[Albion] "Albion dressing room would be supportive of gay player"

[Nitram]

The fact that a gay person in a workplace is such a big issue in men’s football shows how far removed it is from the rest of society. Kudos to our players for encouraging discussion.

 

[Fred Oliver - Legend]

Sake, we already get labelled as gayers and poofs, And now we have to prance around in rainbow laces? And against Saints as well. Why give them more ammunition, who ever thought up this ridiculous idea.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Sake, we already get labelled as gayers and poofs, And now we have to prance around in rainbow laces? And against Saints as well. Why give them more ammunition, who ever thought up this ridiculous idea.

Past of my identity as a Brightonian is being proud of our diversity and inclusivity and I take that with me wherever in the world I am. I am proud to be on that side of the divide and not on the side of those dinosaurs who use the words gayers and poofs as derogatory.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

I consider myself to be a liberal, tolerant, dyed-in-the-wool leftie.
However I often find myself feeling like some reactionary old gammon, in comparison to my kid's generation's views on Gender identity/sexuality.
The world moves on. The values from previous generations are superseded by the next. It was ever thus.

No one is being told what to think! They are just being exposed as being less and less relevant, and more and more in the minority.
It's progress, it's a wonderful thing.

 

[Deadly Danson]

Sake, we already get labelled as gayers and poofs, And now we have to prance around in rainbow laces? And against Saints as well. Why give them more ammunition, who ever thought up this ridiculous idea.

Sweet Jesus.

 

[Simster]

More virtuous signalling from the most virtuous signalling sport of them all: football. Let’s constantly talk about anything other than football, let’s link everything back to gender, sexual orientation, colour, race, religion and politics. When did football become so narcissistic as to tell everyone what to do and think. Remember the days when it used to be about sport?

Dreadful post, rightly called out by dozens of posters on here. Most of which you have responded to in the same stroppy manner rather than taking a good look at yourself.

Meanwhile, here's one you've completely ignored:

Where exactly is Dan Burn telling you what to do and think?

Funny, that.

 

[Dunk&Disorderly]

As a member of the LGBT community this is really nice to see and probably the best message I've seen come out of BHAFC in regards to inclusion and acceptance within the team, for sure.

I can totally believe it too, as it seems we've got a very decent group of players at the moment in terms of personality.

Well done the club and supporters here on NSC.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Sake, we already get labelled as gayers and poofs, And now we have to prance around in rainbow laces? And against Saints as well. Why give them more ammunition, who ever thought up this ridiculous idea.

Don't worry your pretty little head about it, because the Saints players will be wearing rainbow laces too. x

https://www.southamptonfc.com/news/...ll-club-stonewall-rainbow-laces-campaign-2020

 

[BBassic]

Sake, we already get labelled as gayers and poofs, And now we have to prance around in rainbow laces? And against Saints as well. Why give them more ammunition, who ever thought up this ridiculous idea.

It's a joint venture between Stonewall and the Premier League and seems to be, largely, accepted for the positive step it is.

And I'd argue that none of our players 'prance'. Except, strangely enough, Big Dan Burn who sometimes looks like a gazelle careening down the wing.

 

[Sarisbury Seagull]

Reading the first post and BDB's excellent comments I was not expecting any anti or negative comments on this thread at all, I'm astonished there are. Shameful and embarrassing for those posters.

 

[studio150]

What a pile of old shit. NSC wasn’t racist back in the day. Nor was racism as common as you make out at grounds. I never heard any such remarks at Withdean for example amongst those surrounding me. So how far back are you saying it was ‘rife’? Why does everything on this website have to be about it? Why not football?

I can only conclude that you didn't go to away games, when Eric Young, Terry Connor and Justin Fashanu were playing.

Just to give you one example, FA Cup 4th Round away at Hull City January 1986.
For the entire 90 minutes there were racist comments directed at the Albion players from the home stands, from middle aged men, teenages and young children.
This was not an isolated incident at away grounds.

Football grounds were seen as a recuriting ground for the National Front.


Now you only need to go to Leeds to hear virtually every Leeds fan sharing their homophobic comments with everyone when leaving the ground.

There is still a lot to be done.

 

[El Presidente]

Sake, we already get labelled as gayers and poofs, And now we have to prance around in rainbow laces? And against Saints as well. Why give them more ammunition, who ever thought up this ridiculous idea.

Probably not you, as thinking up any idea would involve the capacity to think, which rules you out.

 

[El Presidente]

I suspect it is this, rather than any other issue which prevents gay players from coming out.

I would be amazed if players weren't already aware of any gay teammates.

They are, they don't make an issue of it as the dressing room consensus is that it is down to the individual as to what they say publicly about their sexuality.

