Why such a big deal?

[Jimbuna]

I honestly don't see why this story merits coverage on a major/reputable news site in this day and age.

I doubt he's the first and won't be the last so what gives?


US basketball player Jason Collins has come out as gay, the first active male athlete in a major American professional team sport to do so.
He declared his sexuality in an article for Sports Illustrated, announcing: "I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay."
Collins said he had struggled with his sexuality for years.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22341153

[Tchocky]

Right there in the article. He is the first.

It's a big deal.

[NeonSamurai]

For the LGBT community it is a pretty big deal. In the world of athletics (which is lets face it, macho male driven), gay athletes have had to stay in the closet or risk losing everything (career, endorsement opportunities, etc.). They can also be at risk to attacks by anti-gay people/groups.

By coming out during an active career he is taking a big chance, even in this day and age. As many of my LGBT friends would say, things really haven't changed all that much, there is still a ton of hatred and oppression going on out there in the real world.

[nikimcbee]

I blame our Victorian upbringing.:dead:

[Sailor Steve]

By coming out during an active career he is taking a big chance, even in this day and age. As many of my LGBT friends would say, things really haven't changed all that much, there is still a ton of hatred and oppression going on out there in the real world.
I'm old enough to remember the time when he couldn't even have played in a major league sport, not for being gay but for being black. I hope it works out well for him, and that it allows more people to be themselves.

[u crank]

I think this guy will definitely open the door for others. Good for him.

The pro sports leagues will also make sure that they are on side.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/11/nhl-gay-rights_n_3062518.html

[Ducimus]

This was front page news on CNN. Call my crazy, but I don't think anyone's sexual orientation is newsworthy, let alone be on the front page. I could care less if Johnny, Joe, or Jimbob packs it up the poopchute or not. I really don't care about peoples personal decisions that have no bearing on my own life, liberty, etc etc.

The fact that this sort of thing is in the news, speaks volumes about the media, and quite possibly the people they pander to.

[Takeda Shingen]

There's a pretty big anti-homosexual component among athletes, particularly in the NBA. So, yes, I think it is newsworthy that a player has come out as openly gay.

[GoldenRivet]

It's not a big deal

Being gay isn't special anymore - because so few people really care... you may as well come out of the closet as a cat person.

It's not "trendy".... It's just - bland

[NeonSamurai]

This was front page news on CNN. Call my crazy, but I don't think anyone's sexual orientation is newsworthy, let alone be on the front page. I could care less if Johnny, Joe, or Jimbob packs it up the poopchute or not. I really don't care about peoples personal decisions that have no bearing on my own life, liberty, etc etc.

The fact that this sort of thing is in the news, speaks volumes about the media, and quite possibly the people they pander to.

It would be nice if that were the case, if people could just be who they are, without other people putting restrictions on them (or just being openly hostile). It doesn't work like that though for many different groups that are not in the majority. Even your remarks contain an anti-gay message (the Johnny, Joe, etc sentence).

Our culture is still quite anti-homosexual, particularly when it comes to men, and women that really are lesbian (instead of the more culturally acceptable bi-sexual/bi-curious, thanks mostly to porn induced fantasies). I feel a lot of this comes from personal insecurity, and a lot of religious teachings (though not all religious people believe this). It frequently takes a lot of courage to come out, even for every day people. Many parents may not understand or may become openly hostile (one acquaintance was formally disowned by his father), you will also probably lose many friends, and you dramatically increase your risks of being assaulted or even murdered if you are openly gay.

From some of the work I do as a clinical social worker, I am familiar with the fear associated with coming out. Many people, even today will try to keep it secret, because of what I said above.

So no it is not pandering, it is really part of the move towards equality for everyone. You know... Freedom?

[Takeda Shingen]

I'm not so sure that "trendy" has anything to do with people coming out of the closet.

[Tchocky]

It's a big deal because for a lot of people professional athletes are role models, and until now pro sports in the USA has been decidedly hetero, which doesn't really reflect those participating or spectating.

[Platapus]

So the article says that he is the first,

but then CNN posts an article

http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/16/worldsport/gallery/gay-athletes/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

Photos: Openly gay athletes

So what exactly is he the first of? The first in the NBA?

The two articles seem to contradict each other.

[razark]

So what exactly is he the first of?
"...first active male athlete in a major American professional team sport..."

