Ship of Fools: Finally, a gay footballer

Thread: Finally, a gay footballer Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by goperryrevs (# 13504) on :

Anton Hysen, a 20-year-old Swedish midfielder came out this month. Let's hope he has a better run of it than Justin Fashanu did.

I found the linked article very interesting, especially this:

quote:
Last year, <The English FA> had to delay the release of its anti-homophobia video, because it couldn't find a footballer to back the message, publicly.

So, what's with the sporting world that makes it even less accepting of homosexuality than churches? (which is saying something!)

(I'm sure there's probably been a thread on this topic before, but maybe the fact that there's finally a gay footballer out there shows that change is slowly happening.)

Posted by Augustine the Aleut (# 1472) on :

I had always been under the impression that footballers were generally gay, given their incessant patting of each others' bottoms, their piling on to each other in groups, and their collective showers.

Posted by Matt Black (# 2210) on :

...not to mention all the kissing they do when someone scores a goal.

Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :

Fourth tier of the Swedish league?

Oh well. It's a start. Maybe some of the big boys will have the guts eventually.

I did love the part where he says he hates the Eurovision Song Contest. [Big Grin]

Posted by goperryrevs (# 13504) on :

I remember Alan Smith kissing another player on the lips when he scored, and the slight look of awkward shock on his face afterwards.

Or course, referees are light-years beyond the players in terms of being comfortable with their sexuality.

Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :

A regular footballing family, by the way. As well as his father, he has two older brothers who are both professionals (one full-brother, the other half-brother from his father's first marriage).

Posted by Adeodatus (# 4992) on :

quote:
Originally posted by goperryrevs:
So, what's with the sporting world that makes it even less accepting of homosexuality than churches? (which is saying something!)

The root of the problem is the same: the major cause of homophobia against gay men seems to be straight men who are very insecure about their own sexuality. Clergy and footballers, they're all the same. In football it's probably worse only because the House of Bishops tend not to shower together after Synod.

Posted by dj_ordinaire (# 4643) on :

I saw this... my first thought being 'at last', then to wish him well.

That's a massive lie of course - my first thought was 'fwhoar!' [Hot and Hormonal]

Posted by The Great Gumby (# 10989) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Adeodatus:

quote:
Originally posted by goperryrevs:
So, what's with the sporting world that makes it even less accepting of homosexuality than churches? (which is saying something!)
The root of the problem is the same: the major cause of homophobia against gay men seems to be straight men who are very insecure about their own sexuality. Clergy and footballers, they're all the same. In football it's probably worse only because the House of Bishops tend not to shower together after Synod.

You seem to be assuming (if I read the shower comment correctly) that any abuse would come from teammates, but this footballer appears to disagree.

Posted by Adeodatus (# 4992) on :

quote:
Originally posted by The Great Gumby:

quote:
Originally posted by Adeodatus:

quote:
Originally posted by goperryrevs:
So, what's with the sporting world that makes it even less accepting of homosexuality than churches? (which is saying something!)
The root of the problem is the same: the major cause of homophobia against gay men seems to be straight men who are very insecure about their own sexuality. Clergy and footballers, they're all the same. In football it's probably worse only because the House of Bishops tend not to shower together after Synod.
You seem to be assuming (if I read the shower comment correctly) that any abuse would come from teammates, but this footballer appears to disagree.

Fair point, Gumby. It must be terrifying to have to go out and perform every week in front of thousands of raving homophobes. In the Church of England, it's rarely more than a few dozen.

Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :

I'm not sure what you mean by "At last". Ian Roberts, who played 1st grade rugby league, came out to the world 20 or so years ago - and from a biography, it looks as if he had come out to his team well before that. Unless by "football" you mean soccer?

Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Gee D:
Unless by "football" you mean soccer?

Of course they do, Gee D. Our patch of the planet is one of the few where that ISN'T what 'football' means!

Personally I'm hanging out for the first gay AFL player.

Posted by Amos (# 44) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Adeodatus:

quote:
Originally posted by goperryrevs:
So, what's with the sporting world that makes it even less accepting of homosexuality than churches? (which is saying something!)
The root of the problem is the same: the major cause of homophobia against gay men seems to be straight men who are very insecure about their own sexuality. Clergy and footballers, they're all the same. In football it's probably worse only because the House of Bishops tend not to shower together after Synod.

Are you sure they don't?

Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :

It turns out that The Onion has outed the entire sport.

Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :

Orfeo , I hope you're not hanging out. That sounds a bit chilly in winter.

Posted by Vulpior (# 12744) on :

quote:
Originally posted by orfeo:
Personally I'm hanging out for the first gay AFL player.

I've already chosen mine!

Posted by Timothy the Obscure (# 292) on :

quote:
Originally posted by orfeo:

quote:
Originally posted by Gee D:
Unless by "football" you mean soccer?
Of course they do, Gee D. Our patch of the planet is one of the few where that ISN'T what 'football' means!

Personally I'm hanging out for the first gay AFL player.

You're likely to be waiting a while, since the AFL merged with the NFL and effectively ceased to exist in 1969. But if you mean the first American pro football player, there's Dave Meggyesy. Of course, he didn't come out until he retired, which may not count.

Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :

[Roll Eyes]

For assuming that the only possible meaning of an 'A' is 'American'.

Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Vulpior:

quote:
Originally posted by orfeo:
Personally I'm hanging out for the first gay AFL player.
I've already chosen mine!

What? More information! By private message if necessary!

I make no secret of the fact that I find AFL players tremendously drool-worthy.

Posted by Vulpior (# 12744) on :

Oh no, orfeo, nothing like that! I only meant that I've chosen who I want to come out. I can dream. They are such fit athletes, aren't they? And all round phwoar.

Of course, looking forward to the start of the season. Watching the Swans' round 1 match at home on the big screen, then up to Sydney for the first home game. You get to matches? At least the one at Manuka?

Posted by Timothy the Obscure (# 292) on :

quote:
Originally posted by orfeo:
For assuming that the only possible meaning of an 'A' is 'American'.

Oh... I get it now. [Hot and Hormonal]

Never mind...

Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Vulpior:
Oh no, orfeo, nothing like that! I only meant that I've chosen who I want to come out. I can dream. They are such fit athletes, aren't they? And all round phwoar.

Of course, looking forward to the start of the season. Watching the Swans' round 1 match at home on the big screen, then up to Sydney for the first home game. You get to matches? At least the one at Manuka?

I've only been to one match at Manuka, and it was embarrassingly lousy. I tend to stick to the comforts of home and the close-ups of television. [Snigger]

My list to dream about is fairly long. I still hold out hope that Ben Cousins will confess that his drug problem was masking his self-torture over his sexuality, and that he's finally found the love he needed in my arms...

Posted by Fugue (# 16254) on :

There's a nice interview with Anton Hysen in today's Guardian.

Sorry not to provide a link, not very techie and haven't worked out how to do those yet. [Hot and Hormonal]

Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Fugue:
There's a nice interview with Anton Hysen in today's Guardian.

Sorry not to provide a link, not very techie and haven't worked out how to do those yet.

Thanks for the tip and here's the link (I hope!)

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