Gay footballers | Czech Republic international Jakub Jankto comes out as gay

[The Boy]

Why do people need to announce 'IM GAY'

I didn't announce 'I'm Straight' I just got a girlfriend and people worked it out.

I think in this day and age being gay is not that big a thing as it used to people 10/20 years ago.

I don't think any footballer should come out and make a huge announcement. They should live their life and if he has a boyfriend then everyone will cotton on quite quickly that he is gay.

This is essentially what others in this thread have been saying and they have been ridiculed for it. A lot of people in our society have a bad habit of bashing whoever doesn't agree with their point of view or even a common and labelling it 'offensive'.

The point is not to hide it. I never said that, if I did then you could call me a homophobe. Regardless of what my view is (which I haven't really shared), my point it isn't fair to belittle people for their opinion when they've all been asked to share it. That's what a forum is for right?

Read the post you initially quoted here "Why do people need to announce I"M GAY" I didn't announce I'm straight I just got a girlfriend and people worked it out"

You may not have expressed your view directly, but this is the post you said was being bashed unfairly and suggested that labelling it as offensive was wrong too. I and others have explained why coming out is important, it's not to offend or annoy straight people. It's the beginning of an attempt to finally live your life in the open. It's an attempt to have the same rights in life as anyone else.

Depression and suicide rates among gay men are far far higher than straight men, mainly because of the mental anguish involved in not coming out, ie having to live a lie all the time ... just pause for a moment and imagine having to hide and lie about who you are all the time, to the people who are meant to love and support you the most because you are scared of how they might react if they found out who you really are.

And I wasn't belittling anyone's opinion I was saying it is wrong. I will repeat it again, as this thread has proved again and again, the post you supported is at best self centred and unempathetic, BUT if you've read this whole thread and still think that people should just keep it to themselves, then yes it is clearly a homophobic view and no forums like this are not a place for homophobia.

 

[mancan92]

Would it have changed anything really?

Seriously? Wow this is a truly poor post.

 

[Icemav]

It would just be so tough to come out. I mean if you were just your average bloke why on earth would you want all that toxity and attention thrust upon you. There would be some amazingly positive things to but football has a dark underbelly.

The only type of person I could imagine would want to be the first guy through the door is an absolutely bullet proof in your face feck y'all sing it loud and proud Queen of Muhammed Ali type greatness. Someone who can stick it to the terraces. Someone who can't and won't hide.

 

[LilyWhiteSpur]

Pretty clear a big part of the reason footballers don't come out during their careers is the fear of abuse during match days. Football being as tribal as it is does at times cause some quite normal people to act like Neanderthals. fans will use anything and everything to throw abuse at an opposition player, the colour of their skin, what religion they have adopted, and most certainly what sexuality they are. Of course it shouldn't be this way but we don't and will never live in a perfect world.

There was a great documentary about Gareth Thomas, the Welsh rugby player, and he outlines the fears and anxiety he had coming out, really good watch and outlines just how hard it is, for men especially to say they are gay and a male sport.

 

[The Boy]

Depressing but true. Gareth Thomas was recently beaten up for being gay. If a big tough bastard like him gets physically harmed after making his sexuality public it’s not hard to see why other athletes would be reluctant to follow suit.

As an aside, it is kind of fascinating the different standards applied to male and female gay soccer players. Less than a month after Megan Rapinoe became a global icon, we have a male player too frightened to even come out.

Gareth Thomas chose the path of restorative justice for this, it was a 16 year old kid and apparently according to Thomas the meeting between them was incredibly positive. Good to see him taking an horrendous incident and using it to highlight and educate homophobia.

This is why it would be great if a current prem footballer (or even better more than one) would come out and send the same positive message.

 

[World Game]

Your only contribution to a thread that is full of right-minded posters calling out rampant homophobia is to ask teasing questions about the meaning of homophobia.

It’s obvious where your priorities lie. It also says a lot about your view on the subject. My guess is that you’ll sidestep this and pretend to see this from a perspective best suited to hiding your true beliefs.

It is true, I have mostly been asking questions about other people's views and beliefs in this thread but this is a forum. To understand what other people think, what makes them think certain ways and questioning their viewpoints - I don't think there is anything wrong with that.
Since our conversation is going off on a tangent though, I would be happy to continue any disagreements you have in private.

