I really hope this is genuine as it could have a massively detrimental effect, if not, on players coming out in the future....... now this statement / account has gone live it’s very important I think to follow through with it.
Just keep having a horrible feeling that it’s someone not fully genuine
Okay guys, to calm things down a bit, here's a photo of our newest arrivals before they get slaughtered and eaten in a few months time -
Enjoy eating them pal
back to the original question
No one honestly gives two shits really if a footballer comes out gay
so what
well done you’ve finally admitted to yourself what 99% of your friends and family (those who care) already knew or suspected and you can live freely and happily for the first time
But no need to make a huge song and dance about it forever
Quite obviously a lot of people give more than two shits.
Why someone is gay it’s not a big deal anymore is it ?
the fact they play football is what relevance anyone that goes to football watches the thousands of teams playing every week would have to be as thick as pig shit if they didn’t think that someone in the team they support is more than likely to be gay
I don’t see why it’s a big deal any more I have a nephew who cane out we all already knew before he came out
it was no shock and why should it be being gay is as normal as being straight surely so why make a song and dance about it
Right, but no-one is saying that it is unusual that this guy is gay, it’s that he is a professional footballer and (apparently) about to come out as gay - that will make him completely unique in this country.
Not disputing that I am asking does anyone actually give two shits that he is gay
yes its unique but if we want people to not fear coming out within football then the coverage should be minimal to normalize it and show it’s just a way of life, this person if they allow it and it will happen will make it like a circus and it will cause more to stay hidden
I was openly bisexual from 14, in quite a supposedly liberal school (and later university). One of my best friends is also gay. To say that people in the 21st century UK don't have problems with it, or don't care about sexuality is so hilariously wrong.
Everyone I knew who was even suspected of being anything other than straight got abuse, both verbal and physical, and some of it to an extent that would make you feel sick. The clique where these attitudes, the idea that this was acceptable, was most prevalent? The football team and those who were big football fans. They were more than happy to practise their kicking on those they knew were gay because they knew that most people would turn their heads.
I saw the same in sixth form, where people thought words like fa**ot were legitimate. I see some of the same at university. And despite the sheer whataboutism in some of the earlier posts, the football community was a commonality in all 3 places. Just because some religious groups are known to have issues with homosexuality, it doesn't mean there isn't serious work to be done in football, from grassroots up to professional level.
To return briefly to my earlier point about the UK at large, how many of you would be afraid of your return journey home with a tattoo or face paint of your football team? Well that's the reality of some I knew coming home from Pride, who washed any facepaint off because they were afraid of being attacked. To give some statistics from 2017- 'one in five LGBT people have experienced a hate crime or incident because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity in the last 12 months. Two in five trans people have experienced a hate crime or incident because of their gender identity in the last 12 months. Four in five anti-LGBT hate crimes and incidents go unreported, with younger LGBT people particularly reluctant to go to the police.'
More recently, the rate of LGBT hate crime per capita rose by 144% between 2013-14 and 2017-18. In the most recent year of data, police recorded 11,600 crimes, more than doubling from 4,600 during this period. And people ask why LGBT people stay hidden?
Whilst there'd still be some work to be done, having some 'out' professional footballers would certainly help reduce these attitudes, particularly amongst younger people, and any reduction is good news.
All excellent points, unfortunately (hopefully you know what I mean by that).
I have long felt that in football, and also in US sports, that this would just happen one day, and it would be a story for a while, then we'd all just sort of forget about it. And I desperately want that to be the case (should note there have been two openly gay players in the MLS, and obviously a lot of women's footballers are out).
That said, when you look at the statistics (and hate crimes are on the rise here too), you understand. I also have long wondered if the answer isn't more prosaic in some ways as well: why bother? There will be an intense spotlight on him, one which I hope helps to serve as a sort of protection, if that makes sense. But I also can't blame anyone for not wanting that.
Couple more things. First and foremost, Wattsthematter, just wanted to say thank you for sharing your story with us.
Lastly, and apologies if this point has been made, but if this or any other footballer comes out as gay, they will be the second openly gay male professional footballer in Britain. The first was Justin Fashanu.
I really hope this is genuine as it could have a massively detrimental effect, if not, on players coming out in the future....... now this statement / account has gone live it’s very important I think to follow through with it.
Just keep having a horrible feeling that it’s someone not fully genuine
Agreed, something feels incredibly off with the build up to this, I do hope its just so it no longer becomes about what but who, as stated in her earlier.
Scrolling through the mentions of the account on Twitter is horrifying, and I do think that even if it turns out not to be legitimate, the abuse the account has been recieving will at least illustrate the problems amongst football fans- the tweets alone should dispel the notion that football fans don't care about sexuality.
The problem with the attitude of "it's not a big deal, why make a scene" is that the people who WILL make a scene are the bigots and homophobes - loudly, maybe even violently.
Sometimes it's better to celebrate difference and not just accept it.
Okay guys, to calm things down a bit, here's a photo of our newest arrivals before they get slaughtered and eaten in a few months time -
Enjoy eating them pal
back to the original question
No one honestly gives two shits really if a footballer comes out gay
so what
well done you’ve finally admitted to yourself what 99% of your friends and family (those who care) already knew or suspected and you can live freely and happily for the first time
But no need to make a huge song and dance about it forever
Quite obviously a lot of people give more than two shits.
