The Final Sporting Countdown?

Steven Davies and Gareth Thomas both enjoy a fair share of the limelight; Both of them, first and foremost, are professional sportsmen at an international level, playing for England (in Cricket and Rugby respectively, just in case you didn’t know…). For me personally, it is not so much their sporting attributes that make them stand out from the crowd, (after all, the only sport I truly ’follow’ is Formula 1), but their courage in taking a step into the completely unknown.

Back in late 2009, Thomas, publicly announced that he was gay. This made him the first international level Rugby player to step out of the closet. This was followed earlier this year when Davies also took the brave step and revealed, quite openly, that he was gay, also a first for cricket. Naturally, in both cases, people have been quick to point out how it doesn’t change the sport and the way they play. They are still international class players and that will not change because of their personal life and too right as well! What is more important is that they are representing the country and playing their game at the top of their field. Yet, nevertheless, the fact they have come out has propelled them into a slightly different league. They were already role models to many youngsters out there but they have been the first in professional sport to send such a positive message to the masses. How many countless others out there are terrified of coming out because they are surrounded by other men in both a professional or even amateur level? Forgive me for thinking that there is a possibility of a trend emerging here. Rugby is often referred to as a particularly ‘male’ sport and therefore an ‘out’ player in the England squad always seemed unlikely unless it was a specific gay team. It is the same across all sports. Growing up, sport, in general, was always the one area where being gay simply was not accepted and I wondered if it would ever change. At the top of that list for giving a rather anti-gay impression is, as we all know, football. History has shown us the result of a professional level football player attempting to come out. Justin Fashanu found neither tolerance or acceptance back in 1990. Instead, he was greeted by colleagues statements to the press that ’gays had no place in team sport’ and the treatment he received from the football fans and their terrace chanting was beyond the usual football banter. His initially promising career stalled as part of the backlash and ultimately, he committed suicide in 1998. It certainly isn’t much encouragement for any other professional level football player to come out, is it?

Where does the hatred really come from though? Is it from within the sport itself where officials believe they need to keep the door closed to gay people? Are the officials under the impression that is how the fans want it? Do the fans of various sports still believe in those Neanderthal viewpoints? I would like to believe that those views are dying out but that can only be proved by example. Both Thomas and Davies have stepped up to the plate and shown that their being gay has no bearing on their sporting ability and have every right to be where they are. Thankfully, the media opinions and also the fans of the sports have supported that notion and have therefore shown the changing attitudes towards gay people in general.