How many current professional athletes are gay? An intriguing question, which for many reasons we'll probably never find answers.
Here are just a few good ones to consider...
From early on in high school sports, most athletic adolescent boys tend to seek out the weak in gym class to pick on and give verbal and physical abuse. To them anyone who didn’t play sports were sissies and fags to be beaten up in school parking lots in front of their friends. So it was no wonder that openly gay pro athletes are rarely heard of, or from.
After learning of Mark Bingham’s story (the gay rugby player who helped bring down Flight 93 before it hit the U.S. Capitol), I wondered what other sports pros, out of the approximately 4,000 active in the U.S., had the guts to face the inevitable judgment and fan hatred by coming out.
I was appalled to discover most had to wait until after their careers were over. There’s no doubt in my mind that in all corners of professional athletics from boxing to football, the ranks are full of gays. You’ve just never heard of them. This also includes the ranks of coaches, owners, or general managers.
The most plausible reason would be constant speculation of an opposing team’s sexuality as an insult among sports fans, some of which comb the web and enter discussion boards not only for information, but to start damaging rumors. A good example of this would be when sportswriter Skip Bayless publicly (and unfoundedly) speculated that Dallas Cowboys' quarterback Troy Aikman was gay.
More examples can be found in professional sports athletes like Dave Kopay and Esera Tuaolo (football), Martina Navratilova, and, of course, Billie Jean King (tennis). Unfortunately, because of the overzealous religious influence imposed on the U.S. recently, American athletes have suffered whether they actually were gay or not. The best illustration of why more don’t come out is shown by just looking at what Magic Johnson went through in 1991, when he summoned the courage to announce that he had AIDS. Suddenly his fans didn’t care that he had a death-sentence disease. No, they were more obsessed in gasping repeatedly, “Magic’s Gay!?!” Which, of course, he wasn’t.
An example of how misguided hatred of gays in sports can affect the athletes themselves comes in the form of 6'6", 275-lb offensive lineman Ed Gallagher, who played at the University of Pittsburgh from 1977-79.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Jet in Columbus
Many thanks for your editorial help Suss!
2 - Sister Ray
Doesn't the WNBA have a fair amount of openly gay athletes relative to professional sports? I'm straight and not much of a sports follower, but that's the imprression I get.
I think it's good that we don't tie athleticism into sexuality as much as we used to - if a woman liked sports she "must be gay," and if a man didn't care for sports he "must be gay." Those are outmoded stereotypes.
3 - chantal stone
great article, Jet
4 - Jet in Columbus
Thanks Chantal, believe it or not you can thank Suss for it. This and it's companion article used to be one big one that he suggested that I rearrange and it works much better that way.
I'm glad you enjoyed it, it means a lot to me coming from you and you already know that.
Solus mei sententia
Jet
5 - Jet in Columbus
Sister Ray, yes it does, but the article is so long now that I had to make cuts somewhere.
Perhaps in the sequel?
Thanks for your imput sweetie
Solus mei sententia
Jet
6 - savvyplanners.com
WOW! Such an impressive, factual, balanced, informative and refreshing piece. 90 percent of our clientele are GLBT people. I'd like to be able to link to your story from our blog.
You have enlightened me about the contributions of many pro athletes and illuminated the, often tragic, results of a GLBTi athlete's life led in darkness and secrecy. Thanks for the great read.
7 - Jet in Columbus
Thanks Savvy feel free, and let me know how it goes.
Jet
8 - Q Bit
Great article Jet!
I'm now less ignorant.
9 - Jet in Columbus
Thanks Q, I appreciate the encouragement!
10 - Jet in Columbus
As you can tell by the photos of the footballers (excuse the pun) the gay ones are rarely the ones you'd expect them to be. Makes you wonder about the current players doesn't it.
11 - savvyplanners.com
here's the savvy plannerslink, Jet.
Thanks,
Marcinho
12 - Jet in Columbus
I'm honored and grateful Savvy... Jet
13 - Jet in Columbus
Interesting that you'd use Esera Tuaolo's photo for the link, I'd have gone with Dave Kopay, but then we all have different ideas of what a hunk is... ha ha
Thanks again
14 - savvyplanners
TOO Funny! I chose Mr. Tuaolo because his name has been in the media most recently (Dang those "Kids" who don't remember Kopay!) LOL.
Thanks to you they may.
Thanks for cleaning up (activating)the link too. You ROCK! Have a good evening!
15 - Jet in Columbus
Did you check out the companion article on Mark Bingham and the links to stats for each athlete... Well except for Bob Paris of course, but I better not describe that one here, you'll just have to click on that one youself...
16 - John
A factual unbiased article about the fact that gay men are actully men among men, not the old false stereotype myth of the limp-wrist-long-nails sissy that has been senselessly passed from one generation to another.
17 - Jet in Columbus
Thank you John, you might like the links I provided for each athlete as well, and check out the article I did on Mark Bingham!
Much appreciated...
Jet
18 - Jet in Columbus
John 16-Esera Tuaolo will probably appreciate that
19 - Jet in Columbus
Oh and by the way if you REALLY want to see something click on Bob Paris' link!!!
20 - Andy Marsh
good read Jet.
Let's not get all testy when I ask this question...
Is it really necessary to have a gay games? The way I read the post, it sounds like these athletes want or wanted exceptance...does calling yourself out with things like the gay games...or gay pride day and stuff like that really make you feel included or excepted? Are there hetero games or hetero pride days?
It just seems to me that wearing a big sign that says what you are...no matter what it is...is just asking for trouble...
think about it...even here at BC...there are people that give some people shit for never serving in the military and those same people give other people shit that DID serve...so...it seems to me, that any label you put on your self is just asking some other group to fuck with you...but that's just me...
one more thing...I seriously doubt you were appalled to find out that pro athletes stay in the closet until their careers are over...unless you've been in a real closet with the doors locked for the last...what...50 some years???
21 - chantal stone
Andy...I understand where you're coming from with your comment. The same question can be asked (and has been right here on BC) during events like Black History Month, or other culturally exclusive events---why is it necessary to single out a certain group for recognition?
Well, here's my answer: because for far too long, certain people would have preferred (and still do) that these certain groups be neither seen nor heard. And until people among these minority groups feel the same amount of equality, acceptance and recognition as do their mainstream counterparts, they will always be there to say "WE ARE HERE".
And it's time the "mainstream" gets over itself and accepts it.
22 - Mary K. Williams
Chantal and Andy - you both make some sense. On the one hand, sometimes it is the better choice to lay low - so to speak.
But Chantal - I understand this pendulum effect. To create equality, we need to see exactly who and what is at risk of never being heard. Because things in certain areas have been very one-sided - focus must swing hard the other way. Sometimes it takes years - generations - lifetimes - for things to come to rest in the middle.
23 - Jet in Columbus
Andy, rather than give a rather lengthy response, I've written a new article entitled "Dear Andy" watch for it, it's being reviewed as we speak.
Thanks
Jet
24 - Jet in Columbus
Dear Chantal, well that covered about a third of my new article in one paragraph.
Thanks sweetie
25 - Jet in Columbus
Mary 22-God I hope it doesn't take THAT long!