Do You Think That There Are Gay Male Professional Athletes?

[Yavin4]

If so, how many do you think there are, and in what sports? Also, do you think that they have an obligation to come forward and be a role model for an oppressed minority like Jackie Robinson did?

My guess is that there's a suprisingly high percentage of Gay male professional athletes, and I believe that they should come foward. I believe that they do indeed owe it to other Gay people to make a statement on behalf of their population.

Where would race relations be in America were it not for Jesse Owens, Joe Louis, Jim Brown, Muhammed Ali, Wilma Rudolph, and Arthur Ashe. In addition to their high athletic achievements, they taught the world about race-relations. I remember walking with Arthur Ashe in protest outside of the South African embassy during the 80s.

[Brucey]

1. Yes, there must be.

They should come out of the closet (er, lockeroom). Stop throwing those balls around and speak up!

[latebloomer]

2. Does the Pope shit in the woods?

And yes, it would be useful if they came out.

[Laughing Mirror]

3. there was Dave Kopay who came out in the 1970s

Kopay played for the Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins, retiring in 1972 after a productive nine-year pro career. His private affairs were known to few."

But, as of December 2000 ...

"Just a half-dozen athletes from pro football and major league baseball have publicly identified themselves as gay, none from the NBA."

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/football/kopay05.shtml

[Yavin4]

8. Jerry Smith of the Washington Redskins of the 70s Was Gay

But that was only revealed after he died of AIDs in the late 80s. He played tight end, no pun intended.

[Kamika]

4. YES

atleast 36.6737% of all male athletes are gay.

I know this for a fact from a fox poll

[Kamika]

51. hah

Damn I'm funny when I'm drunk

[Droopy]

5. I'd say there are a few in all sports

Not a lot. As for them coming out, I think that is a very personal situation and I'm sure you can see why they may not. Given the atmosphere in athletics it would not be surprising to see such an athlete black listed after they came out. It's also possible that they may be risking their lives as well as their livlihoods. You know how insane fans can be. I think it will be a long time before you see an openly gay male athelte.

[WildClarySage]

6. They're all too busy

assaulting hotel clerks.

:evilgrin:

[piece sine]

42. you mean prostitute, don't you?

She was a busy hooker,that much is clear. Kobe's an intensely handsome man -- I guess that leads some folks to WISH he was gay.

[BJ]

7. Yes.

But if any came out you can bet that bigot homophoebs like John Rocker and Jeremy Shockey would go nuts. Not to mention closet cross-dressers like Rush, Hannity and Savage.

[Laughing Mirror]

9. and if you're into professional wrestling, there was Georgeous George

Whether it was the promoters' intent at the time or not, Gorgeous George was a flaming queen, along the lines of Liberace, but with muscles.

http://www.outsports.com/columns/mcclellandwwf20020501.htm

edited for correct link

[Uzybone]

10. Yes

of course there are. And I think they should come out of the closet. I dont think its a high percentage...its probably significantly lower than the general population.

[kertnom]

11. I hope not

Before I get called anti-homo or whatever, being a gay on a team will cause problems and the team will be lackluster. Same with differences in religion, that could cause problems with the team's on the field play and all around chemistry.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

12. Intolerance-you're showing your true colors

all over DU.

There have been plenty of gay athletes on winning teams. Many are closeted.

A lot of the younger generation playing sports these days aren't as homophobic as you.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[NashVegas]

20. I Doubt It

These guys go on the road together, spend a lot of time together and I have a hard time believing at least some portion of their teammates aren't already in the know.

[kertnom]

22. Yes

one gay man came out after he retired said he would pretend to be with females to fool the other athletes into thinking that he was straight. He also recalled many times where other teammates would often make gay jokes, I don't know his name but he was a Hawaiian Defensive lineman for the Minnesota Vikings.

[Twillig]

25. Esera Tuaolo OSU alum

I think I saw him in a tv ad a few months ago.

http://gazettetimes.com/articles/2003/05/15/sports/top_story/comm2.txt


Yay, SJ!

"He's a guy that has great talent, by him being gay, it doesn't change the way he plays the game," said Steven Jackson, OSU's star running back who was in the crowd with several other teammates. "I can see myself playing with a gay man and being compassionate towards them and you know, cheering with them and I'll fight for them on the battlefield."