 

[MarylandMUFan]

It's interesting that MLS soccer here in the US has really incorporated the LGBTQ community. Many of the supporters groups actually wave a rainbow flag throughout the games and the MLS even has pride week where they wear (and sell) special pride uniforms. I imagine it would be easier to come out in the MLS or other leagues before some of the ones in Europe.

 

[Steve Bruce]

Read the post you initially quoted here "Why do people need to announce I"M GAY" I didn't announce I'm straight I just got a girlfriend and people worked it out"

You may not have expressed your view directly, but this is the post you said was being bashed unfairly and suggested that labelling it as offensive was wrong too. I and others have explained why coming out is important, it's not to offend or annoy straight people. It's the beginning of an attempt to finally live your life in the open. It's an attempt to have the same rights in life as anyone else.

Depression and suicide rates among gay men are far far higher than straight men, mainly because of the mental anguish involved in not coming out, ie having to live a lie all the time ... just pause for a moment and imagine having to hide and lie about who you are all the time, to the people who are meant to love and support you the most because you are scared of how they might react if they found out who you really are.

And I wasn't belittling anyone's opinion I was saying it is wrong. I will repeat it again, as this thread has proved again and again, the post you supported is at best self centred and unempathetic, BUT if you've read this whole thread and still think that people should just keep it to themselves, then yes it is clearly a homophobic view and no forums like this are not a place for homophobia.

My post didn't say to hide or anything like that. Walk down the street with your boyfriend, have dinner with your boyfriend, hold his hands, do what all other couples do and people will know your gay. It doesn't need to be a big announcement.

Their are people out their who hate because that's what they do, whether it's being gay, a person of different ethnic background, the colour of your hair, not wearing the right clothes, not being as good looking or just for being their at the wrong time in the wrong place.

Making an announcement that your gay isn't going to change these people, possibly by not making an announcement but going about your daily life with as a gay couple not hiding like any other couple hetro or homosexual that by itself makes it normalised for those who don't feel it's normal.

I'm not the most articulate person, I don't claim to be so goodness knows how this comes across, but I can tell you it does come from a good place, whether you agree with what I said or not.

 

[Grylte]

Have you seen all the comments, and angry reactions, to the pride flag on United and PL's facebook pages?
It's quite clear that something has to be done about homophobia.
Players coming out might help.... or make it worse, hard to tell, but there will be abuse.

"God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve" was pretty much half of the comments

 

[Nick7]

My post didn't say to hide or anything like that. Walk down the street with your boyfriend, have dinner with your boyfriend, hold his hands, do what all other couples do and people will know your gay. It doesn't need to be a big announcement.

Their are people out their who hate because that's what they do, whether it's being gay, a person of different ethnic background, the colour of your hair, not wearing the right clothes, not being as good looking or just for being their at the wrong time in the wrong place.

Making an announcement that your gay isn't going to change these people, possibly by not making an announcement but going about your daily life with as a gay couple not hiding like any other couple hetro or homosexual that by itself makes it normalised for those who don't feel it's normal.

I'm not the most articulate person, I don't claim to be so goodness knows how this comes across, but I can tell you it does come from a good place, whether you agree with what I said or not.

That's still an announcement, they don't need to be words. That will still be news if a footballer does it.

Either way, what fecking difference does it make?

 

[Olly Gunnar Solskjær]

For everyone saying it's not much of an issue anymore, go and look at the replies on Twitter when a club posts about rainbow laces in support of LGBT, or when Barclays does something as outrageous as changing their logo to a multicoloured pattern for a week, and how angry and abusive everyone gets.

Now imagine instead of the abuse and hate going towards a huge company/organisation it's to an individual.

 

[Steve Bruce]

That's still an announcement, they don't need to be words. That will still be news if a footballer does it.

Either way, what fecking difference does it make?

I was talking more literal announcements e.g. on stage, social media etc etc.

Incidentally I couldn't give a fiddlers what their sexuality is, as long as they do the job in the pitch.

 

[Tarrou]

My post didn't say to hide or anything like that. Walk down the street with your boyfriend, have dinner with your boyfriend, hold his hands, do what all other couples do and people will know your gay. It doesn't need to be a big announcement.

