Hitzlsperger reveals he is gay

[YiddoInPoland]

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/25628806

Shame he is retired but it it is a least a step forward in hopefully removing the stigma this has in the game.

 

[EnfieldYiddo]

Glad he feels comfortable enough to come out, just need a few to come out whilst they're still playing.

Understandable they don't as the abuse would be intolerable, most would just be perceived by the perpetrators as banter but it would open a can of warms.

 

[balalasaurus]

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/25628806

Shame he is retired but it it is a least a step forward in hopefully removing the stigma this has in the game.

The real shame is that the stigma still exists in this day and age. You'd think after centuries of homosexuality being in existence people would have gotten over it by now.

 

[Riandor]

The real shame is that the stigma still exists in this day and age. You'd think after centuries of homosexuality being in existence people would have gotten over it by now.

Issue is mob mentality... you might as an individual be uninterested, or even pro-gay, but once in a stadium certain people look for a way to get under the skin of athletes/players. I someone is unsure about coming out, then the last thing they need is 30k+ chanting at them and fans do that, purely to get a rise out of them, to put them off their game. It's not right, but that is what happens.

 

[talkshowhost86]

The real shame is that the stigma still exists in this day and age. You'd think after centuries of homosexuality being in existence people would have gotten over it by now.

People? Yes.

Football fans? Hmmmmmm.

 

[YiddoInPoland]

The real shame is that the stigma still exists in this day and age. You'd think after centuries of homosexuality being in existence people would have gotten over it by now.

It is, and really if you have a brain in this day and age it really makes no difference what someones sexual preference is.

 

[Real_madyidd]

good for him.

 

[Gassin's finest]

People? Yes.

Football fans? Hmmmmmm.

Issue for a player wouldn't be just the abuse from the crowd, which would be largely condemned in the same way that racism is, but the juvenile culture in the dressing room. Footballers are genreally a bunch of immature young lads, and you can imagine the way most of them would probably act if a member of the squad was openly gay... ostracising players, pranks, targeting on the training pitch. Look at the way Robbie Fowler taunted Le Saux once, just because of the rumour that he might be gay. I'd say the problem with homosexuality in the game is mostly in the changing room.

 

[TaoistMonkey]

good for him.

Good for you more like.

 

[balalasaurus]

People? Yes.

Football fans? Hmmmmmm.

Both people and football fans perpetuate the stigma though. I mean even outside of football someone, say a celebrity, coming out still counts as "news". Rather ironic considering we're supposed to be a "modern" society yet have failed to abandon archaic perceptions.

Issue is mob mentality... you might as an individual be uninterested, or even pro-gay, but once in a stadium certain people look for a way to get under the skin of athletes/players. I someone is unsure about coming out, then the last thing they need is 30k+ chanting at them and fans do that, purely to get a rise out of them, to put them off their game. It's not right, but that is what happens.

I get that and no doubt you have a point but I thought football was supposed to be a "gentleman's game". Nothing gentlemanly or civilized about launching personal attacks on a person for the sake of a game. But then again I just don't get people sometimes.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Issue for a player wouldn't be just the abuse from the crowd, which would be largely condemned in the same way that racism is, but the juvenile culture in the dressing room. Footballers are genreally a bunch of immature young lads, and you can imagine the way most of them would probably act if a member of the squad was openly gay... ostracising players, pranks, targeting on the training pitch. Look at the way Robbie Fowler taunted Le Saux once, just because of the rumour that he might be gay. I'd say the problem with homosexuality in the game is mostly in the changing room.

Very true. I can't imagine trying to tell something that important to the likes of John Terry and Ashley Cole.

Both people and football fans perpetuate the stigma though. I mean even outside of football someone, say a celebrity, coming out still counts as "news". Rather ironic considering we're supposed to be a "modern" society yet have failed to abandon archaic perceptions.

I don't think it's quite the same with most celebrities though. Whilst there is the ludicrous bruhahaha about 'coming out' as you say, once the celebrity has come out they aren't normally subject to 30,000+ crowds who are likely to chant abuse at them for their sexuality.

 

[fieryjack]

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/25628806

Shame he is retired but it it is a least a step forward in hopefully removing the stigma this has in the game.

You got something you want to tell us?

 

[hughy]

I can't wait until the day when people being gay isn't news.

 

[EnfieldYiddo]

What's the odds on someone coming in here to make a controversial statement or immature jibe.

 

[punky]

I

People? Yes.

Football fans? Hmmmmmm.

I think footballers are the pivotal factor here. If fans do sing anti-gay songs the authorities will be on then like a ton of bricks. If it is isolated, then I don't think it would bother players a much as they see used to taking abuse these days anyway. What would make the most difference would be if you had a song continent of African players, brought up strictly Christian or Muslim and you had to live,and work with these people. I think that would be more stressful than the fans.

 

[postigol]

Good news - I had thought he was still playing and thus this was a major event, but we'll still have to wait on the first active premier league player to come out. I can see why they don't as they'll have to suffer abuse at the hands of the knuckle draggers but football is trailing society in general by a massive amount at present - almost like being in the 1950s on that front.

 

[Coyboy]

Issue for a player wouldn't be just the abuse from the crowd, which would be largely condemned in the same way that racism is, but the juvenile culture in the dressing room. Footballers are genreally a bunch of immature young lads, and you can imagine the way most of them would probably act if a member of the squad was openly gay... ostracising players, pranks, targeting on the training pitch. Look at the way Robbie Fowler taunted Le Saux once, just because of the rumour that he might be gay. I'd say the problem with homosexuality in the game is mostly in the changing room.

I would have agreed but having read the Secret Footballer's book recently, he does say footballers would most likely rally around and support a player who had the cojones to come out; and that abuse from the crowd would be the major factor.

But maybe that's rubbish who knows, it's still fairly unchartered territory.

 

[teok]

Pretty ridiculous that this is actually news, football seems to lag so many years behind the rest of society.

 

[ShelfSide18]

I'd be far more concerned if I were him that I'd have to admit I once played for West Ham.

Good on him, but as has been said, sad that this is the kind of thing that makes the news in 2014.

 

[JohanTheYid]

I can't wait until the day when people being gay isn't news.

Exactly this, why does he even have to "come out" publicly, he doesnt owe it to anyone to do so.