Does your boyfriend know you're here?

[Patrick]

Don't know if anyone else saw the news item, bbc I think, on Brighton & HA filing a complaint against homophobic chants being sung at them by opposing fans. Varying from does your boyfriend know you're here, and we can see you holding hands to more offensive stuff about dying of aids.

I certainly don't condone any racist chants, and don't consider myself homophobic, but I have to admit to being slightly amused by the gentler ribbing they receive. I realise that many offered the same excuse for what I believe to be unacceptable racism in the last decade or two, and I guess it's the same, but is it, really. I know that after a few pints of lager I would probably be singing along if I thought it was funny rather than malicious.

I love the gladiatorial atmosphere at a live game, and a bit of gentle piss taking is part and parcel of a great experience, but where's the line. Munich is on the wrong side, but I have been guilty, racism is just completely wrong.

I would hate the banter between two sets of fans to be removed, is this over sensitivity or am I just a dinosaur?

[BlueinBosnia]

A tough one, that. If they find it offensive, though, I'd say it's offensive.

Things like that probably have kept some gay people away from watching football in the past, and may do so today. For a place like Brighton, which prides itself on tolerance, acceptance and having a thriving gay community, having a small quarter of the town given over to homophobic chanting once a fortnight probably isn't something they really want.

Does Brighton attempt to recruit gay fans at all? I remember shortly before or after the Frank takeover we initiated a scheme like that. What happened with it, and was it successful? Also, has the project been quietly shelved since the takeover by a ruling family of a country where homosexuality is a criminal offence with up to 14 years in jail and potential forced hormone treatment and chemical castration?

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

I'm thinking of taking to court anyone who writes Citeh on the internet, on the basis that it insults my Northern accent.

[Beefymcfc]

Just sit there and shut your mouth!

We are nothing more than paying entertainees nowadays and the easier to hurd us in and out the better. In this present day the likes of Hillsborough and Heysal will always be in light with the powers that be, and who can blame them, but the reality is that we have changed over the years whereas the powers that be have not.

Over 4 decades of football, and understanding every era, this is one of the worst I've seen. The supporter has no rights whatsoever and it was better to get a slap and watch the game than getting kicked out for being a little bit unreasonable.

[carl_feedthegoat]

Just sit there and shut your mouth!

We are nothing more than paying entertainees nowadays and the easier to hurd us in and out the better. In this present day the likes of Hillsborough and Heysal will always be in light with the powers that be, and who can blame them, but the reality is that we have changed over the years whereas the powers that be have not.

Over 4 decades of football, and understanding every era, this is one of the worst I've seen. The supporter has no rights whatsoever and it was better to get a slap and watch the game than getting kicked out for being a little bit unreasonable.

Wait for that to be enforced in "PC, we will control you, Britain"at some stage in the future.

[DoomMerchant]

A tough one, that. If they find it offensive, though, I'd say it's offensive.

altho, to be fair i learned while working with an HIV analytics data team in the mid 90s in SF that many men don't identify as "gay" but are referred to, epidemiologically i suppose, as "men who have sex with men."

In which case, you don't have a boyfriend....you just fuck your neighbor, who happens to be a man as well. No biggie.

if those offended fans aren't creative enough to find a more interesting comeback to a troglodyte call out like that then maybe they shouldn't be at a football match. Amiwrong?

cheers

[Im_Spartacus]

altho, to be fair i learned while working with an HIV analytics data team in the mid 90s in SF that many men don't identify as "gay" but are referred to, epidemiologically i suppose, as "men who have sex with men."

In which case, you don't have a boyfriend....you just fuck your neighbor, who happens to be a man as well. No biggie.

if those offended fans aren't creative enough to find a more interesting comeback to a troglodyte call out like that then maybe they shouldn't be at a football match. Amiwrong?

cheers

I think its the club complaining, not the fans. And your point shows exactly why such lazy stereotypical labels are offensive to some - although i'm pretty sure that most homosexual men would have a smile about such a chant rather than throw a queenie strop on the concourse and totter off home.

The precedent for all this was set with the sol campbell case - if somebody finds it offensive, is a criminal offence in this day and age. The club could and should take a hard line and eject people who make those chants, exactly as clubs do now when"town full of pakis" for example is sung by a small minority, until such time as people decide its not worth the hassle of missing the game.

Not saying its right to take that approach, but "hate" as defined by the courts is just as much about homophobia as it is about the black/asian man, so the fan caught doing those chants wouldnt have a leg to stand on.

[DoomMerchant]

altho, to be fair i learned while working with an HIV analytics data team in the mid 90s in SF that many men don't identify as "gay" but are referred to, epidemiologically i suppose, as "men who have sex with men."

In which case, you don't have a boyfriend....you just fuck your neighbor, who happens to be a man as well. No biggie.

if those offended fans aren't creative enough to find a more interesting comeback to a troglodyte call out like that then maybe they shouldn't be at a football match. Amiwrong?

cheers

I think its the club complaining, not the fans. And your point shows exactly why such lazy stereotypical labels are offensive to some - although i'm pretty sure that most homosexual men would have a smile about such a chant rather than throw a queenie strop on the concourse and totter off home.

