During most of last week we spoke about gay athletes, more
specifically, gay professional athletes, or lack thereof. This is even more evident in male sports, and
that’s what’s most interesting because in female athletics today, it is not
that big of a deal if a female comes out, but if a male comes out, all hell
breaks loose. This is mostly because of
the degree of masculinity associated with male sports. People want to be referred to as a, “beast”,
“animal” or “warrior”, but no male in sports wants to be affiliated with the
negative connotation associated with being gay.
Being gay in sports has been associated basically with a disease. As terrible as that sounds, it is one hundred
percent true, especially in the locker room setting. All men who have been involved with athletics
knows what is said and talked about in the male locker room, and to throw
someone who is gay into that situation just would not work out. This is why many athletes that are gay, come
out after their playing careers. They
will be isolated to themselves, or quarantined as if gay was truly a
disease. Many popular athletes have said
that they do not think it would be a big deal and they would not treat them
differently if they came out. That is
what you are “suppose” to say, not many people really know exactly what they
would do because it honestly has not happen, and if it has it has been covered
up very well. It goes to show that while
race and gender in sports may be breaching the gap between being separated or
causing a problem; but being gay still has not been understood and accepted in
athletics, more specifically male athletics.
I agree that being gay as a male athlete is much more difficult than being a gay female athlete. Sports are masculine, tough guy activities and being gay isn't considered masculine. I wish it was different and that athletes were able to comfortably come out, but the social stigmas in sport make it seem like an accepting professional sport industry make it seem almost impossible. I find it odd that when an athlete or coach is asked about their feelings about homosexuality, they say they have no problem, because they don't want to offend anyone. I feel like if they were actually faced with a homosexual teammate their true feelings would come out,there just has not been a big name athlete who has come out in their career yet to break this barrier.
ReplyDeleteJenn Zoellick
I also agree that being a gay athlete is something that is much harder for males then it is for females. I can see it in regular life apart from sport. In rooming situations, I have had friends who were gay who were afraid to tell their roommates because of the reaction they might get. On the other hand, I had a bi-sexual roommate and it was not a problem for me. I never once felt threatened but I also think that girls have a much more open understanding and acceptance of all gay individuals.
ReplyDeleteSam Melchor
Gene,
ReplyDeleteI agree with the fact that it's harder for male athletes to come out then it is for females because males feel as though they're losing some of their masculinity when they announce they're gay while still playing on a team. However, I still think it's difficult for both sides to come out because of the awkwardness that will then ensue in the locker rooms. Although many popular athletes don't think it would be a big deal for a teammate to announce he's gay and that they wouldn't treat their gay teammate any differently, there would definitely be some new awkwardness in the locker room. I believe those athletes when they say that they wouldn't treat their teammates differently but at the same time, there's certain feelings of awkwardness that human beings can't shake off and I believe that being around gay teammates in the shower would stir up those inevitable awkward feelings. These feelings would be natural but at the same time would be noticeable to the gay athlete. Therefore, it would be extremely difficult for a male or a female to come out while still playing on a team.
-Chris Cournan
Gene
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post. I am glad you expanded on some of the topics that we spoke of in class. I have to agree with you on the way we approach gay athletes, especially in male sports. It does seem like we treat it as some kind of disease. However, in my honest opinion there should be no difference between gay/straight and masculine/feminine like we said in class. Being gay in sport definitely is still not understood; i hope someday this can change
Aaron Mehling
Like everyone else, I am waiting for the day that a gay superstar athlete hits the field/court. I can see that individual having astronomical effects on the way homosexuality and masculinity is viewed in society. For this person to have such great effect though he/she must be one of the best, not just an average professional athlete. With saying that, I believe a few average professional athletes will come out before we see this superstar.
ReplyDelete-Michael Discipio
Gene,
ReplyDeleteI agree with this whole blog. I think that female athletes might already be seen as being gay because of how good they are in their sport. This should not be the case, but I think that is why most people don't see it as a big deal if a female athlete comes out. I agree that male athletes are seen as being masculine and “beastly” like because of their sports. If a gay male athlete comes out, I feel as though that people would start looking at that athlete as being soft. It's a simple stereotype that gay male athletes are seen as soft. As of what happens in the locker room, there are gay slurs that may possibly go around to different teammates/friends, but it isn't meant to insult any player. However, it would make the locker room a little awkward if a gay male athlete does come out because other athletes might accidentally throw around some words that might offend the athlete. I think most of the situations depend on the players beliefs. If a straight male athlete doesn't mind if their teammate is gay, then I don't think any attitudes or situations would change. But if a teammate is homophobic, then I could see how that athlete would distance himself from the gay athlete. This is exactly why gay male athletes don't come out during their career. They don't want any complications during their career with the media, coaches, other opponents or teammates. It's much simpler for the gay athlete to come out after his career is over.
-Kody Burlingame
I agree with everything you stated in this post, it is much harder for a male athlete to come out and say he is gay. Not only is it going to be a big deal in the locker room, but outside of it as well. The media would blow up if a professional male athlete came out and admitted he was gay. His family would also be affected greatly as well. If a male athlete did come out, I would believe the rest of his life he would be looked at as the athlete who is gay which is because no one has done it before, which is also probably why it hasn't really happened yet.
ReplyDelete-Joey D'Agostino
I agree with you when you said that it is more accepted in female athletics rather than males due to males wanting to be seen as "masculine". It is sort of sad the way that our society is set up, being gay is out of the ordinary, but I feel like if you chose to be the way, people shouldn't be judgmental, and just let them do what they want.
ReplyDelete-Turea Moore
Gene,
ReplyDeleteI agree that being gay in male professional sports in something that is still frowned upon. Like you also said I think if a male did come out in a team sport it would cause a lot of ciaos. The thing I think that would help would be if someone came out in a team sport but received support for their team. If this happened I think it would reduce the friction in the locker room. Also I think it would make other gay male professional athletes more likely to come out during their playing careers.
Josiah Blevins
I agree that being considered gay in male athletics is harder than in female athletics. I only think this because male athletics there is a need to be seen as masculine and being considered gay gives the complete opposite view. And once an athlete is seen as gay they are shunned and thought of differently. It is a huge problem in sports and is a big reason why athletes do not come out until after they are done playing.
ReplyDelete-Jacob Beverly
I agree that being gay in male athletics is harder than in female athletics. A lot of people assume that female athletes are gay, so it comes as no shock. People say that they will be fine if an athlete comes out as gay. They say that because that is what they want to feel about because like you said Gene, no one knows how they will react in that situation because it has never happened. Gay athletes would be seen as not masculine in sport that is defined by masculinity, which I believe is why they wait till their careers are over until they come out. The only that confuses me is even if a gay athlete does not come out can his teammates still tell that he is gay? I say this because I think we all know someone who has come out as gay, and the reaction from the people that know him is "we know."
ReplyDelete-Derek Brewer