legal discrimination
A guy. A young guy. A young guy who plays football. A young guy who plays it well enough to be a college star. A young guy who is in the NFL draft and has such hopes and such dreams of a pro career. A young guy who, for reasons unexplained, came out, a young guy who told the world...I am gay.
It was every where yesterday, fodder for every sports talk show...all...day...long. "How much is it going to hurt him? How many teams will pass him by? How much salary loss will he now have to accept? How will the teams who have players who admit, I don't want a gay guy in my shower!!! how will they deal with it, or will they be the ones to pass him by? Will they be the ones who discriminate against him? Sometimes a rose by another name still stinks.
Of course, none of this has happened yet. The NFL draft has not taken place. No teams have passed him by. So it is the media, at this point, who are voicing the discrimination. These are things that might happen. I am furious. It seems to me to bring up these questions and discuss them as "...well it is just how it is" furthers the opinion that it is indeed, understandable, and okay. That the underlying homophobia and prejudice is alive...and that is okay.
I don't think it is going to matter. If he is good enough, the teams will take him. His being gay will be a non-issue. AS IT SHOULD BE. It is a non-issue in women's sports. I see no reason for it to be an issue in men's sports, unless...unless the media insists on making it one. If yesterday is a precursor, the young guy is in for a tough time. And then, all of us too.
It was every where yesterday, fodder for every sports talk show...all...day...long. "How much is it going to hurt him? How many teams will pass him by? How much salary loss will he now have to accept? How will the teams who have players who admit, I don't want a gay guy in my shower!!! how will they deal with it, or will they be the ones to pass him by? Will they be the ones who discriminate against him? Sometimes a rose by another name still stinks.
Of course, none of this has happened yet. The NFL draft has not taken place. No teams have passed him by. So it is the media, at this point, who are voicing the discrimination. These are things that might happen. I am furious. It seems to me to bring up these questions and discuss them as "...well it is just how it is" furthers the opinion that it is indeed, understandable, and okay. That the underlying homophobia and prejudice is alive...and that is okay.
I don't think it is going to matter. If he is good enough, the teams will take him. His being gay will be a non-issue. AS IT SHOULD BE. It is a non-issue in women's sports. I see no reason for it to be an issue in men's sports, unless...unless the media insists on making it one. If yesterday is a precursor, the young guy is in for a tough time. And then, all of us too.
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