A reporter for the University of Western Ontario has done a nice job on an article exploring the issues surrounding homophobia in sports and the culture that keeps athletes in the closet. Ravi Amarnath really did his homework for this one, talking to at least a half-dozen sources (including myself), most notably an openly bisexual athlete at the University. Rob Gooch (right) is a sprinter and hurdler for the school’s track & field team and, like so many others who have taken the plunge, said he has felt no repercussions from his team. Also like so many young athletes, gay and straight, today, he sees the definition of masculinity blurring:
“When it comes to people’s identities, they identify straight men with having a masculine identity whereas they want to identify a female gender identity with a gay man and I think we’re realizing that’s not completely true,” Gooch said. “Straight men can take up a lot of elements from female gender identity and a gay man can have a perfect male gender identity and still want to have sex with men.”
He also talks with Luke Cyphers of ESPN and Stephen Reid, a member of the Toronto Gay Hockey Association, who said that homophobia still abounds in amateur Canadian hockey.
Oh, and for the record if you read the article, I met my business partner Jim playing flag football; I met my partner in Provincetown.
on Feb 13th, 2009 at 7:57 PM
It seems to me that many writers in the community have taken up the cause of “bisexuality”. Also, it seems to me that these same writers are insinuating that gay men are really bisexual and just don’t want to “admit”. Just my perception from some articles I have read on this web-site. Personally, I LOVE men-sexually and emotionally. I have no interest in someone who might one day say, “sorry, I need to be with a woman now”. Just my view in a way.
on Feb 13th, 2009 at 8:36 PM
Feelings for a person are just that feelings i understand that sometimes sexualy for a person raised in the world of sports they have the ability to be with guy or girl, but in the long run who ever they feel is the best fit for them then it is fine. One way or another both parties should be completely happy!
on Feb 13th, 2009 at 10:48 PM
I always find it amusing how being a gay man means being feminine. This is part prejudice and ignorance of straights and part the fault of gay men for putting forth a feminine personna sometimes which the general population gets amusement from. This stereotype obviously shapes a negative image of a gay man. Having a “perfect male gender identity” that is masculinity is not exclusive to a hetersexual identity nor are heterosexual identifying men more masculine that homosexual identifying men. The thing that gay men may have over their straight counterparts is the ability to experience a more substantial and deep masculinity that evades straight guys. Gay sex alone is more of a masculine experience than straight sex.
on Feb 15th, 2009 at 8:18 PM
Where is Coach Gumby when we need him to define this shit for us? LOL
on Feb 15th, 2009 at 9:11 PM
I agree with RK…they say only men know what men want…And I deeply believe that gay sex is just much more masculine than straight sex (wow can’t believe I’m saying this as am a straight female lol)…2 men together just ooze insane amounts of masculinity, don’t they??
But I’m somewhat confused…Why are some gay men effeminate or display feminine behaviour then, when it has to be the complete opposite? Gay men are supposedly attracted to MEN who look/behave like MEN, and of course they want their men to be masculine, without an signal of femininity…so that’s why I don’t understand that fact.
on Feb 16th, 2009 at 2:31 AM
Tessa, I have wondered the same.
I remember a particular Democratic rant, yes, a blue person. State that gay men like men because in reality they are women. So technically wouldn’t that be two lesbians, but oh wait, the lesbians controversy the dolt stated that one lesbian was a man in reality and the other was a woman with mixed feelings about commitment towards a straight partner.
Some of the most useless and pedantic shit has been read by myself on forums by idiots who have no idea what they’re talking about.
There are men who purposely act femme, and there are people who have no control over themselves. I feel bad for the latter because the media has portrayed that the gay man is indeed like a woman and that is what all gay men come across as. Quite sad.
on Feb 17th, 2009 at 1:31 AM
DJ and Tessa, I can assure you that the majority of gay men have no wish to be women whatsoever. We prize masculinity and manhood. Of course there are gay men as there are straights that are feminine, and the rant by the Democrat is typical of the ignorance displayed by straights regarding homosexuality. One has to be careful not to confuse gender identity issues with homosexuality. Being camp is more of a joke to exaggerate the ridiculous assumptions of straights regarding gay men and lesbians. Still, gay men are somewhat to blame in perpetuating the stereotype as is the mainstream media for feeding it. However, we have had to hide who we are as well. So, maybe it is easier that way for some. Our lives do not make exciting news unless the media can portray us as “out there.” Of course in the media you do not see gay fireman, athletes, lawyers, or images of gay men as real men. However, this is changing slowly, but still gay men are portrayed as secondary characters and not the heros. Why is there no strong gay man on a show like “Heros” and so forth. Luckily, there are shows where the stereotype is being broken, but they are far and few between. We need out professional athletes and other out athletes and out men in other professions that show the real us.
on Feb 17th, 2009 at 3:09 AM
RK, you don’t understand that I was mocking said stereotypes in my post. I’m sorry if I wasn’t clear enough.
on Feb 19th, 2009 at 2:06 PM
I don’t like people thinking I’m bi or straight, so if someone says they’re bi, I don’t follow the gay mantra and assume they’re gay. No one can tell someone else what they like or don’t like. If someone is attracted to both sexes, why this push to say they’re really gay?
And Brian, where on earth did you get those conclusions from this Web site? Outsports is “ESPN for homos” and a “gay Web site.” Where did you get that we’re saying that gay men are just bi men who “don’t want to admit”????