Homophobia in Cycling?

Anonymous

stonehouse wrote:

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

What ? Giro leaders jerseys ?

Criminal.

KeimanP

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.

Do they need to be? Surely we are all discussing a persons personal life, shouldn't it be theirs? Does it need to be in the public domain? Does it make a difference to the sport or how they perform on whether we know or not?

Whilst it is apparently difficult for many sports men and women to be open about their sexuality it may just be that some like to keep their personal lives theirs rather than have it spread all over the internet and newspapers. Until a significant number announce their sexuality being different to the accepted 'norm' the media are still going to have a field day!

I find it dissapointing that some people will support people less because of their sexual orientation, gender, race etc they are still the same person who is (potentially) good at the sport prior to there personal lives being spread about and who will just have the same ability after they have made the information public.

In the end why do we actually need to know?

eh - your pharse promted my reply I wasn't directing the questions at you!

STEFANOS4784

Don't know, don't care. Only people who do care are usually on a parr with monkeys. In cycling the folk seem generally more intelligent and tollerent than a bunch of thugs running around bottling each other

EKIMIKE

teagar wrote:

The talk of homophobia in football is largely limited to the UK

How can you say that? It's a very rarely discussed issue in UK football. Arguably it should be discussed more.

Anyway, I don't think football is the only sport that suffers with a lack of talking and acceptance. If anything UK footballing authorities have done a huge amount to deal with social problems within the sport. Look at the way the UK football authorities have dealt with racism and hooliganism. They've achieved a great deal.

shockedsoshocked

Does anyone still care anyway? A lad who used to captain my swimming team at Hull Uni was openly gay (actually a friend from college). The issue was only ever brought up by idiots asking if I was worried about being in the same changing room as him :roll: To be honest he was the main reason we had so many attractive women turning up, he was a big handsome fella. Think they were always a bit disappointed when they found out...

chriskempton

dennisn wrote:

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.

Not at all, I was inviting you to expand in a humourous way. Is it because we like a sleeveless top, or is it the neoprene thing?

dennisn

chriskempton wrote:

dennisn wrote:

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.

Not at all, I was inviting you to expand in a humourous way. Is it because we like a sleeveless top, or is it the neoprene thing?

I think you have said it rather well.

eh

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

Not sure that reads quite how I meant it, it was supposed to mean no one had ever actually been vocal about it in the way say Gareth Thomas has recently. It wasn't supposed to sound like I was having ago. Like others I think whether it is in the public domain is up to them.

pastey_boy

has wiggins got a bird ?

mroli

Can't see it being a problem to be honest.

Don't know if Gareth Thomas has had any problems about it when he came out, but I think the reaction largely was media led, don't think people really cared - doesn't affect his play on the field. There has been an openly gay rugby union side for a no of years now - in London and I think there might be one in Manchester too.

Law of averages says some pro-cyclists must be gay, but if they don't want to come out is up to them, if they do, can't see it being an issue.

Bigger history of lesbian sports stars - Billie Jean King and Amelie Mauresmo in tennis for example, but I guess that people still want to keep their personal life - personal. I have mates that play women's soccer and rugby to decent levels and say that the incidence of lesbianism is higher but that's just hearsay.

Anonymous

Wiggins is married.

pastey_boy

so was elton john , proves nothing 8)

Stone Glider

There are openly gay cyclists on the continent in womens cycling IIRC. The whole issue seems to be a total irrelevance in cycling. I am pleased to say that, being a minority sport in this country, we benefit from avoiding the "red tops" shouty view of life.

Sexual orientation was never a big issue for me. In fact, I didn't realise there was a choice for many years. As the years unfold it becomes less and less important. We are as we are, get on with it.

Infamous

mroli wrote:

Law of averages says some pro-cyclists must be gay, but if they don't want to come out is up to them, if they do, can't see it being an issue.

Just because x% of the population are willy woofters doesn't mean that x% of a group (in this case pro cyclists) are also bent. For example, male stewardesses are likely to have a much higher percentage of gayosity than say, Pro boxers.

They're likely to be in the minority in most sports because instead of spending time training, they spend a lot of time in the toilets down the park or lying to their dads.

