Thierry Henry Backs Players Coming Out As Gay

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry says it should be "OK by now" for gay footballers to feel comfortable being open about their sexuality.

Speaking on Sky News, Henry said: "We’re living in a different time, a different world, and people should accept that."

Professional athletes have long been hesitant about coming out as gay, partly because of concerns about how fans and sponsors would react.  But an increasing number of sports stars - including English rugby union player Sam Stanley - have decided to go public.

Henry, who is a Sky Academy ambassador, said he would have no problems playing alongside a team who was gay.

"It’s not a problem, we’re ultimately there to do a job. Whatever you believe in, whatever you do," he said. "If I was in a dressing room, that guy would still have been my teammate and I would still give him the ball, and I would still see him the same way, still go out with him. We're all human beings at the end of the day, so it doesn't really bother me."

The former France and Arsenal star is supporting the Sky Academy Confidence Month, which aims to help young people boost their confidence and fulfil their potential.

http://news.sky.com/story/1577129/thierry-henry-backs-players-coming-out-as-gay

Well said

Good for him!

Racism hasn't been eliminated in the terraces, so what chance does homophobia have.

Of course gay players will be targeted, perhaps not violently or even illegally but with innovative chants, etc.

Sexuality shouldn't have to come into it or even be discussed. How many of us have declared our sexuality at work?

Can you imagine the abuse from the opposing fans to a gay player?

It will not be a pretty sight.

Shady wrote:Can you imagine the abuse from the opposing fans to a gay player?

It will not be a pretty sight.

...but what if that English footballer was the number 1 in the world and played for their nation? What do you think their reaction would be then Shady?

feelthelove wrote:

Shady wrote:Can you imagine the abuse from the opposing fans to a gay player?

It will not be a pretty sight.

...but what if that English footballer was the number 1 in the world and played for their nation? What do you think their reaction would be then Shady?

Playing for England,he'd be fine.But once it came back to club level......

Shady wrote:

feelthelove wrote:

...but what if that English footballer was the number 1 in the world and played for their nation? What do you think their reaction would be then Shady?

Playing for England,he'd be fine.But once it came back to club level......

It's a real shame Shady because people should be recognised for their talent, sexuality should be irrelevant

I find it hard to understand how this could be an issue in soccer of all sports, a game commonly refereed to as "Fag-ball" in Australia.  (we call Rugby or AFL football)

we have had openly Gay Rugby players since the late 90's  

feelthelove wrote:

Shady wrote:

Playing for England,he'd be fine.But once it came back to club level......

It's a real shame Shady because people should be recognised for their talent, sexuality should be irrelevant

Absolutely agree but until until players stop getting attacked both on and off the pitch for either their race/religion /nationality/sexuality it is important that people like Thierry continue to speak out about it.

Racism has been almlat completely erradicated from
English football. Homophobia will eventually go the same way. I've come out in every job I've had in the last 6 years.

It isn't a deliberate announcement. People ask me about my relationships, GFs, marriage etc, and I politely inform them I'm gay and/or have boyfriend.

I never know what response I will get but I usually know it will be ok and it always is

Footballers are role models but the lack of openness among for gay players suggests a backwardness that can only be shifted when a major player comes out.

Good luck to them.

Shady wrote:

feelthelove wrote:

Shady wrote:Can you imagine the abuse from the opposing fans to a gay player?

It will not be a pretty sight.

...but what if that English footballer was the number 1 in the world and played for their nation? What do you think their reaction would be then Shady?

Playing for England,he'd be fine.But once it came back to club level......

Justin Fashanu revealed himself as a gay footballer many years ago and I don't remember him getting very much abuse from the terraces - certianly not in Scotland anyway. He played for Hearts for a while and there was never any abuse from the Hearts fans and was welcomed here.
He died a tragic end for something that happened in the USA  when he sadly took his own life. A minutes silence was held to remember Justin just after that and you could hear a pin drop during that minute.

Read about the Justin campaign here...

http://www.thejustincampaign.com/

Irn Bru wrote:

Shady wrote:

Playing for England,he'd be fine.But once it came back to club level......

