Sports? How Gay!

Sound the final siren because this game is over!  Sporting in Australia has received a blow to its homophobic atmosphere with our much beloved swim star, Ian Thrope coming out as gay.  It came as no surprise to most of us, speculations over his sexuality had been going on since he was only a teenager and now with this recent news a new era for Australian sport can begin.  He has not only outed himself but he has outed an entire community that has done nothing but stand still as the world progresses around them.  People have the right to be open about their sexuality, yet in the sporting world that right is only given to those who are purely heterosexual.  Why?  I'd think it has something to do with straight men being insecure of their own sexuality.  It is because everyone presents themselves as black or white but in reality most people are a shade of grey.  Men are told they must be men, any sign of femininity essentially strips them of their masculinity and as we know, sports, especially team sports, are a testosterone filled sausage-fests where masculinity is associated with skill!

So why is Thorpe's coming out so significant?  It is because he has swum against the current.  He lived a life of depression and anxiety because he could not openly be his true self and he is not alone.  Sporting greats whether it be Matthew Mitcham, Tom Daley or even Robbie Rogers have all endured homophobia in the sporting arena.  This is not just an issue isolated within professional sporting, it goes deep down into the grass root community clubs that many of us grew up with.  We need to promote acceptance of those who are gay in sports.  We need to help create comfortable environments for people of all sexualities and most importantly we need to remove this backwards and homophobic attitude that seems to dominate male sports.

In Australia 1 in 10 people are gay.  So we should expect at least one homosexual in every football, soccer or rugby team.  I assure you there are plenty of gay athletes out there, yet for some strange coincidence almost only straight men have ended up as professional athletes.  I am not suggesting that gay athletes are being actively discriminated against or that their sexuality is being used to deny them the ability succeed in their field.  I am suggesting however, that gay athletes don't come out because they're afraid of the treatment and backlash they'll receive as a result.  If you need any proof that homophobia is rampant in sports allow me to remind you of the AFL commentator who referred to a player as a "poofter" because he believed this players waving technique was effeminate.  This is no longer acceptable.

Through writing this blog I have met many people and heard many stories but one story about an English soccer player inspired me to write on this subject.  He is hardly out to his friends, if anything only a select handful know.  After training and games he makes sure he is the first or last to shower, if he isn't he has to experience a room full of team mates making homoerotic gestures and suggestions as jokes.  It makes him uncomfortable .  When you are gay the last thing you need are straight team mates making a joke out of your sexuality.  You can never learn to trust them or believe they'll still support you the same way if they were to know who you truly are, especially if they think what you like is nothing but a funny joke.  Homosexuality isn't a joke, being homosexual does not make you any less of a man and femininity isn't a crime or something to be ashamed about.  Gay men in sports are just the same as straight men in sports.  It's about damn time they start being treated that way.

Regardless of what code you support, if you pay, watch or can't stand the sight of sport there is a message still to spread.  Homosexuals should not be forced into hiding their sexuality.  If a straight man has the right to be openly straight then a gay man has the right to be openly gay. It's time we start viewing people for their abilities and not their sexuality.  It's time we support others and most importantly be proud!