It's disheartening to read ill-informed comments such as these. I identify as gay and have been supporting the Gulls for over thirty years. In that time I have witnessed countless examples of homophobic abuse, racist abuse and misogynistic comments; all-too-often accepted as 'terrace banter'. It's a fine line, but one that is all-too-often crossed.davethegull2 wrote: ↑10 Jun 2022, 03:50 This is all getting rather tiresome. More virtue signalling and attention seeking. I've often wondered if the B group in the LBGTQ bandwagon didn't get the memo on how many genders there are supposed to be these days.
Tom's article was a personal and timely reflection of the progress that has been made for LGBTQ+ people in football; but also highlighted that there is still so much work to be done before football can be considered an inclusive and welcoming space for all people.
In many countries around the world LGBTQ+ people are discriminated against in law. A handful of those issue death sentences. By celebrating pride, we are not just celebrating the brave individuals who historically fought for LGBTQ+ rights, but also showing solidarity with those from the community for whom every day is full of fear, prejudice and persecution. When you look back through history, there are countless examples of marginalized groups that have had to shout and fight simply to be afforded basic human rights. If you find this tiresome, then perhaps put yourself in someone else's shoes for a moment. It's often f***ing exhausting (and definitely not a lifestyle that anyone would choose).
Every time someone in the public eye 'comes out', or a queer character is seen on screen or a same-sex couple feel comfortable to hold hands in the street it helps to 'normalize' something that for so long was forced to be hidden or excluded. In time it won't be a news-worthy issue (and how I long for that day) but we are not quite there yet. Is a little empathy, understanding and support to much to ask for?
