

Yep, it's not just a gay thing, I find it just as sickening that a 60 year old bloke can legally shag a 16 year old girl.

 

If the law took my half+7 rule into practice we could live in a much more decent society.

[Guest Bilo]

Yep, it's not just a gay thing, I find it just as sickening that a 60 year old bloke can legally shag a 16 year old girl.

 

If the law took my half+7 rule into practice we could live in a much more decent society.

 

Plus Hugh Hefner would be going to bed with a book instead of a bunny.

[Strokes]

Yep, it's not just a gay thing, I find it just as sickening that a 60 year old bloke can legally shag a 16 year old girl.

If the law took my half+7 rule into practice we could live in a much more decent society.

No more milfs

[Guest MattP]

No more milfs

 

Behave, it only applies to males.

 

I'm not going to endorse any legislation that would discourage milf-hunting.

[Strokes]

Behave, it only applies to males.

I'm not going to endorse any legislation that would discourage milf-hunting.

Waheeey, then im in.

[indierich06]

Good column on the subject from Matt Bloomfield:

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24212072

 

I can't remember a time when laces in football boots have caused such debate.

 

There has been so much talk, positive and negative, regarding the campaign that saw some professional footballers all over the country wearing rainbow-coloured laces in their boots on Saturday.

I think it's important to say I believe that the campaign title Right Behind Gay Footballers is inappropriate and unsuitable for such an emotive subject, and I can understand why some players and some clubs have decided that it has taken the credibility out of the campaign.

 

As soon as I read about the campaign I immediately spoke to our club media officer Ben Campbell and expressed my desire to wear the laces.

 

We discussed the positives and negatives of the campaign and decided that it was something we should give our backing to. The main point of our conversation was that the core value of the campaign is what we believe in.

 

The laces arrived at the Wycombe training ground last Thursday and immediately sparked conversation about who was going to wear them, how they looked in the boots and how ridiculous the slogan was!

 

In the end, about half of the matchday squad wore the laces in Saturday's 1-1 draw against York, with some opting out through superstition.

 

There are a few reasons why I feel strongly about this subject and was willing to back the campaign. Firstly, I have a family member who is gay and I know the prejudice he has had to endure over the years. Secondly, I thank my lucky stars that I have been able to live out my dream of becoming a professional footballer.

 

I may not have earned the fortune that some have along the way, but I am lucky enough to have been able to do a job that my dad would have loved to have done, that my brothers would have loved to have done, and what pretty much all of my mates would have loved to have done.

 

What if I was gay and wasn't confident enough to enter the football world, and therefore had that opportunity taken away from me?

 

I heard that at another club there has been doubt about wearing the laces as the players were concerned that by doing so their sexuality would be questioned.

 

To many this may sound crazy but I know from first-hand experience that this can be the case. I signed the Government Charter for Action, tackling homophobia in football, a couple of years ago and in doing so made Wycombe Wanderers the first club to back the campaign.

 

I didn't realise at the time that this would make others question my sexuality. I soon came to learn that it did and I can honestly say that it did not worry me one bit.

 

My wife finds it highly amusing and I don't think the lads at the club can believe that it doesn't bother me. But why should it?

Nothing has ever been said directly to me, but I was made aware of a thread on a football chat room, soon after I signed the government charter, where people were speculating about whether I was gay or not.

 

Also, until recently, the third most popular search on my name on Google was "Matt Bloomfield gay".

 

How did this make me feel? At the time I was quite surprised that by standing up for something others would question you, that you could be gay just because you support gay rights, but at no point was I worried about it.

 

To come out in the world of professional football is obviously still a big deal, otherwise there would be openly gay players. Who

am I to say that someone should or shouldn't come out?

 

I just hope that one day in the not too distant future a player feels comfortable enough in their own mind to take that step.

[Guest MattP]

He's clearly gay.

 

In the end, about half of the matchday squad wore the laces in Saturday's 1-1 draw against York, with some opting out through superstition.

 

That's a worrying statement for me, half of them not doing it through 'superstition' is bollocks and we all know it.
 

It's very important gay players feel comfortable coming out but it's also important that the game isn't invested with this nasty liberal bigotry where anyone with an opposite opinion to this is jeered and leered at as a homophobe.

[indierich06]

That's a worrying statement for me, half of them not doing it through 'superstition' is bollocks and we all know it.

 

It's very important gay players feel comfortable coming out but it's also important that the game isn't invested with this nasty liberal bigotry where anyone with an opposite opinion to this is jeered and leered at as a homophobe.

 

The way I see it, personal opinions have no place in a working environment. If you want to hate people of a certain gender, or race, or sexual preference or anyone for any reason... do it on your own time. People should be professional enough to come to work and not let their prejudices get in the way of doing their job. If footballers are not happy that one of their colleagues is gay, then they should just get on with it - it's not going to kill them, it's not going to prevent them from doing their job. I really don't see why professional footballers can't just be professional. 

[Guest MattP]

The way I see it, personal opinions have no place in a working environment. If you want to hate people of a certain gender, or race, or sexual preference or anyone for any reason... do it on your own time. People should be professional enough to come to work and not let their prejudices get in the way of doing their job. If footballers are not happy that one of their colleagues is gay, then they should just get on with it - it's not going to kill them, it's not going to prevent them from doing their job. I really don't see why professional footballers can't just be professional. 

 

I completely agree. I would do exactly the same.

 

And I would expect the others to also be professional and get on with their jobs if I said I didn't want to wear the laces as I didn't want to promote homosexuality, I wouldn't want to have to use the excuse of "superstition" to not wear them.

[indierich06]

I completely agree. I would do exactly the same.

 

And I would expect the others to also be professional and get on with their jobs if I said I didn't want to wear the laces as I didn't want to promote homosexuality, I wouldn't want to have to use the excuse of "superstition" to not wear them.

 

To be fair, you don't know for sure whether the superstition thing is genuine or bollocks, so you can't say either way really. Some players do have stupid superstitions like that, and like Bloomfield said - some of them might think people will suspect them of being gay if they wear them.

 

If players don't want to do it, it's their choice and I'm sure you're aware that the players who didn't wear the laces were far more in the majority than those who did, so I doubt there's been any kind of 'jeering' or 'leering' as you put it - the blokes who did wear them have probably gotten more grief than the ones who haven't.

[Guest MattP]

To be fair, you don't know for sure whether the superstition thing is genuine or bollocks, so you can't say either way really. Some players do have stupid superstitions like that, and like Bloomfield said - some of them might think people will suspect them of being gay if they wear them.

 

If players don't want to do it, it's their choice and I'm sure you're aware that the players who didn't wear the laces were far more in the majority than those who did, so I doubt there's been any kind of 'jeering' or 'leering' as you put it - the blokes who did wear them have probably gotten more grief than the ones who haven't.

 

Maybe, but I'm guessing the vast majority of professional footballers don't have superstitions regarding their shoelaces.

 

You should have listened to Sam Dick on SSN, he seemed to have the impression anyone who didn't wear them was a homophobe. It's people like that getting on people's tits. Read this nonsense here being peddled by some of the Liberal Bigots.

 

"Premier League unashamedly shielded gay hate" - Honestly, I've never heard anything like it. To compare it to remembrance day is insulting to the millions who laid down their lives.

 

http://metro.co.uk/2013/09/24/how-the-premier-league-unashamedly-shielded-gay-hate-4092157/

[Guest MattP]

If anyone can find the Mourinho reaction in the press conference when asked if he was supporting it please post it up, one of the funniest things I've ever seen.

[Dan]

If this didn't have Paddy Power marketing itself and tweeting everyone under the sun to wear the laces I'd be a little less cynical. It would have been better if players had just chosen to instead of Paddy Power pressuring them. Now everyone will be wearing them more to be part of the bandwagon than anything else.

 

I sometimes wonder if campaigns like this whilst well-intentioned do more harm than good. If you're gay I'd think ideally you'd like to come out and it not being a big deal at all. But I imagine do-gooders would make more of a drama out of it than anyone else. Sure, you're going to get negative chants and positive support is good, but do they really want to be bombarded by interview requests and be trending number one on twitter with people giving them support.

 

Just look at Robbie Rogers he came out; retired and was bombarded by interview requests and drama. In reality he didn't retire he went back to USA to play after it had all died down.

 

If a player came out as gay I really wouldn't care at all and I think that's the way it should be. I'd be impressed he had the courage to do it, but I'd just leave him be and not make a big deal out of it. And I can't help but think this is just a way for people/bookies to join some sort of bandwagon to make themselves look good. 

 

Top post. Totally agree. It's why I can't stand the majority of the media. Selfish bunch of pigs.

[davieG]

Premier League players across England will don rainbow-coloured laces today to show their support for gay footballers.

Gay rights charity Stonewall has sent thousands of pairs of the laces to professional players and clubs across Britain in the hope they will use them as part of a nationwide awareness campaign.

It says that homophobia is still rife on the football terraces and that there are no openly gay footballers playing the professional game.

The drive has had the backing of a number of Arsenal players including Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who took part in a promotional video to spread the message.

But as well as footballers, other supporters of the charity were also lacing up their footwear to show solidarity.

The Leicestershire Police Tactical Dogs and Firearms Unit posted a picture of themselves dressed in full tactical gear with rainbow laces in their boots.

They tweeted: “We believe it's our differences that unite us. The more diverse, the more effective we are.”

And their gesture was echoed by Leicestershire Police Chief Constable Simon Cole who also uploaded a picture of his laces to Twitter, saying: “Something for this weekend....time to lace up my boots.”

It has also been backed by ex-Leicester City striker Emile Heskey, who showed his support on Twitter.

