[Closed] And the first openly gay premier league player is.....

Is that the STW lawyer I hear stirring?

Err, wasn't it Justin Fashanu? Unless we're being really pedantic about the term "Premier League" and only counting post 92 players.

And what business of yours is it to be speculating on his sexuality? Do you have a particular interest in him?

Rachel

I admire the power of Lodders Gaydar which is only bested by his shit trolling

They should certainly be allowed to 'come out', but better yet, they should be allowed to be simple 'footballers' instead of 'gay footballers'. Indeed, we should all be allowed to be who we are without fear of discrimination of any sort.

After all, our sexuality is a part of us, but we are not our sexuality.

I am, at the end of the day, not a 'straight forum member'; I am just a 'forum member'.

In any case, if you are right, OP, then best wishes to Mr Smalling.

EDIT: Good question, allthegear.

Didn't Justin come out after he had finished playing ?

Who cares? Is the sexuality of every premier league player listed somewhere. Maybe the gay ones just think it's none of your business.

Don't get the point of starting this thread. What's your end game or is this just mindless speculation?

Didn't Justin come out after he had finished playing ?

Dunno.

Either way it's no ones business. It's a shame that it still needs to be such an issue in 2016. Unfortunately knuckle dragging homophobes are alive and well.

JUstin was was out as a pro and treated horribly by many in the game including his won brother

[quote=SaxonRider ]I am, at the end of the day, not a 'straight forum member'

Well there's STW revelation of the day 😉

JUstin was was out as a pro and treated horribly by many in the game including his won brother

He won a brother? Is that some sort of brutha from anotha mutha thing?

Didn't Justin come out after he had finished playing ?

No. 1990, when he was still playing in the UK and then went on to play in NA

If you aren't aware of his post football life, he killed himself in 1998 because of fears his homosexuality would prevent him getting a fair trial over an underage sex allegation.

Good to see certain sections of STW/ society are so much more advanced nowadays 🙄

Worst post of the year award goes to the homophobe

*checks calendar* yep, 2016.

Is this really where some people are still at?

People shouldn't have to be 'openly' anything but themselves.

If they don't feel able to be then threads like this aren't ever going to help things change.

Probably unhelpful thread title and and approach...

...BUT, it absolutely beggars belief in this age when most gay people are out, and we live in the age of social media, and there [i]must [/i] be gay players in the premier league, if [i]none [/i]are out. And that says something about the whole sporting/macho ethos. Which is a shame.

Yes, people are defined by way more than their gender and sexuality but I wonder if there are many jobs/professions where so many are hiding it?

The words 'Coming Out' should be banned.

I don't have to broadcast to people I'm heterosexual so why should someone who is gay announce their sexuality?

Is this really where some people are still at?

Unfortunately I think it is. Think the tabloids would pass on this "news" if it were to be uncovered?

Worst post of the year award goes to the homophobe

Not sure how you got the OP was being homophobic.

It was ****ing ridiculous, but that's about it.

It 'should' be a non issue but it absolutely isn't. And its because of the culture in football the people haven't come out who.would in nearly every other area of society. And its because of this glaring omission that people will speculate. And its sad to say that the first person to do it will be phenomenoninally brave...

But as in my original post, I reckon it may well be Smalling.

There is only one circumstance where the sexuality of someone actually matters to you; if you want to have sex with them.

Seriously, anything else is none of your, or entombed else's business. Butt out.

Rachel

JUstin was was out as a pro and treated horribly by many in the game including his won brother

While we are outing people.

I think Lodders will be the first openly gay black cab driver.

He may be married with kids, but I just got this feeling.

Or if they want to have sex with you, Rachel. It's very easy to deal with if someone makes welcome advances, and very complicated if you're not interested, which ever sex the advances come from.

While we are outing people.
I think Lodders will be the first openly gay black cab driver.
He may be married with kids, but I just got this feeling.

I'm just waitin' for Chris...

No probs with people speculating about my sexuallity btw...

To be fair, Edukator, it should be fairly clear what their sexuality is if they are coming on to you, that's why I didn't see the need to mention it.

Rachel

Or if they want to have sex with you, Rachel. It's very easy to deal with if someone makes welcome advances, and very complicated if you're not interested, which ever sex the advances come from

If both are not interested then why bother ?

I think Lodders will be the first openly gay black cab driver.

Why does being black matter ?

