Owen Jones: Footballer Thomas Hitzlsperger has made a brave and commendable move in announcing he is gay
Football remains one of the great fortresses of homophobia
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Should – in an ideal world – the footballer Thomas Hitzlsperger telling us that he falls in love with men rather than women be news?
No, and when we live in a world where millions don’t think being gay is wrong, where the word “gay” isn’t an insult, and where gay people are no longer spat at, beaten up or even killed, it won’t be. Until then, any blow to the rapidly diminishing, but still all-too-power powerful edifice of homophobia needs to be applauded.
Football remains one of the great fortresses of homophobia. Hitzlsperger is the first former Premier League footballer to come out and no currently playing British footballer has made such a move.
This is surely because of the inextricable link between homophobia and sexism. Homophobic abuse is largely dealt out to straight men who do not conform to the stereotype of manliness: they’re not sporty enough, they don’t leer at women enough, they’re not aggressive enough, they’re too studious, and so on. It’s a way of regulating what it is to be a man. Football was traditionally wrapped up with an old unreconstructed view of masculinity, so no wonder homophobia is endemic.
But as men have changed, and different sorts of masculinity become acceptable, football is changing too. Hitzlsperger has made a brave and commendable move. He will undoubtedly be followed by other courageous footballers in time, too.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments