As a gay football fan, it is really pleasing to see this. Some people may dismiss it, ask why it is important and they are just seeking attention but this will be a huge step forward for the LGBT community. Sport, and particularly football, is still seen as way behind the times when it comes to these issues. Every other walk of life (Politics, the Arts, Science, Business, Journalism) has openly gay people with it barely being a footnote on most their careers.

This will always draw skeptics, but I only see it is as good news. It's now the job of the clubs and fans to make sure it doesn't become a negative issue on the pitch, this will then allow other players in the same situation to come out.

Will be an interesting few weeks ahead, and I hope he is out before the first ball is kicked at Luton on the opening Friday night.

@MickTurbo said in Twitter - The Gay Footballer:

@AlbionJack said in Twitter - The Gay Footballer:

Sport, and particularly football, is still seen as way behind the times

I'm not naive enough to think that he wont get grief from some sections but I have to say I think the image of the knuckle dragging, racist, homophobic lager lout footy fan is as much a prejudice as any other.

I go to the footy, until a couple of years ago I'd regularly go up and down the country to watch the mighty boro. Yes, particularly on away days I'd have a good old drink as well, but the idiot who wanted to fight and shout racist or homophobic slurs was very much the odd one out.

On the whole they are seen as a joke and an embarrassment. Sometimes they're about 15 year old, some times they're 40 odd, without exception they are a moron, trying to fulfill an unwanted, outdated stereotype which is perpetuated by themselves, films like green street, and anyone else prejudiced enough to believe that they are a fair representation of the modern footy fan.

I'd say the average forum member is a fairer representation, and on the whole they are eloquent, enlightened and educated, or at least come across that way.

@AlbionJack If this does turn out to be genuine i also hope he doesnt get targeted for abuse. I reckon there will be at most a handful of fans in every stadium he plays at who are there to call him names, but they will only be alienating themselves from the rest of the crowd, not the player, I'm certain of that

I think it is somewhere in the middle. Being a Brighton fan, and gay (yes, I fit the stereotype) I probably hear it the most, but 60% of away games has the local fans chat 'Does your boyfriend know you're here?' The pack mentality kicks in and before you know it, most of the crowd are shouting the usual, unfunny joke. And I know all fans have different insults flung at them (The Welsh and sheep shagging, 'Dirty Northern Bastards', Leeds and Millwall for being Leeds and Millwall) but we get it pretty consistently. With a player coming out, I hope this helps being gay to become less alien to the footballing world.

A lot of people have said it could be a hoax, which I really hope it isn't. This will continue to make this a stigma and will not shake it off. If true, I think you are right, and the majority of fans will support him, but a small handful, with them being the ones who will get the most publicity, will vocally give him abuse on the pitch. The team they play for I also think will decide a lot. I would love for him to play for a team that, as Brighton fans, normally get the most abuse from. Looking at the Championship, it would be great if he was from a team like Barnsley, Wednesday or Millwall rather then the likes of Reading or Fulham. I know this seems incredibly stereotypical from me, and apologies if you support any of the teams mentioned, but as with any stereotype, there is no smoke without fire.

Out of curiosity, anyone else gay on this thread? We are a fairly rare breed, gay football fans. And as I have said, I know I live up to the stereotype being an Albion fan.

@Timothee-Atouba saying "To me it’s doing the things that a heterosexual man wouldn’t do that keep it an issue in society" for me sums up the problem. Why should gay men conform and hide what they do? We are all adults and it is the 21st century, and as someone said, no one really cares what gay men do in there spare time. But that isn't the point that, just a footballer coming out, is trying to do. It's breaking through that boundary and making it not taboo. Did anyone really care that a black woman sat on the wrong part of a bus? Did anyone really care that women can vote in a democratic country? I understand these are extreme examples, and are far more ground breaking then a guy that kicks a ball round a pitch for a living admitting he is gay, but it is along the same lines.

If no one cared, it wouldn't be an issue or taboo that needed raising and wouldn't have the publicity that it has.

@Misto One of the craziest things I have ever seen in football.

Now Pogba has gone?

Evening!

Started listening to this again and really enjoying it. Thank you!

Going on from Tom's question above, what do we think would cause the FI market to crash and could that ever mean it could simply shut down, therefore losing all money deposited?

Thanks!

What a joke. How is it fair only a select few can get on?