I reckon there are already loads tbh. And for the record, I'm part time anyway (on the cab, full time heterosexual).

Thomas Hitzlsperger who played for Villa, West Ham and Everton as recently as 2013 came out in 2014 just after he retired. Although the general reaction was supportive he obviously did not feel able to while playing.

Justin Fashanu's case was pretty terrible and although things have improved relatively recent incidents such as Robbie Fowler waving his backside at (straight) Graeme Le Saux (1999) show there is a long way to go before a gay player would not be a major story

Chris Smalling may be many things (over-rated and unable to tackle properly preferring a rugby style clinch being two of them) but I am unaware of anything that would indicate he is gay.

It 'should' be a non issue but it absolutely isn't

Not as long as people start pointless threads like this it won't or make guesses who it might be on their gut instinct.

Could we run a poll on forum users too?

who cares what the sexuality of footballers is, if you want to dress up like a child in shorts and a top with your name on it, dance a round a field for 90 minutes, hug and kiss when your bessie mate kicks the ball between some posts, then you all jump into the same huge bath or communal shower, then thats up to them. Some people also pay lots of cash to watch them and buy and dress in the same kit. its a free world, and not worth further comment.

Keeps an eye out for a totally hetro sexual, possibly cross dressing black cab driver when cycling in liverpool

Or if they want to have sex with you, Rachel. It's very easy to deal with if someone makes welcome advances, and very complicated if you're not interested, which ever sex the advances come from.

I am flattered but I am married

It's very easy to deal with if someone makes welcome advances, and very complicated if you're not interested, which ever sex the advances come from.

It really isn't complicated.

Could we run a poll on forum users too?

I vote for that AdamW. Must be gay. And his husband too. Both of them!

😀

I'm Gay for Loddrik.

However, a peek at the smorgasbord of stunning women that Smalling has been linked with suggests Loddrik may be out of luck.

somouk - Member

I don't have to broadcast to people I'm heterosexual so why should someone who is gay announce their sexuality?

They don't have to of course. But if they don't, people tend to assume they're straight. So the rationale's pretty obvious.

Contrast; my brother works in the theatre, and is a wee bit camp, so he finds himself coming [i]in[/i] to people, because everyone assumes he's gay. (this really annoys his girlfriend, people assume she's his cover.)

But there's sometimes more to it. A friend of mine was sort of quietly gay, when I first knew her. It wasn't a secret, she just doesn't make it obvious. Most people found out eventually (yes, I found out because I hit on her, now she says Pink Triangle is our song, apparently I am oblivious to really obvious clues). Anyway. Every so often, someone was offended- why didn't you tell me, don't you trust me? I'm your friend! Did you really think I wouldn't have your back? And rarer, someone's a total **** about it- all this time you've been lying to me! You're not who I thought you were!

So now she tends to tell people pretty quick, because at least that way if it turns someone off, it happens fast, and they were quite likely an arse anyway. Makes total sense to me anyway.

Wouldn't life be easier if we all just wore a badge, blood group, preference, inside leg measurements, religious sway and red/ rows sauce preference.

So now she tends to tell people pretty quick, because at least that way if it turns someone off, it happens fast, and they were quite likely an arse anyway.

And she also tells them because it's her choice.

I agree with somouk.

The serious point to this thread, if there us one, is that no premier league footballer feels relaxed enough about the issue to be open. Hitzlsperger didnt, why? Wasnt Fashanu outed?

thats because uefa RESPECT campaign single handedly misses the point! Ok if you are of a different race but not as a human being.

[i]So now she tends to tell people pretty quick, because at least that way if it turns someone off, it happens fast [/i]

Is this why teachers feel obliged to tell people what they do for a living within 5 minutes of meeting them?

😉

I have a friend who's a gay vegan teacher. You'd never know. 🙂

[quote=mikewsmith ]Wouldn't life be easier if we all just wore a badge, blood group, preference, inside leg measurements, religious sway and red/ rows sauce preference.

ISTR the religion one has been done...

(does that count as a Godwin?)

I suspect jury members that have had to deal with a sexual harassment case would disagree with you, Drac. Are you trolling me or do you really think that saying "no" never has complicated consequences? Regardless of the sex or sexuality of parties.

A quick Google reveals model letters for employees offered promotion in exchange for sexual favours ("promotion canapé" in French), pages of mud slinging between spurned and target in industrial tribunals.

