Out tennis legend Billie Jean King talked about her outing and today’s gays in tennis with Tennis.com. In addition to saying she knows a couple closeted gay men in tennis, King places the responsibility for opening the door to openly gay tennis players squarely on the shoulders of the best male players in the world, which today means Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Her quote:
We need straight people, particularly in the male arena, to support the gay guys. They have to. And if they stand up for us, that’s how we gain acceptance. We need our friends, or brothers and sisters, especially if they have influence. Federer and Nadal and those guys have to say we don’t care. Once the influence starts to talk like that, it makes a huge difference. It’s got to be the top players. [They] influence where the tour goes. That’s part of the responsibility of being in the Top 10, the Top 5 in the world. That goes hand in hand with making the big bucks, getting the most exposure, getting the most endorsements.
That’s part of the deal, I think, if you’re going to be in that position. And our job in that position is to stick up for whoever is getting a bad deal. I wish we could get a guy at the top of his game just saying I’m gay, let’s move on, next. But it’s got to be while he’s playing. While he’s at the top of his game. But they’re going to take a lot of heat, man.
I will not presume to know how hard it is to come out, and I'm not sure if I can articulate myself well enough to get my points across in just a few paragraphs, so I will just say, I agree wholeheartedly with what BJK is saying here.
I am curious though. Do you think the gay players more afraid of losing popularity, or their mothers knowing? Cos if it's the first, boy shitcakes, have they got it wrong.
*pic from DtLJust the implication itself is already hot - but maybe that's just me. And just try to tell me that Jailbait didn't suddenly get 300% hotter.
I love what Rich from DtL have to say about this.
The idea of a gay man in the locker room seems to have deeper implications and causes the most discomfort with the public - so that's where we need to go.
Honey, you're being suggestive without even trying. Oh, to be in the shower with all those lean hipped, hard muscled leggy ballers. Who would not be tempted?
*lines pillows doubly thick today*
Babz,
ReplyDeleteI agree wholeheartedly with what BJK AND you are saying here.
CC - the part where I got all emo or the part where I go all horny? ;)
ReplyDeleteOh, both for sure.
ReplyDeleteWished we live in a world where they could all come out and be gay, straight, whatever. As long as I get a pass to watch them in that locker room shower...(:
Erm...I've always wondered...what is Novak doing in that jacuzzi...?
I know. 90% of my friends are gay, so I know of the pain. I mean it's 2009 for fuck's sake.
ReplyDeleteNovak is, erm...
...
...
Oh god I've no idea. My answers range from dirty to totally disgusting, so I shall keep them to myself lol.
No, please tell! My mind is not dirty enough to think these thoughts... (Who am I trying to kid here?!)
ReplyDeleteRafa seems to think it's fun anyway, wonder if somebody's hand is on him, somewhere it shouldn't be..? If I were the person next to him, then...
No, I'll stop there.
I agree with everything BJK said and it would be great if a player came out and everything was alright. But I also follow swimming and diving and it's really sad how Mitcham, who won gold and pulled a great upset at the olympics, is still looking for a sponsor to continue trainning (him being the only out male athlete at the olympics). And how Thorpe probably chose to retire before coming out and losing sponsors. Makes you wonder how it's 2009 and it really hasn't changed that much in male sports.
ReplyDeleteWTA and ATP should (have) shut both tourneys down. NOW. What would the reaction be if Venus or Serena weren't let in because they are black? Discrimination is discrimination.
ReplyDeleteBut I"m all for cameras in the whirlpool/jacuzzi/hot tub/shower area.
Except, uhmmm...that's how the killer staph infections get spread. Just sayin'. Rafa in one tub, keep him nice and clean, all the rest in a separate one.
Sorry. I'm in a mad rush and thought I was at DTL. YOu see? You SEE babz, what happens when you don't post exclusively about Rafa? natch very angry now.
ReplyDeletechem - Damn. Thorpe totally crossed my mind but with my midnight oil totally burned out 3 hours ago, I somehow didn't type it. But yeah. Crazy how gays are treated like lepers. What, does having gay people sponsored by the brand makes it a "gay" brand now? Sheesh.
ReplyDeletenatch - whaaa???? I posted!!! See I totally put up the tub pic for you!
Rafa news is sooo slow today/this week.
I can't wrap my mind around why someone would have a problem with gay people. I just can't.
ReplyDeleteHello?! It's 2009!! What a double-faced society. We're pretending to be all open minded and not uptight, but being gay, especially in the public (and mainly in sports), is still something exceptional??
Love is what it is. You can't tag it with a certain gender. Same applies for sex.
May I quote a very wise young woman here?
"Hormones don't lie." (c) Babzabella
Amen!
PS: That tub pic makes me weak... Can I please be in the middle of that RafaNole sandwich?!
he he he. She said "ballers." he he he :)
ReplyDeleteSeriously, though, I agree wholeheartedly. To be weird about gay folks is so 19th century.
I am late to the party, but I just wanted to say I love this site and I love RAFA! Now I've got to go watch that youtube vid of Rafa and Roger's tender moments again....
ReplyDelete