LGBT Sports
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The Gay Games and the Changing Face of Equality in Ohio
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Homophobic Chiefs Running Back Fired
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And the Award for the Most Homophobic Sport Goes to....?
Why Gay Bashing on Twitter is a Bad Idea
Published October 29, 2009 @ 10:58AM PT
When Kansas City Chiefs football player Larry Johnson took to the Twitter waves this week, he probably wasn't expecting it would cost him $213,000. But that's the amount Johnson will miss out on because of a one-game suspension after going ballistic on a Twitter heckler, calling the user a "fag." It's a Social Media 101 lesson for Johnson, and a reminder that if you're a celebrity or a sports star, having a Twitter account doesn't give you license to hate on folks.
In a rather weird rapid fire of Twitter updates, Larry Johnson responded to @jaredlaunius after Jared made a snarky remark about Johnson falling down on the football field whenever defensive linemen get near him. Johnson's response? It's straight outta the seventh grade:
"@jaredlaunius think about a clever diss then that wit ur fag pic. Christopher street boy. Is what us east coast cats call u."
Actually, forget seventh grade. Take that one all the way down to elementary school playground chomping.
Gay Marriage and the National Football League
Published September 29, 2009 @ 05:05PM PT
Somebody must have slipped something into the Gatorade of the National Football League. Or, better yet, maybe we're finally seeing hearts and minds starting to change in the wide world of professional male sports. But within the past two weeks, two high profile NFL players have reiterated their support for marriage equality. And in doing so, at least according to some, they're potentially changing the hyper-masculinity of a sporting culture that all too frequently shames sexual orientation instead of celebrates it.
First it was Baltimore Ravens Pro-Bowl player Brendon Ayanbadejo, who penned an article on HuffPost supporting same-sex marriage and was subsequently honored by Equality Maryland. In his article, Ayanbadejo said "I think we will look back in 10, 20, 30 years and be amazed that gays and lesbians did not have the same rights as every one else. How did this ever happen in the land of the free and the home of the brave?"
A profound question. And a question that fellow NFLer, and defensive captain of the New Orleans Saints, Scott Fujita thinks needs an answer. Fujita responded to Ayanbadejo's position on marriage equality by coming out as a supporter of same-sex marriage himself. Fujita said people need to stop looking at same-sex marriage through a prism of homophobia, most often taught by churches, parents, or in some cases, locker room culture.
"People could look at this issue without blinders on...the blinders imposed by their church, their parents, their friends or, in our case, their coaches and locker rooms," Fujita said. "I wish they would realize that it's not a religion issue. It's not a government issue. It's not even a gay/straight issue or a question of your manhood. It's a human issue. And until more people see that, we're stuck arguing with people who don't have an argument."
Perhaps there's no more simple an argument -- and no more profound an argument -- to make for marriage equality other than "it's a human issue."
And though it's a bit weird on the surface to be placing so much stock in the words of two professional athletes, these folks are certainly going out on a limb to champion equal rights in a sporting culture that likes to boast masculinity and shun the perception of gayness. Dave Zirin at The Nation writes as much this week, saying that professional athletes -- especially in the NFL -- are operating in an environment steeped in male insecurity and evangelical Christianity. Both of those elements tend to look at the issue of same-sex marriage with discriminatory-colored glasses on.
Sporting culture may change slowly on this issue. But one thing is clear: Ayanbadejo and Fujita are breaking down doors with their statements. That's something we should all celebrate.
And how's this for good karma: both the New Orleans Saints and the Baltimore Ravens -- the two teams on which Scott Fujita and Brendon Ayanbadejo play for -- are undefeated. Anyone want to make the argument that supporting marriage equality makes your team better at football :)
Marriage Equality and the Baltimore Ravens
Published September 23, 2009 @ 09:33AM PT
As a Steelers fan it pains me to say this, but the Baltimore Ravens' stock just jumped up about 20 points in my book. Why? Because one of their pro-bowl players, Brendon Ayanbadejo, has become a forceful advocate for marriage equality.
Ayanbadejo attended an Equality Maryland event last week, and earlier this year penned a piece on HuffPost that took anti-LGBT folks to task for supporting bans on same-sex marriage. As Ayanbadejo wrote, "How could our society grant more rights to a heterosexual one night stand wedding in Vegas than a gay couple that has been together for 3, 5, 10 years of true love?"
Wow, score one for common sense points! David Toth from Equality Maryland told the Washington Blade that having a high profile athlete openly discuss marriage equality is a welcome sign.
"While not all of us are pro-footballers, one can never underestimate the power of just one voice to change hearts and minds," Toth said, "whether it’s your own family or millions of adoring fans."
Ah, the power of sports celebrity.
(Photo courtesy of Emmett Tullo 711's photostream on Flickr.)
Homophobia and Transphobia in Sports
Published September 23, 2009 @ 04:41AM PT
From the mistreatment of South African runner Caster Semenya to college football coaches calling their rivals "faggots," homophobia and transphobia are alive and well in the world of sports. For years, the National Center for Lesbian Rights has had a sports project working on equalizing the treatment of LGBT athletes in the world of sports. And now a second organization, Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD), is getting into the mix with an open call for survey respondents to tell their stories of homophobia and transphobia in the wide world of sports.
The goal is to explore even deeper the ways in which anti-gay and anti-transgender attitudes shape the sports culture. To gather that information, GLAD is asking for athletes, coaches and allies to share their stories of homophobia and transphobia, whether it's on the court, on the field, on the rink, or in the locker room.You can do so on the record, or anonymously, too.
