What if an Everton player came out?

[Bruce Wayne]

With the Tom Daly thing this week it's obviously drawn attention and discussion to the number of openly gay sportsmen/women, with football one of the more obvious outliers, given the very small number of gay footballers.

You'd like to think it wouldn't matter one bit, given it's 2013 and all, but what do you think the reaction would be if an Evertonian came out?

Would he get stick from fans? Other players? Would sponsors be wary of working with them?

For the record, I'd find it very hard to fathom why any of the above would occur, but thought it worth discussing.

 

[billy]

Would not care but Pienaar would cop it from away fans

 

[davek]

Why do they want to come out anyway? Their business. They're there to play football. I dont want to know what they get up to outside of that.

 

[Degs62]

My goodness I agree with Davek.

 

[allen]

Why do they want to come out anyway?

Are you serious? Why do people want to be honest - and proud - about who they are?

The attitude to homosexuality in football is flipping medieval.

 

[SteKelly]

Why do they want to come out anyway? Their business. They're there to play football. I dont want to know what they get up to outside of that.

I find it dead interesting to know all that info. I'm a bit weird and jealous.

They would get some banter in the changing rooms but that's all I think.

 

[Degs62]

Are you serious? Why do people want to be honest - and proud - about who they are?

The attitude to homosexuality in football is flipping medieval.

Strange attitude that, why is there pressure to divulge sexual preference in todays society? I don't think there is an medieval attitude at all, who cares if a player prefers boys to girls, I don't, they are there to play football.

 

[deandixie]

Are you serious? Why do people want to be honest - and proud - about who they are?

The attitude to homosexuality in football is flipping medieval.

You're missing the point, you shouldn't have to "come out." You should be accepted regardless.

Did you sit down with your parents and say "Mum, Dad I like girls"? No?

So why should anyone have to be "honest and proud"? It's nobodies business and it's not something people should have to publicly announce, they should just love who they like without anyone casting judgement.

 

[allen]

You're missing the point, you shouldn't have to "come out." You should be accepted regardless.

Did you sit down with your parents and say "Mum, Dad I like girls"? No?

So why should anyone have to be "honest and proud"? It's nobodies business and it's not something people should have to publicly announce, they should just love who they like without anyone casting judgement.

I'm not missing the point.

There are no openly gay professional footballers. That's nuts. That says something is wrong.

 

[Librarian]

Why do they want to come out anyway? Their business. They're there to play football. I dont want to know what they get up to outside of that.

I suppose because they are role models and it could help other's to normalize what they are going through, kids who are going through turmoil.

This fella's story (Donal Óg Cusack) is interesting, one of the most decorated Hurling goalkeepers and current chairman of the players association.
[video=youtube_share;2-M5g_Q-qr8]http://youtu.be/2-M5g_Q-qr8[/video]

 

[davek]

Are you serious? Why do people want to be honest - and proud - about who they are?

The attitude to homosexuality in football is flipping medieval.

Why would anyone want to know that info? It's just media driven prurient nonsense. I assume automatically that if a certain percentage of the population is gay then that must be reflected in football. What business is it other than the people themselves? And what could possibly motivate someone to putting their hand up and outing themselves other than to crave attention?

 

[BlueLlama]

I guess that nay player who came out what get supported by his own fans unless he was crap then you would sadly hear the add bit of homophobic abuse.

There would doubtless be some grief from away fans

 

[deandixie]

I'm not missing the point.

There are no openly gay professional footballers. That's nuts. That says something is wrong.

So you believe gay people should be open and tell everyone they are gay? Why? For what purpose? Is it any of your business?

I think your attitude is medieval mate sorry.

 

[allen]

And what could possibly motivate someone to putting their hand up and outing themselves other than to crave attention?

That's myopic to say the least.

Footballers are role models. There are kids growing up thinking homosexuality is abnormal - and that if you're gay, football isn't the place for you.

That needs tackling - because at the moment, Justin Fashanu tells us that "gay footballers kill themselves." That story needs changing.

 

[GwladysBlue]

I dont think we'd treat them any differently but I think visiting fans would, as would our away fans with any other team's player that is gay.