Gay rights group: ‘Sports in the US have reached a tipping point against homophobia’
The decision of 25-year-old former Leeds United football player Robbie Rogers, to come out last week, has been commended by gay rights activists, who have described this as a “tipping point” for sports.
Brian Ellner of Athletes Ally, which campaigns against homophobia and transphobia in sports, told Reuters: “Robbie Rogers demonstrated enormous courage coming out and it’s great to see the overwhelming positive response from other players around the sport.”
He continued: “It’s clear that the culture of sports in transforming rapidly. We’re at a tipping point.”
Anton Hysen, a Swedish player is currently the world’s only openly gay male professional footballer.
In the US there is currently no openly gay player in the National Football League, Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association or National Hockey League.
Patrick Burke, co-founder of the group You Can Play, an anti-homophobia in sports campaign group, said he thought gay players in top American leagues would start to come out.
“I think we have hit the turning point in the sports world for sure. The majority of professional athletes are supportive and do not care if one of their team mates or opponents is gay, it makes no difference to them,” Burke said.
The subject of coming out, and homophobia in sport has been globally topical of late, particularly in the US, which recently held its Super Bowl annual championship game.
He said: “I’d say 50 percent of [NFL players] think like Culliver, 25 percent of the people think like me, 25 percent don’t necessarily agree with all the things I agree with but they’re accepting,” he said.
Last week US basketball star Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, was commended for voicing his disapproval at a fan’s use of the word “gay” as an insult. He had previously been fined $100,000 for using a homophobic slur against a referee.