Their are people out their who hate because that's what they do, whether it's being gay, a person of different ethnic background, the colour of your hair, not wearing the right clothes, not being as good looking or just for being their at the wrong time in the wrong place.

Making an announcement that your gay isn't going to change these people, possibly by not making an announcement but going about your daily life with as a gay couple not hiding like any other couple hetro or homosexual that by itself makes it normalised for those who don't feel it's normal.

I'm not the most articulate person, I don't claim to be so goodness knows how this comes across, but I can tell you it does come from a good place, whether you agree with what I said or not.

this is an arbitrary distinction for a professional footballer, the moment they do that they will be on the front page of every newspaper

 

[Sir Scott McToMinay]

For everyone saying it's not much of an issue anymore, go and look at the replies on Twitter when a club posts about rainbow laces in support of LGBT, or when Barclays does something as outrageous as changing their logo to a multicoloured pattern for a week, and how angry and abusive everyone gets.

Now imagine instead of the abuse and hate going towards a huge company/organisation it's to an individual.

Its not as much as an issue as it used to be in more developed countries, but in the football world its probably as much of a taboo as it was 50 years ago.

 

[Nick7]

I was talking more literal announcements e.g. on stage, social media etc etc.

Incidentally I couldn't give a fiddlers what their sexuality is, as long as they do the job in the pitch.

I know, but there is literally no difference. What is bad about making a "literal" announcement?

 

[SteveJ]

The best-case-scenario upshot of comments like 'Why do they keep going on and on about it?' translates to 'I am bored by this being discussed'. So what? We're bombarded with everything from advertising to hype about tv shows we may not care for on a daily basis...get over it.

 

[Casanova85]

Still an issue.

The hundreds of gay players worldwide who renounce to have a partner while active so their secret is safe from the millions of homophobes...and that includes their own squad mates. Homophobe jerks like Rakitic, for example. Or miserable wankers with their racist chants. Racism and homophobia are twin sisters.

Meanwhile, we have to endure the stupid pics of hetero players with their (mostly) bimbo trophy wifes.

 

[Rado_N]

I ask the questions in good faith. I wish to learn more about your views and why you hold them. Especially for someone like you who seems to have a strong opinion on this topic I thought you would be willing to share even more of your views and reasoning. So I question if you hold the same or similar principles in other areas of life. I don't ask much. They are just simple yes/no questions. Like "Do you think it's possible to disagree with the way someone lives without treating them differently?"

The idea that you are discussing anything in "good faith" is laughable quite frankly.

 

[Sir Scott McToMinay]

Still an issue.

The hundreds of gay players worldwide who renounce to have a partner while active so their secret is safe from the millions of homophobes...and that includes their own squad mates. Homophobe jerks like Rakitic, for example.

Meanwhile, we have to endure the stupid pics of hetero players with their (mostly) bimbo trophy wifes.

Who the feck are you to make these type of generalizations?
I’d bet most of them are more intelligent than you are, comfortably too.

 

[SiRed]

I understand the cynicism, to be fair. You’d have to be as thick as a brick to hold those views in the first place.

Not really!

 

[Tom Cato]

My post didn't say to hide or anything like that. Walk down the street with your boyfriend, have dinner with your boyfriend, hold his hands, do what all other couples do and people will know your gay. It doesn't need to be a big announcement.

Their are people out their who hate because that's what they do, whether it's being gay, a person of different ethnic background, the colour of your hair, not wearing the right clothes, not being as good looking or just for being their at the wrong time in the wrong place.

Making an announcement that your gay isn't going to change these people, possibly by not making an announcement but going about your daily life with as a gay couple not hiding like any other couple hetro or homosexual that by itself makes it normalised for those who don't feel it's normal.

I'm not the most articulate person, I don't claim to be so goodness knows how this comes across, but I can tell you it does come from a good place, whether you agree with what I said or not.

Making an announcement like that has less than nothing to do with the bigots. People who have a problem with this are either fundamentalists or lack basic human empathy. I wrote a post on this that got largely ignored, but Id like to post it here and try to get some more feedback on it, becuse this is a topic I actually care greatly about.

