Robbie Rogers – tidligere Leeds United, nu LA Galaxy.
Der bliver skrevet en hel del her på bloggen om fodbold, dvs. det er nu stort set kun om engelsk fodbold – og her kun om Premier League. Engelsk fodbold har mange stolte traditioner, men i hvert fald én af dem kunne vi godt have undværet, nemlig at there are no gay players in the Premier League. Det er præcis som når Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gør opmærksom på at der ikke findes bøsser i Iran. Det er underligt at det begyndende skred, der i disse år sker i opfattelsen af bøsser og lesbiske, sker i USA, hvor bl.a. basketballspilleren Jason Collins nu står frem som bøsse.
Hadley Freeman skriver i The Guardian at
The Observer reported last weekend that “at least eight professional footballers” have revealed that they are gay to teammates, but have refused to do so publicly because of concerns, doubtless justified, about “the fans”. In comparison, American sports and, so far, their fans, too, are looking downright progressive. Robbie Rogers left Leeds United earlier this year, saying that to be publicly gay and play English football was “impossible”, but is now training with LA Galaxy.
Det sidste er især sigende. Man skal dog også bemærke, som Freeman skriver, at de amerikanske sportsfolk, der nu står frem, er i slutningen af deres karriere:
But at the moment, the only male celebrities in Britain and the US who appear to be able to come out and continue their careers have proven to be – surprise, surprise! – entertainers. Because that’s what gay men are like, right? Sparkly and funny, not masculine and strong.
Until that changes, we’re still hacking down the slow path of progress.