 

[Klaas]

As a member of the LGBT community this is really nice to see and probably the best message I've seen come out of BHAFC in regards to inclusion and acceptance within the team, for sure.

I can totally believe it too, as it seems we've got a very decent group of players at the moment in terms of personality.

Well done the club and supporters here on NSC.

Although I've read positive comments from players on this issue in the past, I don't think I've ever heard any player talk about it to the extent DB does here. Have you?

 

[Napper]

to be fair , DB is not going to say anything other than what he has said.

I'm sure if there was a gay person in football changing rooms it would be fine. They would be bantered and banter back the same as all males give and take about any part of them ie baldness , teeth , looks , interests , perversions etc.

 

[Giraffe]

I do think society (and this includes football) has moved on so much now that it really would not be an issue. If one player came out, and where better to do it than Brighton, I am certain more would follow and it would become a non issue.

The fact no one has done is their own personal decision and I don't blame them as no doubt it would cause a "stir" from the media for a while, but it would be over in weeks and then people would get on with it. It must be very hard work and mentally challenging to keep this a secret. It can't be good for players doing this.

 

[timbha]

In all teams you have close friends, people you get on with, people you are ambivalent about and some you don’t like. That’s life. Why a player would have to “come out” to the whole dressing room I don’t know. If he is gay then so what. His choice, his lifestyle, it’s really no big thing. What’s important in the dressing room is CAN HE PLAY FOOTBALL and does he add value to the team.
I’m sure his close friends will know his preferences and from the wider perspective why would the player or club wish to draw attention to the matter? Surely in this day and age it would not be a surprise if gay players mixed with other gay players, from his own club and others.

Good on Dan Burn for his comments but is it really an issue?

 

[Uh_huh_him]

In all teams you have close friends, people you get on with, people you are ambivalent about and some you don’t like. That’s life. Why a player would have to “come out” to the whole dressing room I don’t know. If he is gay then so what. His choice, his lifestyle, it’s really no big thing. What’s important in the dressing room is CAN HE PLAY FOOTBALL and does he add value to the team.
I’m sure his close friends will know his preferences and from the wider perspective why would the player or club wish to draw attention to the matter? Surely in this day and age it would not be a surprise if gay players mixed with other gay players, from his own club and others.

Good on Dan Burn for his comments but is it really an issue?

If any other industry/profession. had such an extended history of having a culture which made coming out almost impossible, then there would be far more focus on it.
So yes it is an issue.

Wisely the powers that be and campaigning organisations are playing the long game on this.
For some the rainbow laces games and similar awareness events will be sniggered at, but slowly and surely hearts and minds are being changed on this subject,

 

[Dunk&Disorderly]

Although I've read positive comments from players on this issue in the past, I don't think I've ever heard any player talk about it to the extent DB does here. Have you?

No, I guess me neither?

 

[nickbrighton]

Why should someone even have to mention they are gay? Do straight people say hello I’m straight

You have made the same mistake that the vast majority of straight people make when they think they know about what "coming out" means.
It isnt a case of saying as way of introduction "Hey my name is Nick and I am gay". It isn't a case of coming out once and thats it.It isnt about saying I am gay to anyone. In fact thats the last thing most of us want to do.



What it is about is having to make a decision EVERY single time you meet someone new. You have to weigh up almost instantly what they will think of you, say to you about your entire life. Will they treat you differently. Will they have preconceptions about you.

Coming out to someone is about not having to think in every single conversation about mentioning the gender of your partner, or the places that you go to socialise, . Imagine as a straight person when you are getting to know someone for the first time, one of the first things you will be asked is "do you have a wife/girlfriend, what did you do this weekend etc.
The sad reality is that there are a significant number of people still who do not accept us for who we are, and can make our lives a misery very quickly and easily -and they do!
So when someone asks you, do you have a wife or girlfriend, you do not have to think about saying she or they, you dont have to worry about saying which pub or club you went to at the weekend, you dont have to be careful about making a throwaway comment about an attractive person on tv. You dont have to be careful about even looking at someone in the street in the "wrong way", you dont have to worry about approaching someone wondering if you have "guessed" correctly if they are gay or not.

Coming out isnt about saying Im gay, its about how you interact with literally every single person you meet. Its about having to go through the process every single time. Its about having to suppress one of the most fundamental things about you. Frankly its exhausting, stressful and can be very destructive.

So, its not about mentioning we are gay, its about us mentioning anything at all about our entire existence, and if one football player stands up and supports us, it can make a world of difference, not to just the 2 or 3 players in the squad that are statistically likely to be gay or Bi, but to the multitudes of us out here who have this incessant stress on us 24 hours a day

So Yes as a straight person you do let people know you are straight, just by being you and talking to other people, its a privilege too many of us don't have.