So, he's the first to come out while still playing a sport anyone watches?

It all depends on how you define "major", "American", "team", and "sport".

[Schroeder]

So the article says that he is the first,

but then CNN posts an article

http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/16/worldsport/gallery/gay-athletes/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

Photos: Openly gay athletes

So what exactly is he the first of? The first in the NBA?

The two articles seem to contradict each other.
Well, a lot of these aren't American and have retired before coming out.
The whole thing is still an issue even in Europe. Here it's especially in football (or soccer as the US guys would call it).

[Ducimus]

Even your remarks contain an anti-gay message (the Johnny, Joe, etc sentence).


Well, I don't agree wiith the lifestyle/sexual preference, but I'm not going to say they have no civil rights like everyone else. Every American should be equal under the constitution. What I, or anyone for that matter, thinks about homosexuality is, or at least should be, irrelevant. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, If being gay makes someone happy, more power to them. They have the right to live however they choose, and nobody's life choices and sexual orientation makes them special. Gay, straight, bi, beastality, whatever floats a person's boat, really is none of my business.

In my opinoin, there are things of far greater importance for news sources to report on, then some athlete's sexual orientation. I chaulk "soandso is gay" on the front page of any news outlet as being a result of this up to this reality TV, celeb worship, BS going on in society these days. It's all very petty, and unimportant.

[ReallyDedPoet]

In this day and age it is still big news ( sadly ), let's hope stories like this do eventually make it just another story.....
Not so long ago coming out was a big thing, then it became more of a common thing, this is another step for the LGBT Community.

[mookiemookie]

"Gee Rosa Parks, you act like no one has ever been asked to move seats on the bus. What's the big deal?"

If you can't see why this is a big deal, you're ignorant. Willfully or not.

This was front page news on CNN. Call my crazy, but I don't think anyone's sexual orientation is newsworthy, let alone be on the front page. I could care less if Johnny, Joe, or Jimbob packs it up the poopchute or not. I really don't care about peoples personal decisions that have no bearing on my own life, liberty, etc etc.

The fact that this sort of thing is in the news, speaks volumes about the media, and quite possibly the people they pander to.

It speaks volumes about your own prejudices. You honestly can't see how the FIRST ACTIVE PRO SPORTS PLAYER to come out of the closet is newsworthy?

Jesus, Takeda is right.

[Cybermat47]

Every American should be equal under the constitution.

The constitution doesn't even mention marriage, so it doesn't really apply in this case.

[mookiemookie]

Well, I don't agree wiith the lifestyle/sexual preference, but I'm not going to say they have no civil rights like everyone else.Many people do.

Every American should be equal under the constitution. What I, or anyone for that matter, thinks about homosexuality is, or at least should be, irrelevant. And that's true, but unfortunately it's not the case. Life is not like the happy idealistic land where everyone's color blind and we all hold hands and sing about buying the world a Coke. Your opinion on homosexuality doesn't matter at all. But unfortunately, popular culture holds that homosexuals are deviants and not worthy of the same rights as straight couples. So given that fact, one's sexuality matters. It matters a great deal.

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, If being gay makes someone happy, more power to them. They have the right to live however they choose, and nobody's life choices and sexual orientation makes them special. Gay, straight, bi, beastality, whatever floats a person's boat, really is none of my business. Great. But society has chosen to make it their business by enacting laws and regulations that actively oppress gay people and deny them the same rights as straight folks.

In my opinoin, there are things of far greater importance for news sources to report on, then some athlete's sexual orientation. I chaulk "soandso is gay" on the front page of any news outlet as being a result of this up to this reality TV, celeb worship, BS going on in society these days. It's all very petty, and unimportant.

If only it were so. It would be unimportant if society was really and truly equal to those who were gay. It's not. So any step forwards that gay folks make is given special attention.

[GoldenRivet]

If you can't see why this is a big deal, you're ignorant. Willfully or not.

only the truly ignorant deal in such blatant absolutes.

its the typical "agree with me or your a poopoo head" mentality :88)

its as big a deal as one chooses to make it. IMHO, it was a slow news day perhaps.