Why someone is gay it’s not a big deal anymore is it ?
the fact they play football is what relevance anyone that goes to football watches the thousands of teams playing every week would have to be as thick as pig shit if they didn’t think that someone in the team they support is more than likely to be gay
I don’t see why it’s a big deal any more I have a nephew who cane out we all already knew before he came out
it was no shock and why should it be being gay is as normal as being straight surely so why make a song and dance about it
Right, but no-one is saying that it is unusual that this guy is gay, it’s that he is a professional footballer and (apparently) about to come out as gay - that will make him completely unique in this country.
I wonder how much his agent has negotiated for 'exclusive media rights" to Mr ?
Okay guys, to calm things down a bit, here's a photo of our newest arrivals before they get slaughtered and eaten in a few months time -
Enjoy eating them pal
back to the original question
No one honestly gives two shits really if a footballer comes out gay
so what
well done you’ve finally admitted to yourself what 99% of your friends and family (those who care) already knew or suspected and you can live freely and happily for the first time
But no need to make a huge song and dance about it forever
Quite obviously a lot of people give more than two shits.
Why someone is gay it’s not a big deal anymore is it ?
the fact they play football is what relevance anyone that goes to football watches the thousands of teams playing every week would have to be as thick as pig shit if they didn’t think that someone in the team they support is more than likely to be gay
I don’t see why it’s a big deal any more I have a nephew who cane out we all already knew before he came out
it was no shock and why should it be being gay is as normal as being straight surely so why make a song and dance about it
Right, but no-one is saying that it is unusual that this guy is gay, it’s that he is a professional footballer and (apparently) about to come out as gay - that will make him completely unique in this country.
I wonder how much his agent has negotiated for 'exclusive media rights" to Mr ?
A fortune, hopefully.
The cynic in me thinks that this footballer has been advised of the possible financial benefits of coming out.
Interesting to see a Charlton man appearing on his timeline as his most recent retweet
Assume that was a Charlton fan who attended the NY Stonewall Gay Pride rally? Interesting RT indeed.
The account retweeted the player/manager of our Invicta team - most likely as we’re quite prominent in our support for it so it’s well known.
Highly unlikely to be a Charlton player given that he referenced meeting the “manager and Chairman”. Has Duchâtelet had any meetings about Charlton for the past 2 years?
Yeah that's Gary - a lifelong Charlton fan and a top bloke.
I agree that it's unlikely that the player is one of ours, but I wouldn't be surprised if Gary knows him or knows of him. That's if the account is genuine of course.
This feel's like it's been set up by a Peter Tatchell wannabe. Can't wait for the instigator's po faced article in the Guardian explaining why he did it.
I don't get the build up to this?, if you're gonna do it, then just do it?....all seems far too 'staged'
I hope it's not a wind up and whoever it is, encourages others in the game to come out and speak up
like others though, the cynic in me still doubts this is genuine
I assume that the longer this goes on, it becomes more about 'who it is' rather than 'what his sexual preferences are'.
I'd probably agree with you, but Jim White has already come out (poor choice of words) and said he knows the player. Whilst we have first hand experience of Jim chatting shit, he surely wouldn't say that unless this situation was genuine?
Comments
Just keep having a horrible feeling that it’s someone not fully genuine
I have long felt that in football, and also in US sports, that this would just happen one day, and it would be a story for a while, then we'd all just sort of forget about it. And I desperately want that to be the case (should note there have been two openly gay players in the MLS, and obviously a lot of women's footballers are out).
That said, when you look at the statistics (and hate crimes are on the rise here too), you understand. I also have long wondered if the answer isn't more prosaic in some ways as well: why bother? There will be an intense spotlight on him, one which I hope helps to serve as a sort of protection, if that makes sense. But I also can't blame anyone for not wanting that.
Couple more things. First and foremost, Wattsthematter, just wanted to say thank you for sharing your story with us.
Lastly, and apologies if this point has been made, but if this or any other footballer comes out as gay, they will be the second openly gay male professional footballer in Britain. The first was Justin Fashanu.
Scrolling through the mentions of the account on Twitter is horrifying, and I do think that even if it turns out not to be legitimate, the abuse the account has been recieving will at least illustrate the problems amongst football fans- the tweets alone should dispel the notion that football fans don't care about sexuality.
Sometimes it's better to celebrate difference and not just accept it.
so I imagine they’ll be an update Sunday/Monday
Should it turn out that this guy is a Charlton player, will Duchatalet put an extra £10,000,000 on his asking price?
I'm sure there will be sponsorship potential but ultimately his earnings will come from playing football which won't be dependent on being gay.
It may limit his options later in his career if he wants to play in China or the middle east.
Yeah that's Gary - a lifelong Charlton fan and a top bloke.
I agree that it's unlikely that the player is one of ours, but I wouldn't be surprised if Gary knows him or knows of him. That's if the account is genuine of course.
Let's not panic assume or even pay any note. It'd be treating him differently to do so.
I hope it's not a wind up and whoever it is, encourages others in the game to come out and speak up
like others though, the cynic in me still doubts this is genuine
I'd probably agree with you, but Jim White has already come out (poor choice of words) and said he knows the player. Whilst we have first hand experience of Jim chatting shit, he surely wouldn't say that unless this situation was genuine?