Sex and sexuality are never simple and among the most complicated social interactions people deal with. It's a minefield of prejudice (this thread), morality, taboos, animal instincts, laws... .

No I'm not trolling. Saying I'm not interested isn't complicated. Well done for now making it a sexual harassment case.

Seems strange why someone who drives a taxi part time, would want to name a highly paid footballer on a bike related forum, unless their is some ulterior motive, like he was in the back of my cab story behind it.

Some people still do have a hatred or fear of homosexuals for whatever reason, and no matter who comes out, homophobes will just have another person to hate.

Well it is harassment, and the existence of this gratuitous, speculative thread is a form of harassment. If the footballer concerned ever reads this how will he feel? Accusing a footballer of being gay when he has not declared himself gay and we have no reason to believe he is gay is a form of harassment. His sexuality shouldn't be a problem, it should be his business, the fact that someone started this thread proves that for some people other people's sexuality is important to them. In the homophobic of football revealing you are gay is professional suicide and on evidence may lead to suicide.

Threads get vanished for all sorts of reasons, this is the dregs and it's still here.

If the footballer concerned ever reads this how will he feel?

Mainly pity.

Weird thread but anyway...

The serious point to this thread, if there us one, is that no premier league footballer feels relaxed enough about the issue to be open.

As ever the great reliable source of all knowledge that is Wiki gives a flavour of things... I suspect fans and away fans are as much of the issue as anything

Graeme Le Saux, an England international left-back, endured homophobic taunts despite being married with children. The rumours allegedly began because of his “unladdish hobbies” which included antique collecting, and his university background.

although it probably goes deeper than that

Ex-Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari is on record as stating he would have thrown out of the team a player whom he found to be gay. He made the comments during Brazil's 2002 FIFA World Cup campaign.

I've had players over the years who were single and read books and so others [other players] said they must be gay...I think being openly gay would be something very difficult to live with in football.... You can get drunk and beat up your wife and that's quite acceptable, but if someone were to say 'I'm gay', it's considered awful. It's ridiculous." —?Former manager Alan Smith speaking on 'the last taboo in football

How do you fix that? I guess sport is a reflection of society and the answer is as much as we think "society" accepts anyone and everyone and is open minded, given the right (wrong?!) forum it can be easily exposed as a poor assumption???

However, a peek at the smorgasbord of stunning women that Smalling has been linked with suggests Loddrik may be out of luck.

A bit like a pre coming out George Michael or Ricky Martin then...

And Project, if your implying that I'm in any way homophobic, it shows how clearly you know nothing about me. Speculating on a public figures sexuality really doesn't make a person homophobic. People have been doing that about Kevin Spacey for decades.

Seems strange why someone who drives a taxi part time, would want to name a highly paid footballer on a bike related forum, unless their is some ulterior motive, like he was in the back of my cab story behind it.

Oh I don't know, perhaps because human beings have opinions on a whole bunch o' stuff. Wife used to watch fashion police, before joan rivers died, the hosts on there, gay and straight, used to speculate on people's sexuality all the time. How very dare they!!

Aaahh was Loddrik doing a Simon Cowell and paying Max Clifford to get lots of stories out about him being absolutely 100% hetro

pretty sad that people give a monkeys about it all, must be very tough having to present such a false image to the world

Id like to think times are changing though

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/18/straight-gay-kinsey-scale-sexuality-yougov-survey

Almost half of young people aged between 18 and 24 in the UK, don’t consider themselves exclusively straight or gay, according to a recent YouGov survey. Instead, they identify with a more “open-minded approach” to sexuality.

I guess sport is a reflection of society and the answer is as much as we think "society" accepts anyone and everyone and is open minded, given the right (wrong?!) forum it can be easily exposed as a poor assumption???

And for the record, if men had massive natural tits, I'd probably be gay, or at least bi..

Depends on the sport, I know my BMX friends (and me) couldn't give a flying **** about a persons sexuality as they are on the whole a very relaxed bunch with no machismo hang-ups. Vegan or meat loving, atheist or religious, straight edge or party animal there is much more acceptance of a persons right to be individual than there seems to be in football.

Probably true, but football hits a broader cross section than almost any other sport so you inevitably end up with a broader range of outlooks on life.

so then you'd expect more acceptance?

The words 'Coming Out' should be banned.

How would I listen to Diana Ross on the radio if this were so, would they just dub over it?