I havnt any problem with the guy being homosexual... i was eating a cheeseburger in a local venue when this came on the tv... the place was packed and the general mood of the place seemed to be a collective "meh"

my concern about this guys sexual preference is at a zero :salute:

[mookiemookie]

only the truly ignorant deal in such blatant absolutes.

its the typical "agree with me or your a poopoo head" mentality :88)

its as big a deal as one chooses to make it. IMHO, it was a slow news day perhaps.

I havnt any problem with the guy being homosexual... i was eating a cheeseburger in a local venue when this came on the tv... the place was packed and the general mood of the place seemed to be a collective "meh"

my concern about this guys sexual preference is at a zero :salute:

QED

Brace yourself, but your opinion on the matter means nothing. There's always going to be individual people for or against an idea. We care about individual instances more when they reinforce existing social problems because everything -- our thinking, our practice, our policy -- ultimately derives from our culture. One of the main methods to solve social problems is to change the culture by restricting and chipping away at the negative reinforcements.

This is something that confuses many people, who initially look at actions as discrete instances and not in a broader social context, or who don't hold that culture has a profound real-world effect.

The broader social institution holds that gay people are deviants, and not worthy of being able to marry or adopt kids, or any other number of actions that society doesn't blink an eye at when straight people are involved.

So to bring it home - why is it a newsworthy event when a pro sports athlete announced he's gay? Our culture has long decreed that straight men are macho hunter/gatherers and homosexuals are effeminate deviants who have no place in the "normal" world, much less the testosterone-driven sports world. For someone to come out and break that mold - the first person to do so - that's newsworthy.

Things that can seem like a "who cares" event when analysed in a vacuum can make perfect sense when you look closely at their context.

[GoldenRivet]

Brace yourself, but your opinion on the matter means nothing.

neither does yours

There's always going to be individual people for or against an idea.

fact


The broader social institution holds that gay people are deviants, and not worthy of being able to marry or adopt kids

of course there are some who think this... but i think the broader social institution doesnt hold that ideal. hell, all i have to do is look at all the equal signs on my facebook, many of them posted by baby boomer white christians i would never have guessed to be supportive of anything not printed in the bible... i dont care what the bleeding hearts have to say... every person out there isnt a foaming at the mouth gay hater.

So to bring it home - why is it a newsworthy event when a pro sports athlete announced he's gay?

its not

Our culture has long decreed that straight men are macho hunter/gatherers and homosexuals are effeminate deviants who have no place in the "normal" world

some of them are effeminate deviants :rotfl2:

does that make them sub human? no

i know a couple of them who could out-hunt most hunters i know in the freezing ass cold too

Things that can seem like a "who cares" event when analysed in a vacuum can make perfect sense when you look closely at their context.

it is apparently a major event for you

its a minor event for me

im not going to bash the guy for being gay... its not a big deal. for the most part the response by the fans and other players has been "your gay?... ok well can you still sink it from the three point line?"

who cares...

in the world news this week lots of neat stuff happened... yet another gay celebrity type figure ranks pretty low on the list for me.

then again... this could have a lot more to do with the fact that im not even remotely a fan of basketball and thus wouldnt care to begin with. :up:

i guess the point im trying to make is that we as a society have to stop making this sort of thing a big deal. sure, there will always be gay haters... just like there will always be racists.

i'm just as quick to hold the door for a little old black woman as i am for a little old white woman etc etc

and i have been just as quick to yes ma'am a clear and obvious cross dresser

i have said it before and i will say it again, in my life i have rubbed elbows with a lot of different folks - perhaps thats why i feel the way i do about the subject

[Sailor Steve]

The constitution doesn't even mention marriage, so it doesn't really apply in this case.
It doesn't matter because this isn't a question of legal equality, but of overall public opinion. It doesn't have to do with law but with opinion, so you're right.

I only address your comment about our Constitution not mentioning marriage. The Constitution doesn't mention a lot of things, and it's chief creator, James Madison, didn't want a Bill Of Rights at all, because he believed that all rights belong to the people and none to the government, and he was afraid that if he forgot to mention anything then somewhere down the road would say that they left one thing or the other out, so it's not covered. This has happened more than once when strict Constructionists argued that there is no Right to Privacy, because the Constitution doesn't mention it. Madison was aware of that possibility, so when he finally caved in to pressure and sponsored the Bill of Rights he added in the Ninth Amendment, which says
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

[vienna]

There is a strange self-deception in major American sports that only straight males are players when in all probability there have been many atheletes in various sports, both 'superstars' and journeymen who were/are gay or bi while playing on their teams. GLBTs are estimated to account for about 10% of the total U.S. population, so, logically, at one time or another, there have been gays in sport. My opinion is, if they can do the job, who cares what they do in their private life. And being gay or bi would just be their private life if some rather narrow minded people would have made an issue if it in the first place...

