Do you not think it alienates people too though, and creates barriers between the gay community and non-gays? I know if I was gay, I would probably be resentful towards people who participated in this kind of thing for insinuating that 'we are different to you'. In this respect I don't see why any sports star, celebrity or whatever should publicly come out and announce their sexuality in this way - it's not a massive issue and will make no difference to anyone who is not a complete moron anyway.

Given that some rugby league crowds have absolutely no issues with singing songs about opposition players being paedophiles or taking it up the... I suspect your faith is misplaced.

Oh I dunno! Most male bonding is based on mutual ridicule and insults and ANYTHING is game as far as insults go. Is it REALLY an insult to call someone ginger? People do though. I think it's done unthinkingly (perhaps not with awareness of anyone who may feel hurt) as a joke or a goad. I honestly don't think most rugby lads mean anything nasty by it.

ANYWAY, there are some pretty risque things done by players in their post-match "kangaroo courts" which could be considered quite "progressive" as far as sexuality goes.

Lets expand the horizon a little. How many gay rlfannies are there?

I'll admit I have a thing for Jon Wilkin for one.

In the world according to Tesco it is.

exactly - perhaps every Super League player should be forced to announce in public what they are into, and that will end all the rumours.

Gay people want to be treated the same as straight people, but then they arrange massive parades round town where they tell everyone what they are. Where is the "straight pride" parade?

Have I missed the bit where straight people showing their love for each other was illegal within living memory, and even now can get you beaten up or even killed?

Incidentlly [url=http://www.therfl.co.uk/inleaguetogether/news_item.php?id=12441In League Together[/url

The Pride events aren't to tell everyone what they are. Its to celebrate who they are and that they want treating in the same manner as 'straight' people do. You'd be suprised at the number of people who attended Leeds pride we're actually straight. If you're happy with lesbians and gays in our community then you shouldn't be asking 'Where is the "straight pride" parade?', instead you should be joining in the Pride events and showing that you accept them into the community where as some idiots dont.

People get beaten up and killed virtually everyday in the UK - sexuality has very little do as to why the victim was selected

Most of the time it doesn't but sometimes it does.

Given that there clearly are gay players at every level of the game I was merely wondering whether they remain relatively unknown because of stigma or because, they deem it irrelevent or some other reason.

That some people think it not even worthy of debate is rather staggering.

We can gloss over it as best we want. Some people in this country are very bigotted and still live in the dark ages. Why a person's sexuality needs to be anyone else's business is beyond me. A person is a person and whatever they do in their private life has nothing at all to do with the general public. I understand why Gareth has come out and I understand that young homosexual Rugby players can look up to him and see him as an example that it isn't wrong to be who you are. But the fact is we shouldn't be having to look for a top name to come out to make people think it's 'ok to be gay'. it's okay to be whoever and whatever you want, aslong as you're not hurting another human being in the process I say be who you want to be.

In your beloved 'real world' unfortunately, the actual evidence disagrees with you and says that there are far too many occasions when someone's sexuality is the precise and sole reason they are assaulted and sometime killed (though I can't think of a single occassion when it was because of their heterosexuality)

If only there was more people like yourself out there.

Would last week's "honour" killing court case qualify as an example? Vile, inadequate human beings don't just pick on gays.

Not really. The murder didn't happen because the victim was straight.



No. But they do 'pick on' them.

wouldnt it only be something to worry about if there were no gay players?

Statistically it is obvious there should be, so if there isnt, why not?

IMO it's not a bad thing if there are no gay RL players. As long as we ensure there are no barriers to those would did want to, it doesn't actually matter that there aren't any.

Agreed, although it would be nice to know there are a few within the community to show that they are welcome within.

This whole thread has been summed up as we as fans don't care what you are. So why does thus keep rolling on players probably havn't come out as they don't feel they should. They may not be out to the public but some are probably out to their mates. If yiur mates are with you who cares what the public thinks

That there aren't any openly gay players suggests that there are barriers. Either to gay people becoming players or to players who are gay being open about it (probably both).

I'm led to believe lots of lubrication is essential to be certain of this - sorry, couldn't resist!!

On a serious note, in such a macho sport as RL there are many reasons why players may not want to 'come out' don't want to be the first, what will team mates/fans think, will there be a backlash etc.

IMO as many others say, if nobody is being harmed or hurt against their will, who cares.

When I played, two of the lads were as thick as thieves off the pitch. Nobody really cared but most of the lads thought they were gay. They didn't actually 'come out' when they finished playing but they are openly a couple and have been for donkeys years.

Anyway, could this thread not be merged with the Ryan Bailey thread?

Dig the sentiment but children at a pride march??