Homophobes getting message

When Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to crack down on gays, lesbians and transgender people it has had an interesting international impact, even in Saskatoon.

Across Canada, cities and legislatures decided to raise the pride flag as a symbol of solidarity with LGBTQ athletes and people everywhere. Instead of flying the Olympic rings, 2014 has brought out a different symbol.

It isn’t just locally that people have been sending a message about stopping homophobia. South of the border, just two weeks before the NFL Combine, a star football player at the University of Missouri has come out and said that he is gay. The response has been fascinating.

National Football League officials publicly praised Michael Sam’s courage and willingness to come out. Almost all NFL teams released public statements praising his decision. Many NFL players publicly stated that they would welcome a gay player in their locker-room with no hesitation.

The ink hadn’t even dried on those public statements when reporters who write about the NFL started to receive anonymous calls and texts from NFL general managers and coaches saying the exact opposite, and that they would not want Sam on their team.

Former NFL coach Herm Edwards said Sam would bring “baggage” into the locker-room and suggested that teams would be wary about signing him, something that was repeated often by GMs and coaches speaking off the record.

Over the past couple of years, however, teams have welcomed back players such as Michael Vick, who spent time in jail for running a dog-fighting ring, Donté Stallworth, who was convicted of a DUI manslaughter, Ray Lewis, who obstructed justice in a murder case, and most recently Riley Cooper, who yelled the N-word at a concert.

That ignores the long list of players who have been involved in domestic assaults and jailed for a wide variety of other felonies. After the headlines quieted down and a team needed to win, such players were put back on team rosters.

Former Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe wrote a long and detailed article on the sports website Deadspin, in which he alleges homophobic comments were made by his position coach, and that other staff who knew wouldn’t do anything to stop it.

Even at home we saw it in the comments made by University of Saskatchewan hockey coach Dave Adolph, which sadly reflect the language and tone in many locker-rooms across Canada. As an apologetic Adolph said in a statement, “The words that are often used in hockey, or in sports culture, need to change.”

However, more than sports has to change. One of the biggest contributing factors to youth homelessness in Canada is sexual orientation. A 2013 study of homeless youth in Ottawa noted that 40 per cent to 50 per cent of them self-identify as LGBTQ. Other studies show rates that range from 20 per cent to 40 per cent, depending on the city. Regardless of the numbers used, youth who are minorities in sexual orientation are greatly overrepresented in the homeless population.

While each story is different and youth homelessness has a variety of factors, homophobia is a big part of it. Instead of accepting children when they admit to being gay, some parents kick them out of the house and to the streets, assuming that in some strong way “tough love” will make them straight. These kids choose the streets rather than return home. Often, returning home isn’t even an option.

Once on the streets, life remains difficult for them. Research in Toronto shows that it is a violent and abusive journey for those who are LGBTQ in homeless shelters, where a lack of specialized services and training means that they are treated poorly by other homeless residents and even staff.

Lack of government funding for specific services means that all homeless are treated the same, and those who are in the sexual minority are forced either to hide their sexuality or deal with abuse.

So when you ask why municipalities and provinces are flying a rainbow flag, remind yourselves that people deal with homophobia and abuse daily because of their sexual preference, and that we are only slowly waking up to how prevalent and damaging it is.

The legacy of the 2014 Sochi Olympics won’t be the games or the shoddy hotel construction. It will be the growing awareness of the homophobia that people all over the world face, and our increasing lack of willingness to tolerate those who hate others.

Now, if only we could move from a show of solidarity to increased funding of those who have been so badly hurt by homophobia. One step at a time.