Justin Fashanu revealed himself as a gay footballer many years ago and I don't remember him getting very much abuse from the terraces - certianly not in Scotland anyway. He played for Hearts for a while and there was never any abuse from the Hearts fans and was welcomed here.
He died a tragic end for something that happened in the USA  when he sadly took his own life. A minutes silence was held to remember Justin just after that and you could hear a pin drop during that minute.

Read about the Justin campaign here...

http://www.thejustincampaign.com/

Can you imagine if Wayne Rooney came out as being gay? Can you imagine what the Man City fans would scream at him?

Shady wrote:

Irn Bru wrote:

Shady wrote:

Playing for England,he'd be fine.But once it came back to club level......

Justin Fashanu revealed himself as a gay footballer many years ago and I don't remember him getting very much abuse from the terraces - certianly not in Scotland anyway. He played for Hearts for a while and there was never any abuse from the Hearts fans and was welcomed here.
He died a tragic end for something that happened in the USA  when he sadly took his own life. A minutes silence was held to remember Justin just after that and you could hear a pin drop during that minute.

Read about the Justin campaign here...

http://www.thejustincampaign.com/

Can you imagine if Wayne Rooney came out as being gay? Can you imagine what the Man City fans would scream at him?

What, are they like really horrible people?

Ben_Reilly wrote:

Shady wrote:

Can you imagine if Wayne Rooney came out as being gay? Can you imagine what the Man City fans would scream at him?

What, are they like really horrible people?

A bit like IRA supporters if you can believe it.Makes you wonder doesn't it?

feelthelove wrote:

Shady wrote:

Playing for England,he'd be fine.But once it came back to club level......

It's a real shame Shady because people should be recognised for their talent, sexuality should be irrelevant

Couldn't care less about a football player being a homosexual or not off the pitch... but I wouldn't want to be sharing a changing room with them... for the same reasons that a heterosexual man wouldn't be welcome in a womans changing room...

Well tommy fortunately sports stars in the NFL, rugby, baseball, and no doubt many in football are a bit more mature than you are, and accept it with the sense that every gay guy in the world does not care to eye fuck every other male in the world. Locker room banter will go on for sure, but as a sportstar any gay player would be all about that.

Tommy Monk wrote:

feelthelove wrote:

Shady wrote:

Playing for England,he'd be fine.But once it came back to club level......

It's a real shame Shady because people should be recognised for their talent, sexuality should be irrelevant

Couldn't care less about a football player being a homosexual or not off the pitch... but I wouldn't want to be sharing a changing room with them... for the same reasons that a heterosexual man wouldn't be welcome in a womans changing room...

Why is that Tommy? Do you see them as a threat to you in some way?

Are you a real catch like

Well why not have heterosexual men in a womans changing room?


We've seen it all before... in this age of maturity etc, and most women show more on the beach these days...

Shady wrote:

Ben_Reilly wrote:

Shady wrote:

Can you imagine if Wayne Rooney came out as being gay? Can you imagine what the Man City fans would scream at him?

What, are they like really horrible people?

A bit like IRA supporters if you can believe it.Makes you wonder doesn't it?

Wow, so the fans actually support murder?

Eilzel wrote:Well tommy fortunately sports stars in the NFL, rugby, baseball, and no doubt many in football are a bit more mature than you are, and accept it with the sense that every gay guy in the world does not care to eye fuck every other male in the world. Locker room banter will go on for sure, but as a sportstar any gay player would be all about that.

I'd have absolutely no problem sharing a locker room etc with a lesbian.
I'm not sure I'd even give it a second thought!

Eye fuck

You may not Eddie... but others might...

Eilzel wrote:Well tommy fortunately sports stars in the NFL, rugby, baseball, and no doubt many in football are a bit more mature than you are, and accept it with the sense that every gay guy in the world does not care to eye fuck every other male in the world. Locker room banter will go on for sure, but as a sportstar any gay player would be all about that.

What a bullshit argument.

I don't want to "eye fuck" every woman I come across either.

Except in light of tommy's reasoning that is exactly why he wouldn't want to share a locker room with a gay man. I agree it is bullshit.

The same reason why women don't share locker rooms with men...

And why do you think that os tommy?

Why do you think that is...?

In Tommy's world, people are always an article of clothing or a polite social rule away from raping one another

No, that's the Muslim world why women have to cover from heard to toe in a comedy clock of death and aren't allowed to engage in basic social interactions with others...