I think his score is higher then it should be. Is this the case for anyone else?

Still nothing if I am not mistaken?

Morning all,

When I opened FI this morning, it seems only big slab head Harry got any kind of media dividends? But have been paid for Neymar X 2 meaning he came 2nd. Who were the list of 5 winners and did they not show up for anyone else?

Out of curiosity, anyone else gay on this thread? We are a fairly rare breed, gay football fans. And as I have said, I know I live up to the stereotype being an Albion fan.

@Timothee-Atouba saying "To me it’s doing the things that a heterosexual man wouldn’t do that keep it an issue in society" for me sums up the problem. Why should gay men conform and hide what they do? We are all adults and it is the 21st century, and as someone said, no one really cares what gay men do in there spare time. But that isn't the point that, just a footballer coming out, is trying to do. It's breaking through that boundary and making it not taboo. Did anyone really care that a black woman sat on the wrong part of a bus? Did anyone really care that women can vote in a democratic country? I understand these are extreme examples, and are far more ground breaking then a guy that kicks a ball round a pitch for a living admitting he is gay, but it is along the same lines.

If no one cared, it wouldn't be an issue or taboo that needed raising and wouldn't have the publicity that it has.

@MickTurbo said in Twitter - The Gay Footballer:

@AlbionJack said in Twitter - The Gay Footballer:

Sport, and particularly football, is still seen as way behind the times

I'm not naive enough to think that he wont get grief from some sections but I have to say I think the image of the knuckle dragging, racist, homophobic lager lout footy fan is as much a prejudice as any other.

I go to the footy, until a couple of years ago I'd regularly go up and down the country to watch the mighty boro. Yes, particularly on away days I'd have a good old drink as well, but the idiot who wanted to fight and shout racist or homophobic slurs was very much the odd one out.

On the whole they are seen as a joke and an embarrassment. Sometimes they're about 15 year old, some times they're 40 odd, without exception they are a moron, trying to fulfill an unwanted, outdated stereotype which is perpetuated by themselves, films like green street, and anyone else prejudiced enough to believe that they are a fair representation of the modern footy fan.

I'd say the average forum member is a fairer representation, and on the whole they are eloquent, enlightened and educated, or at least come across that way.

@AlbionJack If this does turn out to be genuine i also hope he doesnt get targeted for abuse. I reckon there will be at most a handful of fans in every stadium he plays at who are there to call him names, but they will only be alienating themselves from the rest of the crowd, not the player, I'm certain of that

I think it is somewhere in the middle. Being a Brighton fan, and gay (yes, I fit the stereotype) I probably hear it the most, but 60% of away games has the local fans chat 'Does your boyfriend know you're here?' The pack mentality kicks in and before you know it, most of the crowd are shouting the usual, unfunny joke. And I know all fans have different insults flung at them (The Welsh and sheep shagging, 'Dirty Northern Bastards', Leeds and Millwall for being Leeds and Millwall) but we get it pretty consistently. With a player coming out, I hope this helps being gay to become less alien to the footballing world.

A lot of people have said it could be a hoax, which I really hope it isn't. This will continue to make this a stigma and will not shake it off. If true, I think you are right, and the majority of fans will support him, but a small handful, with them being the ones who will get the most publicity, will vocally give him abuse on the pitch. The team they play for I also think will decide a lot. I would love for him to play for a team that, as Brighton fans, normally get the most abuse from. Looking at the Championship, it would be great if he was from a team like Barnsley, Wednesday or Millwall rather then the likes of Reading or Fulham. I know this seems incredibly stereotypical from me, and apologies if you support any of the teams mentioned, but as with any stereotype, there is no smoke without fire.

As a gay football fan, it is really pleasing to see this. Some people may dismiss it, ask why it is important and they are just seeking attention but this will be a huge step forward for the LGBT community. Sport, and particularly football, is still seen as way behind the times when it comes to these issues. Every other walk of life (Politics, the Arts, Science, Business, Journalism) has openly gay people with it barely being a footnote on most their careers.

This will always draw skeptics, but I only see it is as good news. It's now the job of the clubs and fans to make sure it doesn't become a negative issue on the pitch, this will then allow other players in the same situation to come out.

Will be an interesting few weeks ahead, and I hope he is out before the first ball is kicked at Luton on the opening Friday night.

I'm in! Watch me have forgotten about it by week 3.