[VermontDem2004]

28. I always liked Steven Jackson

but after he said that makes me like him even more. I hope he has a great career with Oregon State and in the NFL. We need more players like him and OSU is lucky to have him.

[noiretextatique]

24. there are gay people on professional teams

and some people might enjoy being eyed in the shower...it's usually the ones who scream the loudest about how "uncomfortable" they are around gay people that want to be eyed the most.

[Laughing Mirror]

15. yes Kertnom, exactly, not to mention the vulnerability to blackmail

and an overcharged eroticism in the locker room, which could lead to, to, to, to ...

[kertnom]

19. Yes

A gay man on a football team will reciever lots of death threats. Many gay people said they are glad they didn't come out when they were in their sport professionally.

[blondeatlast]

21. Religion? Sexual Preference? Sheesh, guy--

that side is over there on the right. Anti-HOMO?

I'm a straight, white, married, Christian woman and I don't like your attitude one bit.

[kertnom]

23. I am telling the truth

You may not like what I am telling you but there are many instances where differences of strong religous believes lead to mediocre play and problems on and off the field. Also teammates knowing that their is a gay man on their team will lead to problems, I don't like it but it's true.

[blondeatlast]

26. I'm a librarian and former English teacher. I need citations, please.

[stanwyck]

32. Then Kertnom is really going to hurt your head

because his spelling and grammar are as lousy as his opinions. On another thread, he's bragging about hitting his kids. Not "just" spanking, but hitting. Quite a profile he's building here.

[Mikimouse]

52. Oh, you picky academic, you

:evilgrin: Dontcha know that citations are for libruls. Rush'll tell ya straight that the world is full of well educated losers! (sarcasm off). Hi BAL!:hi:

[JackDragna]

60. Unfortunately, he's pretty much dead-on.

I've seen several interviews with current Oakland Athletic coach Billy Beane. Beane is gay and had to hide his sexuality while playing major league baseball. He's said that had he come out while playing, the team simply wouldn't have been able to handle it. Pro sports players try to pigeonhole themselves as the ultimate male playboys (money, fame and all) and won't be very accepting of gay teammates until society itself becomes a lot more tolerant. Acceptance of gays, much like how baseball players finally accepted Jackie Robinson, won't increase until the society that watches the games changes.

[stanwyck]

37. You need to provide specifics

otherwise you're no better than the wingnut blowhards who make equally outrageous statements with absolutely no factual backup. "I don't like it but it'ss true". Why? Because you made it up? You must defend your opinions with data. Otherwise, they're worthless. Maybe these sort of posts play over at FR, but you're running with a smarter crowd here.

[Skittles]

47. MY GUESS

IS THAT YOU ARE VERY "ANTI-HOMO".

[bluestateguy]

57. Sounds much like the Penatgon

That's the same argument they use to keep gays out of the military.

[Blue-Jay]

13. Do you think there are gay male bankers?

or policemen?

[NashVegas]

16. You're Joking, Right?

In all likelihood there are tons. alt.showbiz.gossip used to keep a list.

And no, they are not obligated to come forward and be anyone's beacon for gender preferences. Their only obligation is to be excellent players. If someone wants to come out as some sort of ambassador, I tip my hat, but it must be entirely their own choice, not because it would make someone else happy.

[geniph]

17. My response to that is a big DUUUUHHHHH

of course there are, there's a lot of them. As to whether or not they "should" come out - that's never anyone else's decision. Only they can really decide what the pros and cons of coming out would be for their own situation. It's never appropriate for someone else to out them, in my opinion. We don't know all the reasons a person does or does not stay closeted. They've the right to stay closeted if they wish. I just wish no one cared one way or the other what their sexual preferences were, any more than we care what color eyes they have. Neither make any difference to their performance. It should be completely irrelevant and of no interest to anyone who's unlikely to sleep with them.

[Braden]

18. are there right and left handed pro athletes?

I would bet the farm that there are gay athletes and probably on each team.

or at least statistically one for every team.

Sadly I dont think the general public would deal with it. One guy would have to come out and take career ending abuse and eventually the stigma would fade. Sad as that is, its probably the case.

