BY THE NUMBERS — Nearly half of the 85 college football players surveyed by ESPN The Magazine say they have at least one gay teammate. Compare that to the 55 percent who knew at least one teammate taking steroids.
by the numbers
Half of College Football Players Claim They Know a Lockerroom Gay
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Fitz
Regarding the pic: Is that player really smoking?
ThatguyFromBoston
It’s ok, he’s a center.
Fitz
@ThatguyFromBoston: As long as I don’t have to pay his disability when he gets COPD.
DouginDenver
I played football in high school and college. I think there are a lot more gays who enjoy rough contact sports than most people realize. I welcome the day when you can play a macho sport and be “out” about it. Being out on a sports team will help change the way the general public sees gays men, and also make joining teams less intimidating to young gay men. Just like in the DADT debate there are many more gays in the military, and on sports teams than most people realize — they are already there.
Rick
There are several gay NFL whose sexuality is basically an open secret.
Just have to be in the know, I guess.
Michael W.
@Rick: Yeah, like Terrell Owens.
Greg Theron
All hope hasn’t been lost!
David Gibson
Oh, the people who think they know who is and who is not gay. Drives me nuts. Most real,honest to goodness heterosexuals wouldn’t know a homosexual if one bit them on the butt. Who do they think they’re kidding.
Often times just because an individual may act a certain way, or, perhaps, exhibit slightly effeminate behaviors, straight people like to jump right in and pass the word that so and so is “queer” when all the while, the person is merely exhibiting his natural gentlemanly qualities from his upbringing or acting like a civilized human being.
Heterosexuals see gay people in gay parades or on television acting out . . . presenting themselves the way mainstream audiences “believe” homosexuals act; simple as that.
My partner and I live in rural Georgia. Our nearest city is Columbus, Georgia. Because we look so similar, almost every single person we run into assumes we are brothers. They don’t have the slightest clue that we’re gay–not one person has ever given us a second look which would indicate that they think we’re gay (less than, not normal, or an abomination. Yet, when we lived in Los Angeles and San Francisco, the straight community THOUGHT they knew we were gay instantly because we fit what they had learned or were taught was the stereotypical gay person. (short hair, mustache, neat dresser, etc) It’s all in the perception and experience and training. Gay people, by and large are seen every single day as just another man or men minding their own business–undetected by the public at large. And I’m no case study of a particularly “butch” man, either. It’s all a matter of perception. If you’re “looking” for a gay man . . . you just might find one–buy you’re not sure, are you?
K. George
To #8. My partner and I also live in a small SC town, we are as “normal” looking as they come. I’m a truck driver, he works in receiving and inventory. Bless your heart. Let me clue you, everyone in that small GA town know you and your partner are gay, they are just to polite to say anything about it. Southern manners you know.
David Gibson
To my friend, K. George. Oh, the folks in my particular small town ALL know we’re gay. My point, although perhaps not communicated perfectly well, is that when we go to Columbus, Georgia (where we don’t know anyone) THEY don’t know we’re gay–to see us. Certainly the people in Richland, Georgia (small town) where we live . . . all know we’re gay. Not only that, but my partner is the manager of Richland A BetterHometown an organization for the betterment of the town. While they don’t say a word . . . . being polite”, as you say, I am not involved in any of that stuff and remain on my own property with my cats and soon to add a dog to our family. Though I’m sure the conversation often centers around the fact that we are gay and isn’t that disgusting.
But insofar as the total strangers . . . in Columbus, Georgia . . . where we do our shopping, etc. they don’t bat an eye as we pass by. I can tell . . . I’ve seen the looks elsewhere, as I mentioned . . . in large cities like Los Angeles, and San Francisco, Seattle and certainly Key West.
That, and only that, was my point.
-David
David Gibson
To my friend, K. George. Oh, the folks in my particular small town ALL know we’re gay. My point, although perhaps not communicated perfectly well, is that when we go to Columbus, Georgia (where we don’t know anyone) THEY don’t know we’re gay–to see us. Certainly the people in Richland, Georgia (small town) where we live . . . all know we’re gay. Not only that, but my partner is the manager of Richland A BetterHometown an organization for the betterment of the town. While they don’t say a word . . . . being polite”, as you say, I am not involved in any of that stuff and remain on my own property with my cats and soon to add a dog to our family. Though I’m sure the conversation often centers around the fact that we are gay and isn’t that disgusting.
But insofar as the total strangers . . . in Columbus, Georgia . . . where we do our shopping, etc. they don’t bat an eye as we pass by. I can tell . . . I’ve seen the looks elsewhere, as I mentioned . . . in large cities like Los Angeles, and San Francisco, Seattle and certainly Key West.
That, and only that, was my point.
-David
hephaestion
I lived in two small towns in Georgia and found people to be generally accepting of my being gay, though there were a few folks determined to recite Bible verses to me. But most people were just as nice as could be to me and they weren’t talking bad about me behind my back for being gay. So it perplexes me why Georgians keep electing such idiotic & homophobic poltical leaders.