I seem to recall Mike Piazza, when he was with the Mets (baseball) called a news conference to deny he was gay. The press was puzzled because there really hadn't been any widely known claims he was gay. Very strange...

As far as Collins being the first to acknowledge his sexual preference as a major sports athelete, isn't there already a player, or players, in the NFL who is/are openly gay? I seem to recall one of the NFL quarterbacks quietly coming out a few years back...

People are people, some born one way and some born another. Gays are born the way they are (contrary to the screeching fundamenatalists) and they mainly try to live life as productive, contributing individuals. Leave them alone and let them live in peace like the rest of us...

<O>

[Tribesman]

The fact that this sort of thing is in the news, speaks volumes about the media, and quite possibly the people they pander to.
__________________

Its true, the media should only report real news like how poofs cause hurricanes and terrorism.

[Jimbuna]

Some great answers here IMHO and I've certainly learned a thing or two regarding the American society perspective.

My own opinion....so what, simply live and let live.

[Lord Justice]

My own opinion....so what, simply live and let live. Most posts laid upon you, will result in such good natured eyes. :yeah: But, were I to conform to your inclinations, or consult your fancy instead of my own judgement, and who can be a judge of said matters but myself, I fear would subject myself to a bore probability of becoming content. :hmm2: Which on this subject I choose to decline.

[Wolferz]

What happens in private should remain in private.

The only thing I find wrong with the LGBT agenda is that the subject is constantly thrown in your face whether you want to hear about it or not.

I guess they just want to add sexual orientation to the equal rights creed. But, I think the moral majority may never accept it and will continue their holier than thou descrimination.
Give the media enough time and they'll hammer the square peg in the round hole.:hmmm:

[mookiemookie]

neither does yours Right. It doesn't. But I didn't make that statement to get into a "you too" back and forth, and I didn't make that statement to really attack your opinion personally. I was simply making the point that one individual's opinion is of little consequequence when taken in the context of society's as a whole.


of course there are some who think this... but i think the broader social institution doesnt hold that ideal. hell, all i have to do is look at all the equal signs on my facebook, many of them posted by baby boomer white christians i would never have guessed to be supportive of anything not printed in the bible... i dont care what the bleeding hearts have to say... every person out there isnt a foaming at the mouth gay hater. I agree that a lot of progress has been made and gay people are becoming more and more accepted. But it's kind of a case where "this is a big news story until the day that it isn't." As long as there's still laws on the books that discriminate against gay folks, this is gonna be a news event.


it is apparently a major event for you

its a minor event for me The same can be said about a lot of events that are objectively newsworthy. I may not care much about, say, a story like this: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/29/17976931-one-dead-after-small-planes-collide-mid-air-in-calif?lite

But you may care about it more as it involves private aviation. So that doesn't mean it's not newsworthy.



in the world news this week lots of neat stuff happened... yet another gay celebrity type figure ranks pretty low on the list for me. And that means we're making progress as a society as a whole. If only that were the case for more people. :up:

[Ducimus]

It speaks volumes about your own prejudices. You honestly can't see how the FIRST ACTIVE PRO SPORTS PLAYER to come out of the closet is newsworthy?

Jesus, Takeda is right.

Do you know how much sports I watch? Zilch, zero, zip. Nada. I could care less about ANY pro sports players. It's just more celeb worship in my opinion. So the guy plays a ball game.... big deal. I have always found ball games, about as much fun as watching nascar, which in turn is about as exciting as watching grass grow.

In nascar, they go around in a circle, and around, and around and around and around, ad nausem. In ball games what do they do? From one end of the court to the other, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth ad nausuem. About the only sport's i found even remotely interesting is hockey. At least then a fight or something exciting can happen. If i was to watch hockey, thats all I wait for, because the rest is just back and forth, back and forth...

borrrrinnngg.....

So, combine my complete lack of interest in sports, with a complete lack of interest in what some dude I don't know, have never met, nor will ever see, want's to do in his bedroom, and but that on the front page. What reaction do you expect?