I've not actually met any gay people but I've seen them on television so I believe this post to be accurate.

chriskempton

Infamous wrote:

mroli wrote:

Law of averages says some pro-cyclists must be gay, but if they don't want to come out is up to them, if they do, can't see it being an issue.

Just because x% of the population are willy woofters doesn't mean that x% of a group (in this case pro cyclists) are also bent. For example, male stewardesses are likely to have a much higher percentage of gayosity than say, Pro boxers.

They're likely to be in the minority in most sports because instead of spending time training, they spend a lot of time in the toilets down the park or lying to their dads.

I've not actually met any gay people but I've seen them on television so I believe this post to be accurate.

bill_gates

Infamous wrote:

mroli wrote:

Law of averages says some pro-cyclists must be gay, but if they don't want to come out is up to them, if they do, can't see it being an issue.

Just because x% of the population are willy woofters doesn't mean that x% of a group (in this case pro cyclists) are also bent. For example, male stewardesses are likely to have a much higher percentage of gayosity than say, Pro boxers.

They're likely to be in the minority in most sports because instead of spending time training, they spend a lot of time in the toilets down the park or lying to their dads.

I've not actually met any gay people but I've seen them on television so I believe this post to be accurate.

Maybe it's a genetic thing? :?

tebbit

There was a study with population densities of rats, they found that if a certain population density level was hit that there were instances of homosexuality within the rat population. Cycling being a minority sport this shouldn't happen as there aren't enough of us to acheive the required population density.

This begs two questions, one which sad beggar thought up the idea of studying the effects of population density on rats and secondly why can I remember it, and not something useful?

pastey_boy

surely a gay pro cyclist would stain his saddle after a few hours in the alps unless an anti bacterial yet absorbent pad is employed. just keep your eyes open for a surge in brown charge spoon saddle sales

Anonymous

pastey_boy wrote:

surely a gay pro cyclist would stain his saddle after a few hours in the alps unless an anti bacterial yet absorbent pad is employed. just keep your eyes open for a surge in brown charge spoon saddle sales

Are you a 1970's working mens club compere ? Hope you are wearing a ruffled shirt and velvet bow tie.........

passout

DAG on a bike wrote:

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.

A nice sentiment but just because the media don't report it doesn't mean that it is not significant - the medium has become the message. I guess what I'm saying is that media coverage is a different issue.

That said I don't think that, based on my experience of the sport, that it is a big problem. Perhaps it's more of any issue with football because it's a team sport with a certain fan base. Rugby seemed to cope OK when that Welsh guy (the names gone) came out - is that because rugby fans are different from football fans or do we come back to how it is represented in the media? God knows.

Frank the tank

Infamous wrote:

mroli wrote:

Law of averages says some pro-cyclists must be gay, but if they don't want to come out is up to them, if they do, can't see it being an issue.

Just because x% of the population are willy woofters doesn't mean that x% of a group (in this case pro cyclists) are also bent. For example, male stewardesses are likely to have a much higher percentage of gayosity than say, Pro boxers.

They're likely to be in the minority in most sports because instead of spending time training, they spend a lot of time in the toilets down the park or lying to their dads.

I've not actually met any gay people but I've seen them on television so I believe this post to be accurate.

Love that tongue in cheek post. The sentiment is right though, homosexuals are drawn to the arts and media type careers rather than more masculine persuits.

Unlike you I have met a few homosexuals (two of my nephews are that way inclined) funnily they both have the same christian name. One is a chef the other is an interior designer, neither of them have been near a bike or a football.

Anonymous

I'm not gay, but my boyfriend is. :shock:

warpcow

Infamous wrote:
mroli wrote:
Law of averages says some pro-cyclists must be gay, but if they don't want to come out is up to them, if they do, can't see it being an issue.
Just because x% of the population are willy woofters doesn't mean that x% of a group (in this case pro cyclists) are also bent. For example, male stewardesses are likely to have a much higher percentage of gayosity than say, Pro boxers.

They're likely to be in the minority in most sports because instead of spending time training, they spend a lot of time in the toilets down the park or lying to their dads.

I've not actually met any gay people but I've seen them on television so I believe this post to be accurate.


Love that tongue in cheek post. The sentiment is right though, homosexuals are drawn to the arts and media type careers rather than more masculine persuits.

