We're sure that you're already aware of FGG Ambassador John Amaechi's blog entitled "Dear John". But we want to point out a recent post with a powerful message, written in the wake of the Football Association video debacle. Here are some extracts:I have mentioned at the beginning of this piece that I don't think the effect of homophobia on the LGBT community is the crux of why we should focus on the "gay issue."
I think homophobia is an important issue because of the effect it has on straight people. Homophobia is literally and figuratively killing our youngsters - especially young, straight boys.
In school, for a boy, being clever and interested in academia is gay, being kind and thoughtful is gay, being respectful to parent, authority figure or woman is gay.
For a man, being sexually considerate - that is, not sleeping with everything female that moves - is gay. Having non-sexual friendships with women is gay. Being nurturing and considerate is gay. Having a friend who is gay, is gay. Choosing not to drink until you puke is gay. In football, even reading the guardian or using words with more than three syllables is gay.
We still socially reinforce industrial revolution-style gender identity on our boys and men so that to be a "real man" you must be the opposite of anything even remotely considered feminine.
We wonder why violence against women is rising? Why our boys run away from academic pursuits in school? Why they rebel against authority and steel themselves from the true expression of emotion despite the consequences?
[...]
Perhaps this is the real crux of the issue with the FA? We have made team sports the only place where "real men" can break the gender rules and still be considered "real men," and the idea of recognising that some of these men are gay is a little too close to home for those in charge of a game where real, straight men kiss and hug on a field in celebration, for real, straight fans in the terraces, who love it and do the same.
Read the full post HERE.
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