He wrote: “We can change the game. #RainbowLaces.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTb-eepjheE

 

Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Leicester-City-star-Emile-Heskey-backs-Rainbow/story-22920731-detail/story.html?#ixzz3DBo9R8Wl 
Follow us: @Leicester_Merc on Twitter | leicestermercury on Facebook
Read more at http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Leicester-City-star-Emile-Heskey-backs-Rainbow/story-22920731-detail/story.html?#1I8Sb9qePfAVlro6.99

[Stadt]

Whilst it's a nice idea, what is it doing? 'Raising awareness'?

[VLC86]

I didn't read this thread last year and wish I didn't now.

Firstly, I find the campaign to be tacky mainly because Paddy Power look to be backing it for free advertising and I know for a fact they were trying to sponsor a gay football league.

Secondly, comments comparing this to being a paedophile are sickening.

Thirdly, DT I can imagine your step son and yourself get on famously. I get your point about people calling him aunty etc aren't going to go down well but your openly slagging off a family member on an Internet forum? Speaks volumes a about you.

I understand it's an emotive subject but there really is no need for anyone to be bothered about what someone decides to do in their own bedroom. If someone decides to flaunt it it's their own way of dealing with it but for **** sake life is hard enough as it is without being a Cnut to someone about something they have no choice about.

[VLC86]

Now you see, that is just embarrassing.

Why is it?

Imagine this, members of foxes talk meet for a beer to discuss football etc and someone says they are gay. Judging by some, not all, responses on here I can guarantee that person is made to feel unwelcome by one person. That then means they don't meet up again and carry on going to football matches alone.

They see this banner in the stand, yeah the banner looks shit and tacky but this person sees it, goes home googles it and then decided to meet up for a beer to talk about football knowing they won't be judged by their sexuality.

Still think it's embarrassing?

Ps, sorry for quoting you on something a year old.

[Nalis]

To me, a footballer announcing he is gay is about as relevant as him getting a haircut.

Paddy Power's marketing campaign on this is backfiring a bit as it implies the notion of 'If you don't wear rainbow laces you're homophobic'.

One of my mates came out to a few of us we were fine about it but hasn't come out to some of the other lads in the group as he terrified of their potential reaction. Hasn't exactly helped that one of the lads who he has told has advised him not to say anything to the rest of the group... Must be tough fearing the worst about what everyone would think...

[Haydos]

I didn't read this thread last year and wish I didn't now.

Firstly, I find the campaign to be tacky mainly because Paddy Power look to be backing it for free advertising and I know for a fact they were trying to sponsor a gay football league.

Secondly, comments comparing this to being a paedophile are sickening.

Thirdly, DT I can imagine your step son and yourself get on famously. I get your point about people calling him aunty etc aren't going to go down well but your openly slagging off a family member on an Internet forum? Speaks volumes a about you.

I understand it's an emotive subject but there really is no need for anyone to be bothered about what someone decides to do in their own bedroom. If someone decides to flaunt it it's their own way of dealing with it but for **** sake life is hard enough as it is without being a Cnut to someone about something they have no choice about.

 

Same, some fvcking disgusting vitriol thrown about, mostly from DT but we all know he's an hateful scumbag anyway.

 

It's horrible to think there's gay blokes on here having to read this kind of shit. I understand some people don't like it or don't agree with it but to think someone is a disgrace of a humand being because they're camp? **** me.

 

Back on topic, I think the laces campaign is a bit shit but the more well known faces you have come out and show support for it and effectively say they don't give a toss about it is only a good thing.

[Strokes]

Same, some fvcking disgusting vitriol thrown about, mostly from DT but we all know he's an hateful scumbag anyway.

It's horrible to think there's gay blokes on here having to read this kind of shit. I understand some people don't like it or don't agree with it but to think someone is a disgrace of a humand being because they're camp? **** me.

Back on topic, I think the laces campaign is a bit shit but the more well known faces you have come out and show support for it and effectively say they don't give a toss about it is only a good thing.

In all fairness being camp is a choice surely, you can dislike someone for actions/opinions that they choose.

[leicsmac]

In all fairness being camp is a choice surely, you can dislike someone for actions/opinions that they choose.

 

True enough - it's free speech. But disliking someone for a choice they make that doesn't actually harm anyone else is a bit prickish.

[Strokes]

True enough - it's free speech. But disliking someone for a choice they make that doesn't actually harm anyone else is a bit prickish.

Maybe so, im not a fan of guys that are overly camp but then i am a bit of a ****. I like my gay friends to be less gay if possible

[Xen]

Maybe so, im not a fan of guys that are overly camp but then i am a bit of a ****. I like my gay friends to be less gay if possible

 

Not possible.

 

'Gay' and 'Camp' are two completely separate things. One is a sexuality, the other is a lifestyle choice (that ANYONE can follow - regardless of sexuality). There are plenty of camp straight guys out there.

[Strokes]

Not possible.

'Gay' and 'Camp' are two completely separate things. One is a sexuality, the other is a lifestyle choice (that ANYONE can follow - regardless of sexuality). There are plenty of camp straight guys out there.

No shit