Homophobia in Cycling?

Westerberg

There's lots in the media at the moment about homophobia in football and the fact that there are no openly gay professionals, despite statistics showing they must be out there.

I'm wondering how much of a problem it is in cycling? Are there any openly gay pro cyclists out there? Would it be easier or even harder for them to come out than for footballers? How might an openly gay cyclist be received in the peloton, by the sponsors and by the crowd lining the streets of, say, the TDF?

Pross

There's not many openly gay sportsmen in any sport that I can think of.

teagar

Tough to say.

I'd imagine the crowds would be slightly better, but that's more a comment on football fans than cycling fans.

The talk of homophobia in football is largely limited to the UK, whereas cycling's naturally international, which makes it a little trickier to establish.

Frank the tank

As long as they're no peado's, I don't really give a stuff about a persons sexuallity.

Obviously I don't want it ramming down me throat though.

Westerberg

true enough Pross, I think you're right that it's sports problem as a whole to challenge.

teagar

Westerberg wrote:

true enough Pross, I think you're right that it's sports problem as a whole to challenge.

Any idea on whether it is a little easier if you're female and homosexual in sport?

Female football and rugby player stereotypes aside.

spen666

teagar wrote:

Tough to say.

I'd imagine the crowds would be slightly better, but that's more a comment on football fans than cycling fans.

The talk of homophobia in football is largely limited to the UK, whereas cycling's naturally international, which makes it a little trickier to establish.

Cycling is no more or less international than football

teagar

spen666 wrote:

teagar wrote:

Tough to say.

I'd imagine the crowds would be slightly better, but that's more a comment on football fans than cycling fans.

The talk of homophobia in football is largely limited to the UK, whereas cycling's naturally international, which makes it a little trickier to establish.

Cycling is no more or less international than football

What I meant was the current discussion on homophobia in football was in reference to the premier league and clubs who are based in the UK - and predmoniantly play in the UK infront of UK crowds.

Cyclists don't.

Westerberg

spen666 wrote:

teagar wrote:

Tough to say.

I'd imagine the crowds would be slightly better, but that's more a comment on football fans than cycling fans.

The talk of homophobia in football is largely limited to the UK, whereas cycling's naturally international, which makes it a little trickier to establish.

Cycling is no more or less international than football

Without wishing to make sweeping generalisations, I'd wager that it might be even tougher for a footballer to come out in say, Italy or Spain.

Infamous

Frank the tank wrote:

As long as they're no peado's, I don't really give a stuff about a persons sexuallity.

That's Belgium's finest sprinter out then.

Anonymous

I don't think its a problem in cycling. Al the cycling blurb, be it in magazine, net, media forums, not once has homophobia in cycling ever cropped up. Don't think its on anyones horizon to be honest.

Westerberg

dmclite wrote:

I don't think its a problem in cycling. Al the cycling blurb, be it in magazine, net, media forums, not once has homophobia in cycling ever cropped up. Don't think its on anyones horizon to be honest.

That's a fair point, but if there are no openly gay pro cyclists, that to me suggests a problem. Not saying they should shout it from the rooftops, but if it was known that a pro cyclist was gay, I think it would generate more media coverage. Not saying it's anymore cycling's problem than any other sport.

dag_on_a_bike

Westerberg wrote:

There's lots in the media at the moment about homophobia in football and the fact that there are no openly gay professionals, despite statistics showing they must be out there.

Do we really care?

Surely we should adopt an open attitude.

A cyclist is a cyclist. Simple as that.

What difference does it make - young/old, black/white, straight/gay, male/female?

Just cyclist.

I know homophobia exists, just as racism etc. Let's just not make it an isuue as the media wish to.

Anonymous

Westerberg wrote:

dmclite wrote:

I don't think its a problem in cycling. Al the cycling blurb, be it in magazine, net, media forums, not once has homophobia in cycling ever cropped up. Don't think its on anyones horizon to be honest.

That's a fair point, but if there are no openly gay pro cyclists, that to me suggests a problem. Not saying they should shout it from the rooftops, but if it was known that a pro cyclist was gay, I think it would generate more media coverage. Not saying it's anymore cycling's problem than any other sport.

Please do not take this the wrong way, but it seems you are looking for a problem. I think Team SKY are creating lots of media coverage and so has a certain Texan cyclist over the past decade.

Westerberg

ok - fair points. Not looking for a problem which doesn't exist - it just came to mind as football seems to be doing some soul searching about it currently and as a relative newcomer to cycling, I wondered what the feeling was.

LangerDan

"Westerberg wrote:

That's a fair point, but if there are no openly gay pro cyclists, that to me suggests a problem. Not saying they should shout it from the rooftops, but if it was known that a pro cyclist was gay, I think it would generate more media coverage. Not saying it's anymore cycling's problem than any other sport.

Judith Arndt and Petra Rossner?

