The so called last taboo of men’s sport as the author of “Suffer in Silence” Julian Rubinstein states it, the gay issue has yet to be addressed by professional sports. This article discusses professional sports and how it can be seen as a standard for homophobia in America. This article also goes into details about a sports survey taken concerning gays in their respective league in 1998, in which only 6 of 89 teams in the NBA, NFL, and MLB responded to it. Rubinstein has some interesting views on homophobia in professional sports and although it has been accepted in the military it has yet to crack the acceptable standard for professional sports.
I look at sport today and I just don’t see Americans cheering for a knowingly gay professional athlete. It just isn’t accepted in out society. Believe me, I am sure that there is at least one homosexual player in the three major professional leagues currently playing, but he would rather live a double life than risk damaging his career. Professional sports are a business, in business the most important thing is profit, and a homosexual athlete doesn’t sell tickets. Rubinstein stated that “Men’s pro sport is so far from a dialogue on the topic it may actually be setting the modern standard for homophobia (Rubinstein, 1998). I agree with this statement completely there is no place for gays in men pro sports so those that are gay are force to live a double life and not be able to openly express themselves. I am not saying that I am against homosexuals in anyway; however I know that with athletes being such big role models, public figures, and cash cows that coming out to the world not be in their best interest. I think it would take a superstar caliber athlete to come out during his playing career to change society’s perception of gay athletes in pro sports; until then gay players will be forced to live in hiding.
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Openly gay players will happen. Sooner than later. Check out my blog posts about Homos in Sports and my novel, Walt Loves the Bearcat, featuring the first out superstar QB!
This is a very good summary of the article by Julian Rubinstein. And although it was written 10 years ago, things do not appear to have changed much, as we discussed in class. Did you check out the blog by Randy Boyd. He has some interesting perspectives that would spark discuss in future classes. Thanks for sharing your insights and perspectives on this article.
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