Tommy Monk wrote:No, that's the Muslim world why women have to cover from heard to toe in a comedy clock of death and aren't allowed to engage in basic social interactions with others...

It's funny how much in common you have with fundamentalist Muslims!

Eilzel wrote:Except in light of tommy's reasoning that is exactly why he wouldn't want to share a locker room with a gay man. I agree it is bullshit.

So if we can control who we can "eye fuck" (according to you), why have gender separated locker rooms at all?

Ben_Reilly wrote:

Tommy Monk wrote:No, that's the Muslim world why women have to cover from heard to toe in a comedy clock of death and aren't allowed to engage in basic social interactions with others...

It's funny how much in common you have with fundamentalist Muslims!

I find that offensive. Most Muslims believe in the Quran and logically accept it says about homosexuality. Not just fundamentalists.

Because some people wouldn't care to control it Zack. Don't mistake 'eye fucking' (I could have used a better term lol) for general attraction. If one or a few women is in a male dominated locker room there is a possibility, however small, that she would be harrassed by some of the guys, even if no harm was meant, it might be uncomfortable for her.

Fuzzy Zack wrote:

Ben_Reilly wrote:

It's funny how much in common you have with fundamentalist Muslims!

I find that offensive. Most Muslims believe in the Quran and logically accept it says about homosexuality. Not just fundamentalists.

But you are a fundementalist, like the vast majority of Muslims, because they believe literally in, jusr as you do, in the word of Quran as devine. I think what you meant was that you did not wish to be painted alongsie all the extremists.

Ok... so homosexual men in womens changing rooms is fine too then...?

Tommy Monk wrote:Ok... so homosexual men in womens changing rooms is fine too then...?

Only if you accept the chicks having a perv

Just for the record I don't care if guys 'eye fuck' me

So heterosexual men would be ok in womans changing rooms if they promised not to look at any of them sexually...!?

Didge wrote:

Fuzzy Zack wrote:

I find that offensive. Most Muslims believe in the Quran and logically accept it says about homosexuality. Not just fundamentalists.

But you are a fundementalist, like the vast majority of Muslims, because they believe literally in, jusr as you do, in the word of Quran as devine. I think what you meant was that you did not wish to be painted alongsie all the extremists.

ALL Muslims believe the Quranis devine. So you think ALL Muslims are fundamentalists.

That's not just bigoted but highly illogical.

Anyway - I don't care what people think of me, extremist, fundamentalist, bigot - whatever - I was just pulling Ben's leg, hoping for a reaction.

Tommy Monk wrote:So heterosexual men would be ok in womans changing rooms if they promised not to look at any of them sexually...!?

Notice the silence and now nobody can really answer you.

He's waffling, he ignored the point on potential harassment, nor have either of you addressed what the actual problem you would have is regarding sharing a changing room with a gay man.

It would make me feel uncomfortable to be changing in front of a homosexual who may be getting a sexual enjoyment by watching.

Tommy Monk wrote:It would make me feel uncomfortable to be changing in front of a homosexual who may be getting a sexual enjoyment by watching.

Why? Are you afraid you might get sexual enjoyment being watched?

Otherwise...how the fook does it even involve you, what goes on in another's mind?

So men should be allowed into womens changing rooms then...!?


Because it would be fine if men were getting sexual gratification looking at the women changing in there... what has it got to do with them if someone is perving at them...!?

Eilzel wrote:Because some people wouldn't care to control it Zack. Don't mistake 'eye fucking' (I could have used a better term lol) for general attraction. If one or a few women is in a male dominated locker room there is a possibility, however small, that she would be harrassed by some of the guys, even if no harm was meant, it might be uncomfortable for her.

Are you telling me there isn't a potential for a guy to be harassed by another guy, "how ever small"? What if the guy cannot defend himself? Happens (apparently) in prisons.

Even if it's just learning, some guys would find that uncomfortable. Women would definitely feel abused, guys would probably resort to violence.

Eilzel wrote:He's waffling, he ignored the point on potential harassment, nor have either of you addressed what the actual problem you would have is regarding sharing a changing room with a gay man.

You've already highlighted the problem above.