Some sports seem to have prevailing cultures... some of may be country specific. Some of the cultures seem to have shades of social class, political and sexual assumptions and tolerances.

Golf & Rugby in England
Football perhaps more widely.

But who would be surprised or even notice a lesbian tennis player on the WTA tour?

Regardless of how Loddrik opened this thread, it remains that although being gay shouldn't be an issue at all in any sport, having a US military "don't ask, don't tell" approach in some Sports, and then permitting some of the homophobia and sexism which has been seen in many sports and their followers , definitely is an issue.

And for the record, if men had massive natural tits, I'd probably be gay, or at least bi..

deadlydarcy - Member

I have a friend who's a gay vegan teacher. You'd never know.

Insidious !

There have been "out" scottish premiership footballers. Everyone knows Paul Hartley is gay, ohhhh Paul Hartley is gaa-aaa-aaaa-aaaay.

<joke with serious point hidden in it, careful>

Id rather know about strong gay footballer role models whether they are straight or gay than a footballer who is gay in his own private life.
I think seeing a straight player like John Terry up the front of London Pride parade in a pair of leather hot pants and a cowboy hat would send a much strong message of acceptance (long overdue too)

Butt out.

Rachel

Oh god, not him too!

Think it's pretty obvious why no football player has come out.

Would you want 25k numbskulls calling you XY and Z from the terraces every time you misplaced a pass ?

every time you misplaced a pass

is that what they call it now??

I assume we are not including the Women"s Premier League here, where many are gay and happy with their sexuality

I know this will sound incredibly naive, but I honestly thought that true homophobia (that is, fear of - or loathing toward - homosexuals) was a thing of the past, and that the word was now way overused.

Apparently, I was very wrong, and I'm genuinely sorry for doubting the intentions of some of those who have continued to remind society that homosexual people are simply people, and that we should live side-by-side as brothers and sisters.

So I guess the point about the abuse a player would suffer from the crowd if he 'misplaced a pass' is well taken.

I so long for the day when we can stop talking about people's sexual preferences as if that is a primary mark of their identity, simply because we in the contemporary Western world are so obsessed with it. What we happen to do, sexually speaking, is obviously important, but it isn't meant to be hung on a sign around our necks. It is meant to be enjoyed.

I so long for the day when we can stop talking about people's sexual preferences as if that is a primary mark of their identity,

Parts of society are developing at different rates. For some of British society that day has already come.

Incidentally - we've already had at least one out rugby player, and the internet suggests a fair few NFL and NBA players.

The words 'Coming Out' should be banned.

How would I listen to Diana Ross on the radio if this were so, would they just dub over it?

😆

Sorry, I may be a minority but the thought of this makes me sick.

Gay or not, why does anyone like *vom* football *vom* 😆

But, who really effing cares about someone else's life, more so their sexuality, that they need to discuss it?

But, who really effing cares about someone else's life, more so their sexuality, that they need to discuss it?

When did you last pick up a tabloid newspaper?

I thought the majority on here were above the daily comics level of intelligence

When did you last pick up a tabloid newspaper?

The honest answer? I really can't remember the last time I read a newspaper, let alone a tabloid. 20 years maybe, before I left home. I do my best to avoid them. 🙂

I'm not the slightest bit interested in any specific footballer but I find it interesting that some believe voicing an opinion on a public figure's sexuality to be homophobic. He's non white so it's presumably racist as well. And eggchaserist.

Why do you want to know if a football player is happy?

Seriously who cares these days? Oh yes Neo Nazis EDL.

@deepreddave

[url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/and-the-first-openly-gay-premier-league-player-is#post-7756470 ]I raised that on the front page[/url]. Oddly, it didn't get addressed. Despite one of those chucking the term around still being active on the thread.

Bongohoohaa - I did see that and thought 'nail and head'. PC pitchforks at the ready....

I wonder if he's ginger too? Then it'd be a full house!

Seriously though why the biggie?

The only way commenting on the players sexuality is sexist if is your comment is derogatory.

Quite frankly I don't care which way you choose to go, though I'll admit to a passing interest in someone's choice of sexual partner.

It would be right to consider it an intrusion of privacy if said player was outed against their will. But seriously, getting outraged by a mere discussion of who it might be is a bit daft.

If that makes me a homophobe or sexist then what is next on the list of things that you can't be curious about without offending someone?