PERSPECTIVE
Homophobia in sports.
In the hotly contested game of homophobia in sports, points continue to be scored on both sides.
When indigenous Australian boxer Anthony Mundine saw a television show he believed was promoting homosexuality, he took to Facebook. “[Homosexuality] ain’t ok in our culture and our ancestors would have there [sic] head for it! Like my dad told me, God made Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve.”
The outburst is juvenile on many levels, not least because a Christian God doesn’t appear in the Aboriginal Dreamtime. It could be argued that Mundine, being both an Aboriginal and a Muslim, can’t understand what it’s like to belong to a marginalised minority. Then again, his bigoted rant followed on the heels of white, Christian Australian footballer Ryan Stig, who posted an open screed to Twitter stating, among other things, that homosexuality was a “spiritual disease” and marriage equality was the demonic work of Satan.
While aggressive, male-dominated sports like boxing and football have long been breeding grounds of homophobia, statements like those of Mundine and Stig feel not only archaic, but increasingly out of step with other players in those very same sports. Professional athletes like boxer Orlando Cruz, soccer star Robbie Rogers and basketball’s Jason Collins are not only now coming out – they’re finding straight allies in the locker room.
Superbowl champion Brendon Ayanbadejo is an advocate who went so far as to pose naked for the NOH8 campaign. About his outspoken activism, the linebacker says it is about being visible. “If I can help just one person from the LGBT community, if they’re having a hard time, to let them know that there’s straight allies like me who support and love you.”
When he was attacked by a politician for his stance, Ayanbadejo was defended by another loud advocate for equality, Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe. Kluwe wrote a letter to the politician which went viral, mainly for its insightful turn of phrase, “I can assure you that gay people won’t magically turn you into a lustful cockmonster.” Unfortunately, neither player currently has a contract with the NFL. Both Kluwe and Ayanbadejo are now free agents and many suspect the reason these two star players are sitting on the sidelines is because of their high profile off-field activism.
With each step forward, there is another setback. And for every Kluwe and Ayanbadejo, there is a Mundina, Stig or Kobe Bryant – the LA Lakers “Black Mamba” who in 2011 called a referee a “fucking faggot”, costing him $100,000 in fines. Fear of losing cash in fines may be driving homophobia off the field, but money can also be faulted for keeping wider acceptance at bay with teams fearing loss of fans, or players losing lucrative sponsorship. Or is homophobia in sports more simply explained by education, region and, in the case of Mundina and Stig, religion?
Ultimately, it feels generational. In addition to straight allies raising their voices for equality, others are even more proactive. Straight British rugby legend Ben Cohen believes it’s a matter of courage and character, and started the Stand Up Foundation to end homophobic bullying in sports and schools. And 26-year-old Hudson Taylor, wrestling coach at Columbia and one of the top five pinners in NCAA wrestling history, founded the non-profit Athlete Ally to educate, encourage and empower straight athlete allies to combat homophobia and transphobia in sports. The organisation is a close partner of both the NBA and NCAA and regularly features allies in columns on The Huffington Post. Says Taylor, “If there’s something we can do to improve sports, teams and lives, we should do it.”
more: athleteally.org, standupfoundation.com