And if it wasn't for the problem that some don't have self control, I would be up for unisexual locker rooms with segregation based on BMI alone. The fatties can get dressed somewhere where I won't be offended by looking at them.

Fuzzy Zack wrote:

Didge wrote:


But you are a fundementalist, like the vast majority of Muslims, because they believe literally in, jusr as you do, in the word of Quran as devine. I think what you meant was that you did not wish to be painted alongsie all the extremists.

ALL Muslims believe the Quranis devine. So you think ALL Muslims are fundamentalists.

That's not just bigoted but highly illogical.

Anyway - I don't care what people think of me, extremist, fundamentalist, bigot - whatever - I was just pulling Ben's leg, hoping for a reaction.

Yes they are fundementalits if they believe it is the literal word of a mythical diety.
I suggest you look it up.

Hence the problem with literal religious people, as they are nothing more than sheep.
They blindly follow what is written in a book, thinking such a supreme being would make such daft bigoted, hateful commands. I mean if you understand an ounce what love is, you would know the Bible, Koran etc, are clearly the fiction of men.
Love is unconditional.
It is also freely given, which means it has to be consential.
To be against love, is the opposite hateful and also very prejudice.
So to literally claim it is a sin for two consenting adults to express their love for each other is barbaric.
So the works can only be either man made or if this God existsm is utterly evil and cruel.
But then as milliions suffer daily, he either is not powerful enough to do anything, is powerful enough and does not give a shit or the most likley does not exist at all.

Hey ho, you are a sheep at the end of the day.

Tommy Monk wrote:So men should be allowed into womens changing rooms then...!?

Because it would be fine if men were getting sexual gratification looking at the women changing in there... what has it got to do with them if someone is perving at them...!?

WTF is sexual gratification, anyway?  It's jacking-off, nonce.  All the rest is a head game.

I've got no objection to uni-sex restrooms, as long as people keep their hands to themselves.  Who the fook cares what's in someone else's head. That's like the same-sex marriage debate. What the fook business of your's is it who someone else marries?

Fuzzy Zack wrote:

Eilzel wrote:Because some people wouldn't care to control it Zack. Don't mistake 'eye fucking' (I could have used a better term lol) for general attraction. If one or a few women is in a male dominated locker room there is a possibility, however small, that she would be harrassed by some of the guys, even if no harm was meant, it might be uncomfortable for her.

Are you telling me there isn't a potential for a guy to be harassed by another guy, "how ever small"? What if the guy cannot defend himself? Happens (apparently) in prisons.

Even if it's just learning, some guys would find that uncomfortable. Women would definitely feel abused, guys would probably resort to violence.

If some men feel uncomfortable, tough shit, they are the ones with the issue and need to learn to deal with it, as I am sure they feel very comfortable when women eye them up. At the end of the day it is the individual that is making themselves feel uncomfortable and no doubt also because of their bigotry has created such a paranoia.

Fuzzy Zack wrote:

Eilzel wrote:He's waffling, he ignored the point on potential harassment, nor have either of you addressed what the actual problem you would have is regarding sharing a changing room with a gay man.

You've already highlighted the problem above.

And if it wasn't for the problem that some don't have self control, I would be up for unisexual locker rooms with segregation based on BMI alone.The fatties can get dressed somewhere where I won't be offended by looking at them.

Most amusing!

Didge wrote:

Fuzzy Zack wrote:

Are you telling me there isn't a potential for a guy to be harassed by another guy, "how ever small"? What if the guy cannot defend himself? Happens (apparently) in prisons.

Even if it's just learning, some guys would find that uncomfortable. Women would definitely feel abused, guys would probably resort to violence.

If some men feel uncomfortable, tough shit, they are the ones with the issue and need to learn to deal with it, as I am sure they feel very comfortable when women eye them up. At the end of the day it is the individual that is making themselves feel uncomfortable and no doubt also because of their bigotry has created such a paranoia.

Exactly. The point on shared changing room is moot anyway; since men and women don't usually play sports together.

So women are wrong to feel uncomfortable by men leering at them?


I don't want some homosexual watching me getting changed and getting some sexual pleasure from it.


Public toilets have been closed because of homosexuals hanging about in there for various pervy reasons, some there for the voyeuristic opportunity of looking at other mens dicks etc...


The changing room is a perfect place for the homosexual perverts...