Gay men in sports keep quiet

[kweerwolf]

It's odd. But for whatever reason, today's sports consumers are less freaked out by the concept of lesbian athletes than by homosexual male athletes. Is it the smaller and less rabid fan base of female sports? Is it the longtime out-of-the-closet presence of such individual stars as Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King? Or is it a stronger awareness among those who follow women's teams of how little sexual orientation really matters during the course of a game?

All of the above, one would hope. But with guys, none of the above seems to apply. Let's just say we are a long way from Major League Baseball asking fans to vote for an ``All-Time, All-Gay'' team to be honored with a special pregame ceremony at the World Series.

<snip>

There have been several male team-sport athletes who emerged from the closet -- but always after retiring. One very popular theory is that the first major male team athlete to out himself must be a superstar with awesome on-field credentials, who would have to be respected by opponents and teammates for his stand.

I'm not so sure that's how it must happen. My personal belief: The only way gayness can openly arrive in major league sports is through a team effort. If all the gay players in a given sport could somehow be organized to come out of the closet simultaneously, then no one man would have to bear the abuse that might ensue -- or the burden of having to constantly speak about his sexual orientation to the media at every stop on a road trip.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/13019113.htm

Having dated a couple of "jocks" (one a college football player when I was in college and the other a former pro soccer player) I can attest that they both had "issues" around their homosexuality. The college football player was a long time ago, so I'm not sure how relevant the experience would be; but the former soccer player was a real mess. He was a very self-destructive alcoholic who never seemed to have made peace with being gay in a very macho sport.

I think it's naturally easier for women athletes to come out since they are already considered "tom-boyish" for being involved in sports. Because they already break the sexist stereotypes for being athletic and not demure "feminine" types, it's not too much of a stretch to take the next step and come out as lesbians. Gay men in sports, on the other hand, have a harder time integrating a gay identity into the macho world of sports where being gay is equated with being weak and feminine.

[xchrom]

1. from my point of view -- it's not at all unlike two male lovers

which is masculinity times two{i don't care how femme the guys are -- it's still men x's 2}

in sports you ramp up everything that is male to a hyper reality.

i don't think it's just hard to be gay in that circumstance -- i think it's hard to be ''just a guy'' period.

being gay -- well that would shine an extraordinary light on you in that circumstance.

it's hard to live when you are constantly under the spot light or scrutiny.

''coming out'' in this culture still draws an unusual amount of attention for any individual -- in sports the attention would be glaring.

[afdip]

2. i think most male sports fans are homophobic . . .

but most guys i know have these secret fantasies of being with two women as the third member of a menage a trois. this makes them have some strange allegiance with lesbians, to wit, they both like the same things. this is just my humble opinion, as a heterosexual, non-sports fan.

[closeupready]

3. If porn reflects society, consider obligatory lesbian sex in straight flix

but never a gay male sex scene. There is almost ALWAYS a lesbian sex scene, however.

So what?

So, that would indicate that lesbianism is at least marginally acceptable, and male homosexuality is still essentially taboo, unspeakable, invisible, etc.

Macho industries and sports are likely to mirror the values of the male-dominated porn industry.

[Uncle Roy]

4. People interested in the subject of gays in sports

should check out the wonderful Outsports website.

Their Gay Sports History page has an archive of articles by Patricia Nell Warren that almost all address, in one way or another, the subject "Gay men in sports keep quiet".

And be sure to check out their Discussion Board. It has forums on everything from "Ask the Ump" (a gay major league umpire tells all (about the MLB rulebook, that is...)) to "Football, College" to "Hot Jock Talk", and even "Politics & Religion"

Highly recommended!

Roy

[Name removed]

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