The reason for coming out is to break the proverbial bigotry wall, and allow people who are gay and in this particular community the freedom and bravery to take the step and announce to everyone that they too love a man, and should not be afraid to do so.

http://www.redcafe.net/threads/gay-footballers.449191/page-4#post-24437954

 

[SiRed]

Actually i think you should be congratulating @SiRed

It takes courage to come into a thread get slaughtered and then say actually I've read your points I hadn't thought about that, thanks for changing my view. A bit more of that sort of thing in general society is much needed at the moment.

Thank you

 

[Nick7]

Making an announcement like that has less than nothing to do with the bigots. People who have a problem with this are either fundamentalists or lack basic human empathy. I wrote a post on this that got largely ignored, but Id like to post it here and try to get some more feedback on it, becuse this is a topic I actually care greatly about.

The reason for coming out is to break the proverbial bigotry wall, and allow people who are gay and in this particular community the freedom and bravery to take the step and announce to everyone that they too love a man, and should not be afraid to do so.

http://www.redcafe.net/threads/gay-footballers.449191/page-4#post-24437954

That's a good post, thanks for posting.

 

[Casanova85]

Who the feck are you to make these type of generalizations?
I’d bet most of them are more intelligent than you are, comfortably too.

Ok, let's see:

a) First of all, calm down
b) I said mostly. It's an opinion, and I stick to it. Most professional players and their partners are often people with basic education who got rich way too quickly/too young thanks to football. Then again, my opinion.
c) You know jack shit about me, mate.

 

[Jordan_mufc]

My post didn't say to hide or anything like that. Walk down the street with your boyfriend, have dinner with your boyfriend, hold his hands, do what all other couples do and people will know your gay. It doesn't need to be a big announcement.

Their are people out their who hate because that's what they do, whether it's being gay, a person of different ethnic background, the colour of your hair, not wearing the right clothes, not being as good looking or just for being their at the wrong time in the wrong place.

Making an announcement that your gay isn't going to change these people, possibly by not making an announcement but going about your daily life with as a gay couple not hiding like any other couple hetro or homosexual that by itself makes it normalised for those who don't feel it's normal.

I'm not the most articulate person, I don't claim to be so goodness knows how this comes across, but I can tell you it does come from a good place, whether you agree with what I said or not.

I think I see where you're coming from and, without speaking for you, I can try to expand on it.

Coming out as gay is certainly a big issue in society and a lot of emphasis is placed on it when it happens.

There are millions of homosexuals across the world, so naturally, opinions on coming out are going to differ. Some people like to tell a close set of friends and family and let the rest of their acquaintances figure it out for themselves. Others like to make it a bigger occasion by posting it on social media or writing a blog about it etc. This again is totally understandable because it is a huge life decision and deserving of as much attention as you want to give it.

Where I think your point veers off is when you claim that homosexuality will be "normalised" if gay people would just keep their sexuality to themselves and lead a "normal" life. Unfortunately that isn't the case. As stated before in this thread, in contemporary society, most people will assume that you are heterosexual, unless told otherwise. Therefore, homosexuals are a minority in society and it affects social dynamics in a number of ways that would take too long to explain in one post. Therefore, in a way, it can be understood why many people feel it is a necessity to come out as homosexual.

Finally, in terms of football, it takes on a whole new level of importance. Imagine, for example, Pogba or Zlatan (or another player of that status) came out as gay. It would be a huge story and draw a ridiculous amount of attention. Said player could then use that platform to begin to dispel the stereotypes and prejudice aimed at homosexual individuals, in the same way that Sterling is raising awareness to racism within the sport. Again, without speaking for anyone, I think this is what most people are trying to articulate as to why this story may be seen as such an important matter.

TLDR?: Coming out is a big issue; millions of gay people around the world; many have differing opinions; footballer coming out would raise awareness surrounding homophobia.

 

[Sir Scott McToMinay]

Ok, let's see:

a) First of all, calm down
b) I said mostly. It's an opinion, and I stick to it. Most players and their partners are often people with basic education. Then again, my opinion.
c) You know jack shit about me, mate.

