Gay athletes don’t fit in what is perceived as a homophobic NFL

Kansas City Star ^ | October 30, 2009 | Randy Covitz

[Zakeet]

Athletes have heard the ugly words on practice fields for most of their lives. They hear them in the streets and at neighborhood hangouts.

But when Chiefs running back Larry Johnson used an antigay slur on his Twitter account and in the locker room this week, he struck a nerve that makes professional sports leagues wince.

The NFL, like other pro sports leagues, is perceived as homophobic. Of the more than 20,000 athletes who have played in the NFL, less than a handful have identified themselves as gay — David Kopay was the first in 1975, followed by Roy Simmons and Esera Tuaolo — and only after their careers had ended.

Now the image-conscious NFL — which fines players for wearing droopy socks or the wrong-colored chin straps, is frightened by the prospect of Rush Limbaugh as an owner and enforces a rigid personal conduct policy — is confronted with how to deal with gay-bashing.

“It seems like every single season I’m getting phone calls about some athlete saying a gay slur, and using the word ‘gay’ and ‘faggot’ and ‘homo’ and ‘queer’ in such a negative term,” Tuaolo said in a phone interview with The Star from his home in suburban Minneapolis.

“There are gay athletes in the NFL and in baseball and in the NHL … it’s so crippling to someone who is going to work knowing there is no support in their organization. What is also crippling to an athlete is hearing slurs like that thrown around like it’s just the thing to do. When you use the term ‘gay’ or ‘faggot’ or ‘queer’ and you use it in a negative term, it’s the same as calling a woman a ‘bitch.’ It’s demeaning to another human being. And it’s not right.”

[gaijin]

Why no women in the NFL?

There are no defensive linewomen at all.

THIS IS TWENTY FIRST CENTURY, AFTER ALL..!!

Helloo?! HALF of humanity is female.

Why no MODERN NFL?

[CaptRon]

stiff resistance?

No you didn't...

LOL!

[Rebelbase]

How many queers have the guts and physical ability to excel in the NFL?

I can see a civil rights lawsuit being filed the first time a queer football player gets hammered by a player who made unflattering comments regarding gay players.

“He hit me becawth I’m gay.”

[CaptRon]

Plus, it’s bio-illogical.

[Revolting cat!]

One thing for sure, “gay” football would be much less violent. If you enjoy gymnastics and figure skating, you would certainly enjoy it!

[CaptRon]

Actually, more than half. It’s DISGUSTING I tell ya!

[chris_bdba]

Yep! Listen to a buch of teen boys and you will soon see that the worst insult in the world is “that’s so gay”. I don’t care how many laws they pass or how many times they screech about it they will never stop people from pointing out that it is not normal in any way shape or form!

[Figment]

If you’re going to be a poofter, you shouldn’t get your panties in a wad when called one

[CaptRon]

Teen girls as well.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

I get it now...

You are a homo-apologist troll!

[WallStreetCapitalist]

99% of my posts (which are several hundred thousand words) are in the economics and finance section dealing with Wall Street and credit default swaps, the Federal Reserve, etc.

Given that the election in Maine has been getting a lot of headlines, I've posted in several of the comments under that tag within the past few days.

But, then again, that would assume you could read more than five lines at a time and actually look at my entire history on the site. Sorry - I realize that's giving you too much credit. People like you always look for facts that support a foregone conclusion.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

...look at my entire history on the site.

WallStreetCapitalist
Since Oct 16, 2009

I don't believe a word of it...

[POWERSBOOTHEFAN]

Sorry! It’s just that as a woman,two men together is totally perverted and disgusting.Men are supposed to like women,and vice versa.

[POWERSBOOTHEFAN]

I can’t help but say this;I like it when it’s stiff! He He.

[FTJM]

I’m confused, Perez Hilton used the term faggot. Where was the outage?

[WallStreetCapitalist]

You don't have to but, with all due respect, you can't fake a knowledge of credit default swaps or the futures markets. Anyone who knew anything about the field would recognize BS a mile away.

Although, looking through your posting history, you're nothing but a common racist, trying to wrap your hatred in the false blanket of patriotism. There's nothing "conservative" about your positions - you're no different than an inner city thug advocating to kill anyone who doesn't agree with you. Your solution to anything and everything that doesn't conform to your worldview, whether its Christians or conservatives, is violence.

I cannot even begin to process how someone can believe that worldview is acceptable.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

Although, looking through your posting history, you're nothing but a common racist,...

Typical leftist troll remark... Time to call the ZOT kitties...

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

Although, looking through your posting history, you're nothing but a common racist, trying to wrap your hatred in the false blanket of patriotism.

Yes, I admit it... I'm a Tea Party attendee who opposes your dear leader Sodom Hussein Obama!

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

...you're no different than an inner city thug advocating to kill anyone who doesn't agree with you. Your solution to anything and everything that doesn't conform to your worldview, whether its Christians or conservatives, is violence.

Trotting out the leftist scarecrows and Marxist strawman arguments...

I was university educated and know your types. You hung yourself with them.

[ravenwolf]

And just to think, I catch hell for smoking a cigarette, what in the hell is this world coming to?