I have heard Piazza's name come up many times when this issue is brought up. I agree with Marlins02, that for the most part if the player is doing well, fans will treat him well. But when that player starts slumping, he's gonna hear it. And it shouldn't be that way. I agree with bobbob that a person's sexual preference should be a non-issue. It doesn't matter if Mike Piazza is gay or not. What should matter is whether he is playing well or not.

 

I think that the best way for a player to come out is during an interview, whether on TV or a magazine, it doesn't matter. I think a press conference would be a little too much, honestly.

 

And by the way, the clubhouse issue (esp. in the showers) reminds me of "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Admin". If you have seen it, you will know what I am talking about.

 

Also, you should read this. It's about Esera Tuaolo. Even though he wasn't a baseball player, he's a gay former football player. The article has an excerpt from his book. I think this excerpt may describe what these gay players may go through.

 

Link: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5190140

Why is Mike Piazza being brought up all the time?

 

Our stereotypical notion of what makes someone gay and then throwing that notion on the first player that it might 'stick' on, is kind of sad.

 

(Not saying this to any particular person in this thread)

Isn't Piazza married to a porn star?

Sometimes it doesn't matter if a person is married to a member of the opposite sex. I know a man who was once married to a woman and he's openly gay. He has kids with her too.

 

I am not saying that Piazza is definitely gay or not. I don't know him personally, so I wouldn't know. But just saying, sadly, sometimes marriage is used as a cover for some reason.

 

Anyway, there's always been rumors about Piazza. I just don't know how they started or if they are true or not. Whatever though. It shouldn't be a big deal anyway.

Isn't Piazza married to a porn star?

Former playmate.

 

I just hate how outgoing, humorous, personable is equated with gay.

Isn't Piazza married to a porn star?

Former playmate.

 

I just hate how outgoing, humorous, personable is equated with gay.

 

I know, right?

Honestly, I don't think he's gay. And yes, I used him as an example, but that's just that... an example.

(Not saying this to any particular person in this thread)

I know.

My question is; who cares? It's not like the "good old days" when the team showered together and gave each other back rubs and slathered each other down in ben gay and helped another guy pee when his large rippling muscles were sore...

 

I mean, that stuff is all cool as long as you aren't gay. Right?

To bring up another point and one that doesn't have to do with gay athelete's directly but...

 

Something that has always bothered me a bit and something I am 100% guilty of is how easily a lot of people just spew out words like, 'fag, gay, homo, etc.' in casual conversation. Most of the time it's in a joking manner but if a racial ephitet was used in a similar and as often fashion it'd be a big problem. The homosexual slurs are almost accepted though as 'no big deal'.

 

Like I said, it's something I do with somewhat regularity and I probably should make a concerted effort not to because it is, in my view, rude and distasteful.

 

I just have no problem with homosexuals in most any sense. If they want to get married let them get married. I don't think I or the government should say who should or shouldn't be able to officially seal their bond in the way they want to.

 

/end tangent

Awesome post, Fox. I totally agree with you.

Something that has always bothered me a bit and something I am 100% guilty of is how easily a lot of people just spew out words like, 'fag, gay, homo, etc.' in casual conversation. Most of the time it's in a joking manner but if a racial ephitet was used in a similar and as often fashion it'd be a big problem. The homosexual slurs are almost accepted though as 'no big deal'.

You're such a black person.

 

What's next, using food stamps to buy new rims?

:lol

I don't judge people on sexual orientation, neither should anyone else.

 

Of course they would, and any acting player would see their career go to hell if they came out while they were still playing, so no one ever will in the forseeable future.

My policy: I don't give a flying f***, but respect others no matter the situation.

To bring up another point and one that doesn't have to do with gay athelete's directly but...

 

Something that has always bothered me a bit and something I am 100% guilty of is how easily a lot of people just spew out words like, 'fag, gay, homo, etc.' in casual conversation. Most of the time it's in a joking manner but if a racial ephitet was used in a similar and as often fashion it'd be a big problem. The homosexual slurs are almost accepted though as 'no big deal'.