Education says nothing about whether a person is a “bimbo” or not, I’ve met lawyers who are absolute idiots, and I’ve met punk rockers who dropped out of high school after dropping loads of acid, that could teach you about what life was like for the average Joe in ancient Rome.

Anyone who makes these type of generalizations about people he doesn’t know, is a feckwit in my book and that’s that.

 

[mancan92]

I was talking more literal announcements e.g. on stage, social media etc etc.

Incidentally I couldn't give a fiddlers what their sexuality is, as long as they do the job in the pitch.

It doesn't matter if you care or not. It matters whether they're life will be affected by it. We know for a fact their life will be hugely affected but the hope is that it will allows others in the game to be able to live more open lives and hopefully won't be affected as much.

To me this is a pure selfish and ignorant view.

 

[Casanova85]

Education says nothing about whether a person is a “bimbo” or not, I’ve met lawyers who are absolute idiots, and I’ve met punk rockers who dropped out of high school after dropping loads of acid, that could teach you about what life was like for the average Joe in ancient Rome.

Anykne who makes these type of generalizations about people he doesn’t know, is a feckwit in my book and that’s that.

Whatever!

 

[SalfordRed18]

Thank you

I'd put an edit on your post, I don't think it's fair that you keep getting quoted on it for what it's worth.

 

[SiRed]

SO

I'd put an edit on your post, I don't think it's fair that you keep getting quoted on it for what it's worth.

Sound advice - will do just that!

 

[Guy Incognito]

He's deleted his twitter account apparently, I saw some of the abuse that he was getting on there, which was pretty bad so I don't blame him.

I honestly thought it was a Paddy Power prank, like the empty bus during Pride. Most of the abuse he got was "you are attention seeking," and that he didn't think things through.

 

[robinamicrowave]

This is really sad. This is either a hoax, which is sad for reasons I'm sure we can work out ourselves, or a gay footballer is so frightened of coming out that he's decided not to after all. This isn't a problem with football, it's a problem with the men's game. There were plenty of women playing at the World Cup a few weeks ago who were out, proud, and accepted by the fans and their teammates. Could you say with hand on heart that homophobic chanting wouldn't see a sudden spike if a Premier League footballer were to come out? I really thought the men's game was about to have a moment here, but I guess not. And now we'll never know.

 

[UnrelatedPsuedo]

this is an arbitrary distinction for a professional footballer, the moment they do that they will be on the front page of every newspaper

That’s simply not true.

As I have previously said on this forum;

- There are gay footballers in the league, living with male partners.

Society doesn’t give a shit. The fringes may. But gay footballers are not hiding.

 

[adexkola]

India and China for example then are countries of homophobes?
Do you support Islam?
Do you support Christianity?
Do you support increasing refugees intake?
Do you support Israel in their conflict with Palestine?

I read every page of this thread. This sticks out as the weirdest post.

Sadly in response to a post that said (and I'm paraphrasing here), "the world supports LGBTQ rights"... It doesn't seem like that is accurate. A lot of countries have banned or stigmatized LGBTQ people. The crazy posts I've read here wouldn't be crazy in a lot of countries. Humanity still has a long way to go

 

[mancan92]

That’s simply not true.

As I have previously said on this forum;

- There are gay footballers in the league, living with male partners.

Society doesn’t give a shit. The fringes may. But gay footballers are not hiding.

Are you serious? Please show me one

If they were open then we would have seen some.

 

[robinamicrowave]

That’s simply not true.

As I have previously said on this forum;

- There are gay footballers in the league, living with male partners.

Society doesn’t give a shit. The fringes may. But gay footballers are not hiding.

Would love to know who these players are.

 

[Tarrou]

That’s simply not true.

As I have previously said on this forum;

- There are gay footballers in the league, living with male partners.

Society doesn’t give a shit. The fringes may. But gay footballers are not hiding.

okay, who are they then?

 

[Casanova85]

Anyway, I think most professional male footballers are hetero. And by that I mean a vast majority.

 

[WR10]

There are a lot of gay footballers in the top divisions that have just not come out publicly. Their teammates know

 

[Casanova85]

There are a lot of gay footballers in the top divisions that have just not come out publicly. Their teammates know

I disagree. The press and social media would know. In my opinion, the vast majority of the small minority of gay male players play in lower divisions.