Is it a coach that berates his or her players with anti-gay language? Teams who heckle and harass LGBT teammates (or those perceived to be LGBT)? Gay coaches who have to deal with a homophobic administration at their school or university? It certainly could be. So if you have a story that fits, GLAD is looking for it.
The timing of this couldn't be better, either. Earlier this year, a study came out surveying sports reporters, who said that there was rampant and overwhelming homophobia in sports -- particularly in men's sports. The study, conducted by the Center for Sports Journalism at Penn State University, found that 65 percent of sports reporters observed homophobic and transphobic behaviors in covering various sports. And those behaviors keep LGBT athletes living in the closet, according to researchers.
And that's something to remember. In male professional sports, there has never been an openly gay player in the NFL, NBA, NHL, or MLB, although several have come out after retirement. Is that a coincidence, or a sign that there's a whole heck of a lot of entrenched homophobia in sports -- especially professional sports -- preventing LGBT players and coaches from feeling safe and equal? Probably, and that's the very culture that GLAD and organizations like the National Center for Lesbian Rights are trying to dismantle.
Tim Hardaway's Changing Heart on Gay Rights?
Published September 14, 2009 @ 05:51PM PT
Retired NBA basketball player Tim Hardaway made headlines two years ago for one of the most homophobic screeds ever screeched by a professional athlete. Fast-forward two years, and Hardaway's foundation is about to throw a fundraiser for a prominent LGBT group that works to combat suicide among LGBT youth and young adults. A change of heart?
Perhaps. And this is the way it should be when someone of Hardaway's stature makes as big a mistake as he did in talking about all things LGBT.
In February 2007, Hardaway said this on a sports radio show:
Well, you know I hate gay people, so I let it be known. I don't like gay people and I don't like to be around gay people. I am homophobic. I don't like it. It shouldn't be in the world or in the United States.
Let it be known that Hardaway said this knowing the mic was on (unlike certain California state legislators peddling family values while spanking their lobbying friends in hotel rooms...). It was particularly offensive, since it was targeted in many respects toward a former NBA basketball player, John Amaechi, who came out of the closet as a gay man after retiring from professional basketball.
After saying these comments, and after the type of justified outrage that, say, comes after tea is taxed too high or some doofus wingnut shouts "You Lie" to the President on national television, Hardaway made a public apology and promised to make amends for any hurt that he caused.
Well, consider those wounds mending. The Miami New Times breaks the news that Hardaway will be sponsoring a fundraiser for the Trevor Project -- one of the most important LGBT organizations out there -- in Miami Beach this coming weekend. And there seems to be a heavy dose of genuineness in Hardaway's support. Per the Trevor Project's local committee chairman, David Wylie, "His foundation approached us and just said, 'Hey, is there any way we can help?' He wasn't looking for PR."
Good. Good for the Trevor Project. Good for Tim Hardaway. Good for LGBT rights. There's something to be said for folks who know when they've done wrong. And there's something to be said for folks who know how to forgive when people say stupid -- even downright mean -- things.
Italian Soccer Never Sounded So Homophobic
Published August 26, 2009 @ 01:00PM PT
The coach who led Italy to win the 2006 World Cup in soccer has a message for openly gay soccer players: go play something else instead.
Marcello Lippi, the coach of Italy's national soccer team, went on record to say that openly gay soccer players would be bad for morale, create conflict among team members, and be perceived negatively by fans. But, of course, he doesn't want anyone accusing him of being homophobic.
Lippi told an Internet television program that he would purposely not choose openly gay players to play on his soccer team. This comes after comments previously made by Lippi where he said that no gay people play soccer, and that in his 40 years of coaching, he's never met anyone gay. And if you believe that, I think Lippi's got a bridge to sell you....
Meanwhile, Italian LGBT organization Arcigay blasted Lippi for fueling the type of homophobia that has made sports culture - particularly international soccer - so damaging for LGBT people.
"We are tired of hearing politicians, singers and coaches who fuel... a climate that is by now poisoned by fear and suspicion," Arcigay folks said. "We don't want to be afraid any more, and we hope that people in the public eye will have the courage to affirm the dignity of everyone to live their own lives, their relations and loves in broad daylight."
Lippi's comments come just two weeks after a survey found that soccer, specifically in the U.K. but also throughout Europe, is "institutionally homophobic" and that fans regularly use anti-LGBT insults to characterize their opponents. Nothing like having a major public figure and coach like Lippi reinforce that survey with boneheaded comments straight out of the 1930s.
Ruggers Against Homophobia
Published August 18, 2009 @ 09:36AM PT
Last week, a study came out that said in the UK, homophobia is rampant in sports, particularly soccer. Depressing news, and one that seemed to reaffirm the stereotype that sport culture and LGBT culture were mutually exclusive. But that's why it's so cool to see this media campaign coming out of Australia (many miles away from the UK, we know) showing that at least one rugby team isn't a huge fan of homophobia.
The photo campaign is part of the "This is Oz" campaign, an online photo gallery where Australians can help dismantle homophobia and work to make Australia a truly inclusive place. And that's exactly what the Australian Wallabies rugby team is hoping to do with their photo shoot.
More photos are available here. A couple favorites send the message that "Everyone deserves a sporting chance to stand up against homophobia," and "It's not who you are, it's how you play the game."
And if you're looking for that perfect photo to send to your favorite anti-LGBT wingnut, why not try the one below, courtesy of This is Oz. It's like a Hallmark card, only better :)