Unlike you I have met a few homosexuals (two of my nephews are that way inclined) funnily they both have the same christian name. One is a chef the other is an interior designer, neither of them have been near a bike or a football.

That about sums up the most important point of this thread imo. Technically I probably agree with you: more creative professions have traditionally been more tolerant/accepting of homosexuality, which I would imagine makes being openly gay less of an issue. That's why there appear to be more in those professions.

At the same time, more 'masculine' (not the right word) activities make the percieved need to keep quiet clear (like recently with gay dating-service ads at the Superbowl; what message does that spread to gay atheletes?). If homosexuals weren't any good at 'man' stuff then militaries wouldn't need 'don't ask, don't tell' policies.

And if anecdotal evidence suffices Gordon Ramsey was a professional footballer (albeit briefly), world-renowned chef and a bit of a ladies man if rumours are to be believed.

racer-x

Frank in the tank - The problem that gay people face is that they find it easier to be accepted in the areas like arts and media etc so gravitate to these places and it is easy to be out.
You will see more evidence of gay people in these jobs.

In other areas such as sports and certain jobs they find it difficult to be accepted or feel they will be accepted. They do not come out.

I race track , most people do not know i am gay, Friends I race or train with know and are not bothered that i am gay, Its not spoken about much but then we talk mainly about bikes and racing.
I have not seen much evidence of homophobia in cycling and any such talk usually gets ignored.
I can understand how many gay people feel about doing a sport and being out. As there is little evidence of gays in sports. Unless they join gay only teams which there are many.

As for gays not being involved in masculine persecutes I can tell you all my gay mates ride a bicycles.
I belong to a motorcycle group. One of my mates competes in BMX. My other mate is a top skate boarder. One races motorcycles and another races cars.
Job wise of the people i mix with :1 is a carpenters, 3 are builders, 1 Electrician. 1 x Fireman. Some are openly out, some are not.

The reason that is is important to see gay people represented in these masculine per-suites it that i allows younger gay people to think 'I can do that if i want' and be part of society as an equal. That is all.
I have found that gay men do get affected and behave in certain stereotypical ways sometimes, maybe this is because that is what is shown to them , I dont think gay men are any less masculine than straight men.
Some straight men i know are camp and some straight men pretend to be masculine and they are not at all. Also being a man is alot more that being macho.
Let see what its like in 10 years time.

pastey_boy

whats it going to be like in 10 years time ?

racer-x

We will see more gay people openly out in sports. This type of discussion will be be a thing of the past I imagine. Whats your opinion?

pastey_boy

i dont see peoples attitudes towards gays changing too much , as you say yourself some are openly out whilst others not. while some people can accept homosexuality others are repulsed by it and with deep running revulsion its hard to change such attitudes. forcing people to accept homosexuality through political correctness is not the way to go as these people will still find it wrong but wont mention it through fear of shouted down. the gay community itself doesnt do itself any favours with certain members acting overtly camp which in turn riles your traditional beer drinking footy supporting hetro man. i think in 10 years time we will still be near enough in the same position

racer-x

Yes maybe for people who don't actually compete in the sports like 'your traditional beer drinking footy supporting hetro man' it will be a problem. But for people who participate in the sports themselves it will be less of a problem as more people come out.
And this is what we are talking about. Participating in a sport.
When you are training and competing it makes little difference if other people are gay. As it shows in rugby a team can be world class with gay team members.

pastey_boy

but will these people come out before they make a mark in their chosen sport or only when they are at the top of their game ? its a lot easier stopping someone reaching the top rather than knocking them off the top. gareth thomas only revealed himself at the end , would he have made it if he had come out as a beginner ? imagine a 16year old footballer just embarking on a pro career. he tells his team mates he,s gay. i doubt he would still be playing at 17. the task at hand is much bigger than i think you realise and 10 years is nowhere near enough time

racer-x

If someone is a good footballer at 16 today and is out. I am sure have will have the same chances as anyone else in his team these days.
His club should have all the required equal opportunity polices in place, he has a good coach and he I confident enough not to let people bully him about being gay he will get to the top if he is any good. He is also going to have to be part of the team which if he is a decent bloke with the required skills his mates will support him if there is a problem