Chip \'oyler

Westerberg wrote:

There's lots in the media at the moment about homophobia in football and the fact that there are no openly gay professionals, despite statistics showing they must be out there.

I'm wondering how much of a problem it is in cycling? Are there any openly gay pro cyclists out there? Would it be easier or even harder for them to come out than for footballers? How might an openly gay cyclist be received in the peloton, by the sponsors and by the crowd lining the streets of, say, the TDF?

Why is it a problem?

Westerberg

Chip \'oyler wrote:

Why is it a problem?

It's a problem if there are gay pro cyclists who feel they can't come out because of the way the sport/sponsors/fans might react - just as has been proven the case in football. It most definitely IS a problem in football. I was asking the question of cycling. That's all I'm saying, nothing more or less.

AndyOgy

That is so true DAG. People are so easily told what to think by the media.

A persons sexuality is such a tiny part of their overall character. It's about as important as whether a person prefers Eastenders or Coronation Street, X-Box or Wii, BMX or skateboard. Any trivial stuff like that.

The media just looks for every way it can to split the nation and get us all bickering.

Westerberg

AndyOgy wrote:

A persons sexuality is such a tiny part of their overall character. It's about as important as whether a person prefers Eastenders or Coronation Street, X-Box or Wii, BMX or skateboard. Any trivial stuff like that..

Has anyone ever been disowned by their family for having a BMX?

dennisn

Surely, triathletes must be taken into account also. They being, well, how to say it, .......somewhat strange anyway.

chriskempton

What are you trying to say, Dennis?

eh

Well I can think of a few women for instance there was the big Judith Arndt row with the German federation over not also picking her partner.

Dunno about men though, have heard rumours about a few but none have ever been conformed.

AndyOgy

Westerberg wrote:

AndyOgy wrote:

A persons sexuality is such a tiny part of their overall character. It's about as important as whether a person prefers Eastenders or Coronation Street, X-Box or Wii, BMX or skateboard. Any trivial stuff like that..

Has anyone ever been disowned by their family for having a BMX?

My point exactly. It's shocking that we live in a world where people have been disowned by their family for reasons of sexuality.

It makes me a little sad, if I'm honest.

spen666

Westerberg wrote:

AndyOgy wrote:

A persons sexuality is such a tiny part of their overall character. It's about as important as whether a person prefers Eastenders or Coronation Street, X-Box or Wii, BMX or skateboard. Any trivial stuff like that..

Has anyone ever been disowned by their family for having a BMX?

I should hope so

dennisn

chriskempton wrote:

What are you trying to say, Dennis?

Absolutely nothing. Just trying to poke fun at triathletes. Must have missed the mark with that one.

Westerberg

spen666 wrote:

Westerberg wrote:

AndyOgy wrote:

A persons sexuality is such a tiny part of their overall character. It's about as important as whether a person prefers Eastenders or Coronation Street, X-Box or Wii, BMX or skateboard. Any trivial stuff like that..

Has anyone ever been disowned by their family for having a BMX?

I should hope so

Bikerbaboon

Westerberg wrote:

AndyOgy wrote:

A persons sexuality is such a tiny part of their overall character. It's about as important as whether a person prefers Eastenders or Coronation Street, X-Box or Wii, BMX or skateboard. Any trivial stuff like that..

Has anyone ever been disowned by their family for having a BMX?

no but i nearly kicked the wife out for wanting a wii. :shock:

AndyOgy

Bikerbaboon wrote:

Westerberg wrote:

AndyOgy wrote:

A persons sexuality is such a tiny part of their overall character. It's about as important as whether a person prefers Eastenders or Coronation Street, X-Box or Wii, BMX or skateboard. Any trivial stuff like that..

Has anyone ever been disowned by their family for having a BMX?

no but i nearly kicked the wife out for wanting a wii. :shock:

But would you want to kick her out if she was a lesbian?

Anonymous

AndyOgy wrote:

Bikerbaboon wrote:

Westerberg wrote:

AndyOgy wrote:

A persons sexuality is such a tiny part of their overall character. It's about as important as whether a person prefers Eastenders or Coronation Street, X-Box or Wii, BMX or skateboard. Any trivial stuff like that..

Has anyone ever been disowned by their family for having a BMX?

no but i nearly kicked the wife out for wanting a wii. :shock:

But would you want to kick her out if she was a lesbian?

Not being funny, but 'wife' and 'lesbian' wouldn't necessarily suggest a recipe for a happy marriage, assuming that we're not talking a civil partnership..

Discrimination on the grounds of sexuality seems very wrong and most of us seem to have moved on from judging people. There are quite a few 'outed' homosexuals in sport - tennis is one sport where there seems to be less 'tension' about sexuality, but also true of swimmers and other sports.

Is it, possibly, team sports that finds the question of sexuality difficult? :?

stonehouse

I've seen a few cyclists in a pink jersey, closest I've detected