Washington Post sports columnist on homophobia, pro sports and the black community

[Zenlitened]

Mike Freeman, who is African-American, BTW. His commentary is part of a series of columns by various authors responding to the question, "Is the NFL ready for openly-gay players?"

...there's no way the NFL or any other major American professional sport is ready for an openly gay athlete.

(snip)

Of course, some gay friends remark: People once said the same thing about an African-American becoming president. But Barack Obama achieving the presidency was easier. Yes, you read that right: easier.

Gays remain the last group of people society is allowed to hate and openly discriminate against. In the African-American community - and I'll get in trouble for saying this - we are sometimes the worst offender. The only thing viler in rap music than its open disdain for women is its rampant homophobia. In California, media reports bristled with news that 70 percent of blacks supported a recent proposition to ban gay marriage in that state.

Thus it's no coincidence the hardest line sports against openly gay athletes are in the black dominated ones like the NFL and NBA. Again, this will make some angry with me but it's true.

Link:
http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/panelists/2009/06/nfl-homosexuality-football-gay-freeman.html

I wonder, though, if hyper-masculinity is the real cause of the effect (so to speak) far more so than ethnicity?

The whole macho culture certainly seems to be part and parcel of pro sports -- contact sports especially, where strength, intimidation, etc. can be keys to winning the game.

I guess the deeper question might be, why does being macho or manly automatically = being anti-gay for so many people?

:shrug:

P.S. Here's the link to the full series:
http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/2009/06/nfl_homosexuality_football_gay/all.html

Some pretty thoughtful, encouraging stuff. With some notable exceptions, of course. Including the bigoted spewage provided by... wait for it... a fundie preacher ignoramus. I know -- that hardly ever happens!

[DarkTirade]

1. I think its mostly because being GLBT in any way means that in at least one aspect

of your life, you are the opposite of the 'normal' gender roles. And since you're dealing with a very masculine-oriented subculture, anything that flies in the face of 'normal' gender roles is going to get a lot of negative attention.

[rpannier]

2. Ice-T has said many times that Homophobia is a big problem in the African-American community

As to the macho aspect, as the author notes "The only thing viler in rap music than its open disdain for women is its rampant homophobia."

[FLAprogressive]

3. it is a problem in the black community....I think that we haven't done enough

within the black community to change that.

[insleeforprez]

4. Okay... if it's about black intolerance...

Why no openly gay players in hockey? That sport is as white as snow, but homophobia still seems rampant. That leads me to believe it has to do with the hyper-masculinity.

That said, my personal experience with the sport of crew (still lots of hypermasculinity!) is much more tolerant. It's a good question as to why this is.

[FLAprogressive]

5. good question -- it could be that pro sports is so religious

lots of fundies in pro-sports.

[Amimnoch]

6. I don't know, Rugby right offhand seems to be a very friendly sport.

Rugby is definitely macho culture, high contact, and where strength, and intimidation are a part of the sport. Yet, the clubs across the nation seem to have no issue at all about gay players.

[dsc]

7. It is totally amazing to see

We have a couple of gay rugby teams here in Raleigh but they often have to borrow players from straight clubs as well and there are literally no problems at all. I was flabbergasted when I saw this in person. You would think as rough and tumble, not to mention intimate that rugby can be it would be about the last sport that would mix straight and gay yet it appears to be about the most successful mix in all of sports.

[Amimnoch]

8. It really is.

I've played for the Houston Roughnecks, and now I'm playing with the Houston Heat. Both are TEXAS RFC teams that are mostly gay, but mixed. We've got a mixed team that's probably about 75% gay, and we also often borrow players from other teams that are not gay based teams in the area. I've also "whored" myself out to some of the other non gay themed teams in the area, with them fully knowing that I'm gay, and a member of the Houston Heat.. never a problem. It's part of the creed of the sport: Rugger first, everything else second, so it doesn't matter what the orientation of the players are.

Even when playing for the mostly or all straight teams, there are no problems at all, even in such a redneck place like Texas.

[dsc]

9. I am too old and out of shape to attempt such a thing as to play rugby

but I am very impressed with those who do. All the more so given this amazing attitude toward gay players.

[Smarmie Doofus]

10. Off topic ( but not really): basketball and football are also quintessentially *American*.

Rugby , soccer, tennis: not so much. More European in origin and character than American. Hockey: I have no idea.

Point: lots of variables here.

>>>>In California, media reports bristled with news that 70 percent of blacks supported a recent proposition to ban gay marriage in that state.>>>

As i recall: there wasn't a big gender gap in the polls on AAs and Prop 8. Meaning ( assuming the accuracy of the surveys, which I and some other people here questioned at the time) the "open disdain for women" reflected in some sectors of AA culture may be completely unrelated to "rampant homophobia" that exists along side it.

Interesting analysis, nonetheless.

[dsc]

11. they didn't break the numbers down by both genders, only one

so we actually don't know the extent to which there was or was not a gender gap.