 

Like I said, it's something I do with somewhat regularity and I probably should make a concerted effort not to because it is, in my view, rude and distasteful.

 

I just have no problem with homosexuals in most any sense. If they want to get married let them get married. I don't think I or the government should say who should or shouldn't be able to officially seal their bond in the way they want to.

 

/end tangent

 

There are, IMO, harsh ways to find humor in differences, in harmless ways.

 

Personally, I have met a lot of gay guys, and they love to call themselves faggots. To me it seems like they're just the "look at me, I'm gay!" type, but still, if they don't mind calling themselves faggots, then if I were to in good fun say something humorous about their orientation, who cares? In my opinion, if they care, they are the ones with the problem.

 

If we can't love each other and appreciate differences, instead of just OMG NOT TALK ABOUT IT, things will remain as they have been.

Not really what I was getting at. Saying something to someone you know is different then using a slur in everday vernacular.

 

I casually will say, "Haha, what a fag" when a friend of mine or someone does something stupid. So I'm basically equating fag (already a slur) with dumb/stupid.

 

No one says "Haha, what a n****r or k*** or w*****k or etc." I'm just curious as to why homosexual slurs are basically accepted and commonly used.

I would agree that is in poor taste.

I dunno, I have 3 gay family members in my immediate family, and I say "gay" and "fag" alot, just like most people. I don't know what that says about me, but I don't think it's a big deal. It all comes down to what the people who it refers to think about it. "n****r" has about 600 years of baggage attached to it, and it brings up a lot of pain for a lot of people, and I just don't think "fag" will ever reach that level. Sure it's unfair and it's pretty crappy that we are making exceptions for, essentially, bigotry, but thats the way it is.

I dunno, I have 3 gay family members in my immediate family, and I say "gay" and "fag" alot, just like most people. I don't know what that says about me, but I don't think it's a big deal. It all comes down to what the people who it refers to think about it. "n****r" has about 600 years of baggage attached to it, and it brings up a lot of pain for a lot of people, and I just don't think "fag" will ever reach that level. Sure it's unfair and it's pretty crappy that we are making exceptions for, essentially, bigotry, but thats the way it is.

 

Yet we hear African Americans call each other that more than white guys say "dude" to each other.

I dunno, I have 3 gay family members in my immediate family, and I say "gay" and "fag" alot, just like most people. I don't know what that says about me, but I don't think it's a big deal. It all comes down to what the people who it refers to think about it. "n****r" has about 600 years of baggage attached to it, and it brings up a lot of pain for a lot of people, and I just don't think "fag" will ever reach that level. Sure it's unfair and it's pretty crappy that we are making exceptions for, essentially, bigotry, but thats the way it is.

 

Yet we hear African Americans call each other that more than white guys say "dude" to each other.

Stereotypes, FTL

I dunno, I have 3 gay family members in my immediate family, and I say "gay" and "fag" alot, just like most people. I don't know what that says about me, but I don't think it's a big deal. It all comes down to what the people who it refers to think about it. "n****r" has about 600 years of baggage attached to it, and it brings up a lot of pain for a lot of people, and I just don't think "fag" will ever reach that level. Sure it's unfair and it's pretty crappy that we are making exceptions for, essentially, bigotry, but thats the way it is.

 

Yet we hear African Americans call each other that more than white guys say "dude" to each other.

Stereotypes, FTL

 

Some stereotypes have roots in truth, friend.

 

I'm seriously not going to get in to this because I'm liable to get irritated really quickly and I've been in too good of a mood for too long to let that happen. That statement is full of ignorance though. I'll leave it at that.

Not hashing things out is the very root of the bigger problem of racism and other forms of unjustified hatred.

I mean, you cannot deny that many do use it in a very throwaway manner, which sets a double standard that is hard to reconcile with the majority of the community. I wouldn't say most, but many do toss it around without much regard for what it might mean. I'd say it's usage amongst african americans is probably as prevalent as the word "fag" for "dumb" is amongst white people.