GLAAD: England’s Soccer Stars Kick Homophobia Out

[bluedawg12]

http://glaadblog.org/2008/12/30/englands-soccer-stars-kick-homophobia-out/

NASCAR, football, baseball and basketball could all vie for most popular professional sport in America. But there’s no arguing that in England, soccer (or football as it’s known there) reigns as number one (with cricket and rugby a close second/third).

That’s why it’s highly encouraging that The Football Association, the governing body of soccer in England, is working on a promotional video starring high-profile players speaking out against homophobia.

According to The Guardian, the FA is teaming up with the Professional Footballers’ Association, the players’ union, Kick It Out, the sport’s diversity and inclusion campaign, and Peter Tatchell, of gay rights group Outrage! to create the video. Details haven’t emerged yet but organizers hope to get soccer sensations David Beckham, Rio Ferdinand, Sol Campbell, David James, Wayne Rooney, Ashley Cole and Cristiano Ronaldo to take part.

Danny Lynch of Kick It Out said, “When we were set up 15 years ago, monkey chanting and banana throwing was commonplace, but football has changed and you just don’t see that kind of behavior any more. But in the absence of traditional racist abuse, we have seen this sharp rise in homophobic abuse and dealing with it is now a key part of our remit.”

This is the second major professional sport in Great Britain to support LGBT equality. Recently the United Kingdom’s Rugby Football League announced that it would start pro-LGBT advertisements on rugby grounds and in programs and fanzines. It will also conduct a forum for staff and players when the season begins in March.

Let’s hope these groundbreaking campaigns cross the pond to professional sporting leagues here in the States. Paging David Stern.

[nichomachus]

1. Not gonna happen here

Homophobia is the glue that holds America together. If you erase homophobia, then the idiots have no one left to hate=, and then things will fall apart.

Gays are the only group that you can still degrade in public without fear of recrimination.

[Pacifist Patriot]

3. Oh don't be so pessimistic.

There's always another group to be found.

[Sub Atomic]

4. That's not true.

Fat people and smokers are still publicly derided on a regular basis.

[nichomachus]

5. So, if you're

a fat, gay, smoker -- that's three strikes and you're out.

OTOH, smoking is definitely a choice. Gay isn't -- and the jury is still out on why some people have to fight a weight problem all their lives.

[Sub Atomic]

6. I'm only responding to your statement.

Gays are the only group that you can still degrade in public without fear of recrimination.


Smokers and overweight people still get shat upon regularly without fear of recrimination.

I'm just sayin'.

[nichomachus]

7. And I was responding to yours

There is a difference between criticizing people for things that are apparent choices -- like smoking -- and things that are not -- like being black or being gay.

This is why it's so important to the haters that being gay is a choice that one makes at some point in one's life -- much like the people who woke up one morning and decided they were going to be straight instead of gay or were going to be white instead of black.

[Zuiderelle]

8. At least they can marry, and no one votes on their rights to do so.

[bluedawg12]

9. There will always be someone, but at this time, Gays are the big target.

There aren't too many hate crimes against obese people and smokers.

[lightningandsnow]

11. Not true.

People, it is not a race. It is not a contest of who's more oppressed.

Racism/sexism/ableism and other forms of discrimination still exist, and a lot of it can be considered open degradation.

[The Brethren]

12. Awful, but true.

Even kids aloud to still ridicule and beat each because they accuse another kid of being gay....who often just grow up to bigger versions of their bigoted selves.

I think I'd fall over if I suddenly saw an ad by American Footballers (American male footers that is) who were speaking out against homophobia. LOL!! Altho. I personally think American football should be called a gay male sport since the whole sport seems to be geared around them grabbing and tackling each other with a little groping here and there. Congratulations the British footballers for being a lot more secure with themselves as men.

[Pacifist Patriot]

2. Oooo, I'd love to see one of my Villa boys participating.

This is great news.

[Divine Discontent]

10. excellent! this is Awesome to hear! eom