[HEyHEY]

27. I believe Glenn Anderson from th NHL is gay

I think it's him anyway

[joeybee12]

29. Is Billy Bean the name of the gay baseball player?

And isn't he a manager of some sort on some team now?????

And isn't he just the cutest thing?

[maveric]

41. So was Glenn Burke of Major League Baseball.

Denis Rodman is Bisexual.

[Some Moran]

49. Are you just saying that because he's so flamboyant and overly-sexualised?

Just asking.

[joeybee12]

55. I think Dennis once admitted to bisexuality

But knowing him, it could have just been for publicity

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

30. No and there are NO dykes in pro golf so stop saying that!

:evilgrin: Kinda makes me want to like golf.

[AntiCoup2K4]

31. I think someone in this thread might be a closet F...

..reeper

[blondeatlast]

33. Couldn't be. That would cause divisiveness and distract us from our

common goals. BTW, NSMA, when did you get that cute little tattoo on your butt? I never noticed it before practice . . .

PS: who was whispering in Hebrew during pre-game prayers???

Edit:

:evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

34. Not major team sports, but

Greg Louganis, Olympic gold medalist in diving

Rudy Galindo, figure skating

persistent rumors about track star Carl Lewis

[Paschall]

38. ESPN: A brief history of gay athletes

http://espn.go.com/otl/world/timeline.html

[yankeedem]

35. Glenn Burke

a utility outfielder for the A's and Dodgers in the late 70's


http://www.lambda.net/~maximum/burke.html

and died of AIDS in 1995.

[bbmykel]

36. Of course there are.

The only question is when they will be able to be open about it.

Mike

[qwertyMike]

39. Figure skating (M)

naawwwwwwwwwwww

[FlemingsGhost]

40. Sure... The entire New York Yankee organization.

:evilgrin:

No, seriously just Jeter.

[piece sine]

43. will take him!

Where can I sign-up for a chance to date the now officially-"gay" Derek Jeter?! They don't come any hotter than Derek. hmmm...Mariah Carey lamented to the tabloids that "he was always a perfect gentlemen" which implies chaste, "smile for the cameras" dates.

No, with my luck, if handsome Derek is actually gay, he probably putting it to bottom-boy Andy Roddick.

[blondeatlast]

45. Derek Jeter? Are you jokin' me???

Figures, though. Articulate, well groomed, sense of humor, socially ept. Damn.

[piece sine]

58. yeah...

I was playing along with an anti-Yankee accusation. I have no real information that Jeter is gay, although I'd jump his bones in a NY minute! I can talk about former Baltimore Oriole first-baseman Brady Anderson, who is almost as hot, and certainly a man's man in the carnal sense.

[Skittles]

44. I am reminded of a gay coworker

who had a real Astro shirt he got from a real Astro. Of course there are gay professional athletes, just as there are gay everything. I honestly couldn't venture to guess the percentage.

*sniff* Arthur Ashe - what a gentleman. :)

[Terran]

46. NO, there are none, whatsoever.

:eyes:

[arwalden]

48. No... Only Florists, Hairdressers, and Interior Designers

you silly boy!

-- Allen

[arwalden]

53. We're All Named Mark, Rick, or Steve. And We All Have TRACK LIGHTING

Didn't you know?

-- Steve

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

54. Whaaa? No Bruce's???

[DuctapeFatwa]

50. No they are just pretending to be gay

nt

[arwalden]

56. They Are "CRAB PEOPLE" (Crab People... Crab People... Clicky-Clicky)

and they are trying to take over the earth by converting us all to METROSEXUALS.




-- Allen

[JackDragna]

61. I always knew "Queer Eye" was a big homo plot!

I'm going to go drink me a beer, throw the can on the floor, then make some crude comments to my blonde neighbor as she walks her dogs outside.

[JackDragna]

59. Several have come out, actually, after they retired.

Current Oakland Athletics coaching whiz Billy Beane is out of the closet. From what he's said in interviews, there are a fair number of gay athletes in big-time sports, but they're afraid to come out because of the ridicule they'd get from the press and fans and the destabilization they'd cause on their teams.