In the wake of recent high-profile cases of racism in the football world, this article by Daniel Storey on Football365.com is a welcome one. It's not the first time I have read suggestions to encourage more openness about homosexuality in football, in F365 articles as well as in the mailbox - which I think is great. I can't really picture the Sun or the Mail printing a back page story with "Kick homophobia out of football" or a call to our "Brave gay footballers" to come out of the closet (or even a light-hearted transfer story headed: "I'm too sexy for this shirt"). At one time, I would have considered it more likely that the red-tops would print a front page splash of "Player X in homosexual shocker! National outrage! Won't somebody please think of the children?". However, I think that in fairness, media attitudes to homosexuality have improved considerably. That said, sport seems to lag behind the rest of our culture in this respect, to the point where ne'er the twain shall meet - in a sort of perverse version of the US army's 'don't ask, don't tell' policy.
As I said when Ricky Martin came out - against the considered counsel of his advisors - it's a good day for him, and for the industry, but I don't expect him to be booking any dates in Jamaica, or in one of the ten countries where (theoretically at least) the punishment for homosexuality is death; nor one of the six where a gay man can receive life in prison for unrepentant sodomy. This type of institutionalised discrimination could well factor in to any homosexual footballer's decision, as it would potentially put a crimp on any international career. Countries with race-based Arpartheid-like laws are thankfully few and far between nowadays.
One possible reason for English football's relatively strong stance on racism is that around 25%* of players in the Football League are black - raising the profile of black people to a greater extent than any other walk of life other than perhaps music (only ~4% of the UK population are of 'black' ethnic origin). Nowadays, it seems to be a nationwide passive consensus that racism is a worse crime of discrimination than any other (and perhaps rightly so, given the relatively recent history of slavery and numerous systematic attempts at genocide). Sexism, homophobia, discrimination against the disabled and even class divisions (probably in that order) are more often forgiven. For example, rightly or wrongly, Keys and Gray are still working in the industry, whereas Ron Atkinson is not - despite some evidence perhaps pointing to the possibility that the Sky pair's sexism was part of a culture of actual discrimination, where Atkinson's track record with players from ethnic minorities speaks for itself, even to the point where a number of black former players came out to speak in his defence. Homosexuality is not such a visible trait; black players cannot hide the colour of their skin, and so the issue is much more to the fore.
One final thought is that it's much harder (or much less comfortable at least) to educate young children about homosexuality. This is the group for whom footballers are supposedly role models, but also the group with the most pliable and accepting minds. If a child grows up without realising that calling people 'bender' or using 'gay' as an everyday term is negative behaviour, then it's much less likely to be stamped out in later life. Unfortunately, I think we have some way to go before our education system provides enough support for young minds to come to the right conclusion of how relevant it is to your goal-scoring ability whether you like boys or girls (or both). But it's good that some true football fans find it sad that people can't be themselves off the pitch.
___________________________________________________
* I haven't verified that, but I have read it.
One final thought is that it's much harder (or much less comfortable at least) to educate young children about homosexuality. This is the group for whom footballers are supposedly role models, but also the group with the most pliable and accepting minds. If a child grows up without realising that calling people 'bender' or using 'gay' as an everyday term is negative behaviour, then it's much less likely to be stamped out in later life. Unfortunately, I think we have some way to go before our education system provides enough support for young minds to come to the right conclusion of how relevant it is to your goal-scoring ability whether you like boys or girls (or both). But it's good that some true football fans find it sad that people can't be themselves off the pitch.
___________________________________________________
* I haven't verified that, but I have read it.
No comments:
Post a Comment