The precedent for all this was set with the sol campbell case - if somebody finds it offensive, is a criminal offence in this day and age. The club could and should take a hard line and eject people who make those chants, exactly as clubs do now when"town full of pakis" for example is sung by a small minority, until such time as people decide its not worth the hassle of missing the game.

Not saying its right to take that approach, but "hate" as defined by the courts is just as much about homophobia as it is about the black/asian man, so the fan caught doing those chants wouldnt have a leg to stand on.

it is surely offensive, but pales in comparison to someone knocking off yr wing mirror. Physical damage > racism/homophobia.

cheers

[Beefymcfc]

Most chants could be construed as offensive so we may as well just sit on our hands.

[DoomMerchant]

Most chants could be construed as offensive so we may as well just sit on our hands.

Soccs and I don't go to the matches. Why should you?

[mr_nool]

Most chants could be construed as offensive so we may as well just sit on our hands.

Whereas the Albion fans sit on their hands to keep from groping each other. Poofs!

[Wooders]

discrimination is discrimination and shouldn't really be allowed - the problem with a little bit of "does your boyfriend" know you're here good humored chants soon leads to "dying of aids" chants and that really isn't on

homophobia is also a massive issue within the game at the moment, which has led to at least one suicide (which we know about) and for that reason it should be discouraged

[Sister of fu]

Homophobic comments don’t get the same treatment as say a racist one. Its ok to take the piss out of some bloke if he wears a pink shirt say in the away end and fans call him homophobic names, imagine if as fans we did the same if he was black?? I have heard stewards call dykes and all sorts stood at City and no bats an eye lid, call someone because of the colour of your skin you would get arrested. I’m sorry but that’s wrong. What’s banter and what’s not??? Is it acceptable to call people homophobic names and that be ok as its “banter”??

[BlueinBosnia]

Is it acceptable to call people homophobic names and that be ok as its “banter”??

Hehe. That line reminded me of this:
[youtube]8Ou0fSPZax4[/youtube]
In no way am I insinuating there is a link between homosexuality and paedophilia, before anybody has a go at me.

[mr_nool]

Homophobic comments don’t get the same treatment as say a racist one. Its ok to take the piss out of some bloke if he wears a pink shirt say in the away end and fans call him homophobic names, imagine if as fans we did the same if he was black?? I have heard stewards call dykes and all sorts stood at City and no bats an eye lid, call someone because of the colour of your skin you would get arrested. I’m sorry but that’s wrong. What’s banter and what’s not??? Is it acceptable to call people homophobic names and that be ok as its “banter”??

I actually totally agree on that, despite my childish comment above.
The issue isn't really whether Albion fans are insulted or not, it's the fact that homosexuality is used in a derogatory manner that is.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Homophobic comments don’t get the same treatment as say a racist one. Its ok to take the piss out of some bloke if he wears a pink shirt say in the away end and fans call him homophobic names, imagine if as fans we did the same if he was black?? I have heard stewards call dykes and all sorts stood at City and no bats an eye lid, call someone because of the colour of your skin you would get arrested. I’m sorry but that’s wrong. What’s banter and what’s not??? Is it acceptable to call people homophobic names and that be ok as its “banter”??

I heard them talking about homophopia on national radio today ( well it was TalkSport) Andie and your name was mentioned as joining the fight.

[Sister of fu]

Homophobic comments don’t get the same treatment as say a racist one. Its ok to take the piss out of some bloke if he wears a pink shirt say in the away end and fans call him homophobic names, imagine if as fans we did the same if he was black?? I have heard stewards call dykes and all sorts stood at City and no bats an eye lid, call someone because of the colour of your skin you would get arrested. I’m sorry but that’s wrong. What’s banter and what’s not??? Is it acceptable to call people homophobic names and that be ok as its “banter”??

I heard them talking about homophopia on national radio today ( well it was TalkSport) Andie and your name was mentioned as joining the fight.

Yeah I am now the patron of Just a ball game? and the first out female footballer in England. Clarke Carlise is also a patron. He text me this week which was nice of him.

[BlueinBosnia]

the first out female footballer in England.

That really surprises me. I know you've mentioned before about a lot being 'closeted', but I'd have thought there were a few openly g4y women playing. Is homos3xuality as much of a stigma in the women's game, or is it more to do with personal/family life that people don't come out?

[BlueinBosnia]

The reason that 2 letters in the above post of mine are numbers is because the server for some reason wouldn't let me post one of those words...

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Homophobic comments don’t get the same treatment as say a racist one. Its ok to take the piss out of some bloke if he wears a pink shirt say in the away end and fans call him homophobic names, imagine if as fans we did the same if he was black?? I have heard stewards call dykes and all sorts stood at City and no bats an eye lid, call someone because of the colour of your skin you would get arrested. I’m sorry but that’s wrong. What’s banter and what’s not??? Is it acceptable to call people homophobic names and that be ok as its “banter”??

I heard them talking about homophopia on national radio today ( well it was TalkSport) Andie and your name was mentioned as joining the fight.

Yeah I am now the patron of Just a ball game? and the first out female footballer in England. Clarke Carlise is also a patron. He text me this week which was nice of him.

Yes it was Clarke who mentioned you today.