EDIT:
As i've said, I find the whole thing very petty and unimportant. The world is a crappy place. Always has been, always will be. There's always something to worry and concern ones self about - but some ball player coming out of the metaphorical closet isn't one of them. I don't concern myself with such petty things. Never have, never will. What i want to see on the front page is news that matters. Things that effect our jobs, government, economy, the nation at large, foreign policy, things of that nature. If ball player Z comes out and say's he likes gender X, is top news and very important to you, then you must have a very sheltered view of the world.

[mookiemookie]

Do you know how much sports I watch? Zilch, zero, zip. Nada. I could care less about ANY pro sports players. It's just more celeb worship in my opinion. So the guy plays a ball game.... big deal. I have always found ball games, about as much fun as watching nascar, which in turn is about as exciting as watching grass grow.

In nascar, they go around in a circle, and around, and around and around and around, ad nausem. In ball games what do they do? From one end of the court to the other, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth ad nausuem. About the only sport's i found even remotely interesting is hockey. At least then a fight or something exciting can happen. If i was to watch hockey, thats all I wait for, because the rest is just back and forth, back and forth...

borrrrinnngg.....

So, combine my complete lack of interest in sports, with a complete lack of interest in what some dude I don't know, have never met, nor will ever see, want's to do in his bedroom, and but that on the front page. What reaction do you expect?

But you are aware that sports is a multi-trillion dollar business? And pro-athletes are held up to a godly celebrity status? And that there's never been an openly gay pro athlete in the "big four" sports in the US?

You can't see how it's maybe a little teeeeny bit newsworthy? :hmm2:

[Ducimus]

See edit to prior post. And again, I could give less then a crap about celeb's. So they can do something very well on TV, big deal. There is always someone who can do something you can't, and there's always something you can do that other's can't. We all put our pants on one leg at a time.

[mookiemookie]

We all put our pants on one leg at a time.

Yeah well what if you've got no legs?

:D:woot:

[Ducimus]

You're killing me smalls.

[nikimcbee]

I could give less then a crap about celeb's.

This.:D

[Wolferz]

I'll just put on me goggles and ride the heck outta here...
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb295/Wolferz_2007/875_bikers_dogs_01.jpg (http://s205.photobucket.com/user/Wolferz_2007/media/875_bikers_dogs_01.jpg.html)

Black eyed children rule!

[razark]

Yeah well what if you've got no legs?
I'm pretty sure it would be considered big news if an NBA team signed on an openly legless player.


This first player to come out is considered big news because there is a portion of the population that doesn't accept him. The second will be slightly less newsworthy. Eventually, it will get to the point where nobody cares about it again.

(But seriously? Top story? That is overdoing it a bit.)

[Platapus]

Well it must be a big deal to some as we are already up to three pages.

[Stealhead]

Well it must be a big deal to some as we are already up to three pages.


QFT.In one way or another it is a big deal.

If a person being homosexual is not a big deal to one individual it is not really relevant.As a whole in human society homosexuality is a big deal and treated as a deviant act and there are many stereotypes as others have said.

Another thing to consider....if you do not like the news you are receiving change your source or better yet use multiple sources and digest the information received if it is important to you great.

I can not honestly think of very many things other than homosexuality/bisexuality that people are more than willing to distance themselves from being associated with in any way.Many people that feel such sexual desires themselves will try to hide it and even try a heterosexual life style that is how strong the sitgma is.

[CaptainMattJ.]

exactly.

Its also important because whether or not its warranted, people look up to celebrities. There are many kids who use sports stars or popular authority figures as role models. The overall support of the NBA, along with many pro players and people across the states show the increasing progress for the changing of old beliefs and taboos.

[Wolferz]

It's a shame that there is so much prejudice against people who are different from the mainstream.
I have an openly gay cousin who was raised in a devoutly religious family.
I can't recall their reaction when they discovered his preference. Most likely negative from his step father and maybe from his mother too. I don't know for sure.
Over time things changed for him and now his parents accept it and refer to him as simply eccentric.

From some of my reading, homosexuality is a natural phenomenon that also occurs in animal species to limit the population.

Needless to say, we humans are severely over populated. So it's only natural.

[Platapus]

It is sad that people are still losing their jobs and having children taken away from them because of "different" lifestyles.