LGBTQ City Fans (11 Viewers)

[KG7]

Do we have any LGBTQ fans on here?

I'm interested in talking with people about potentially setting up an LGBTQ fan group as I think it is important that a club such as ours with such a progressive history can be a leading light in this area.

I would also love to hear about people's experiences as an LGBTQ supporter in a world where lad culture is so prevalent.

Happy to receive a PM from you as I understand this is a sensitive subject. It goes without saying that any conversations between us will stay between us.

I should also point out that I am NOT LGBTQ but am interested in learning more about people's experiences and helping to promote LGBTQ awareness in an arena that badly needs and deserves it.

 

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[Nick]

I know that people might see it differently, but I don't see why people need to group themselves off.

I understand some people live in the stone ages, the same with racism but at a game it doesn't really matter if the bloke next to me is black, white, gay, straight etc they are a city fan, that's all. When people start putting themselves into separate groups it sort of goes against treating everybody as equal.

 

[Deleted member 2477]

Totally agree nick for once with you.
Kg7 whats your reason for wanting to highlight some ones sexuality and put them in a little box. We are all sky blue supporters irispective of gender, age, colour, disability, sexual orintation so whats your reason as I personally find your post a little strange and divisive.

 

[KG7]

I know that people might see it differently, but I don't see why people need to group themselves off.

I understand some people live in the stone ages, the same with racism but at a game it doesn't really matter if the bloke next to me is black, white, gay, straight etc they are a city fan, that's all. When people start putting themselves into separate groups it sort of goes against treating everybody as equal.

Nick, of course, you're right and if everyone had this point of view then there would be no need to promote minority groups. However, there is without doubt a huge amount of homophobia in the game and I think it is important that we try and educate fans so that it is clear that this is not something that should set us apart.

 

[The Reverend Skyblue]

I totally agree with marcusp and Nick, nowadays we are obsessed with putting people in groups, getting them put into catorgories.
Whether the person next to me is lesbian,gay, transgender or a Martian I don't give a fuck, the only thing that's important is that we all support this basket case of a club for some reason.
The world has gone PC mad

 

[skybluebeduff]

Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve...

 

[KG7]

Totally agree nick for once with you.
Kg7 whats your reason for wanting to highlight some ones sexuality and put them in a little box. We are all sky blue supporters irispective of gender, age, colour, disability, sexual orintation so whats your reason as I personally find your post a little strange and divisive.

I don't want to highlight anyone or put anyone in a little box.

I don't know a single LGBTQ supporter or a single LGBTQ player and I think it is important that as a progressive football club we take the lead in giving people from these communities support....

We have a London Supporters Club, and a Junior Supporters Club and in reality an LGBTQ supporters club should be no different to this.

 

[KG7]

I totally agree with marcusp and Nick, nowadays we are obsessed with putting people in groups, giving them catorgories.
Whether the person next to me is lesbian,gay, transgender or a Martian I don't give a fuck, the only thing that's important is that we all support this basket case of a club for some reason.
The world has gone PC mad

This would be an ideal scenario Reverend. However, having spent a reasonable amount of time with the LGBTQ community they unfortunately don't consider this to be PC gone mad and consider lad culture and homophobia in football to be a real problem.

Anyhow, I didn't really mean for this to be a debate on the pros and cons of it, I am just looking to connect.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

Worth pointing out, a football grouping for LGBTQ+ wouldn't be the only place that happens.

 

[CovisGod]

I'm not going to pretend I know a great deal about this sort of thing but I'm totally open minded and each to their own,

Purely out of curiosity, what does the Q mean ? I guessed the other letters but neither me or my Mrs can figure out the Q

 

[oucho]

Personally i think it's a good idea, fair play to you. Anything that means that people who are uncomfortable can be made to feel more welcome. As with a lot of the crap that's "part of the game" i find the hhomophobic 'banter' at games boorish and pointless.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

Queer

 

[KG7]

It stands for Queer, but apparently it can also stand for 'Questioning' which I didn't know until just now.

 

[Nick]

The thing is though, how far does the group go? It just sounds as if all of the LGBT fans are going to be sectioned off and put in a corner. Where does it end? As we have seen with all of the protest groups, it is just like creating groups for the sake of creating groups to say you run a group isn't it?

I know that there are plenty of LGBT groups in all walks of life, and I know there is a lad culture at football but I am not sure it would help.

It's just my opinion that it sort of divides things even more, should we have a women's supporters group also? I'd bet there are a few hundred gay people at each game, they just don't feel the need to tell everybody the same as other people don't shout that they are straight or make a big deal out of it. They are just football fans.

I do remember somebody on here saying they were gay when the Stokes stuff happened, he also said it didn't offend him in the slightest.

 

[KG7]

The thing is though, how far does the group go? It just sounds as if all of the LGBT fans are going to be sectioned off and put in a corner. Where does it end?

I know that there are plenty of LGBT groups in all walks of life, and I know there is a lad culture at football but I am not sure it would help.

It's just my opinion that it sort of divides things even more, should we have a women's supporters group also? I'd bet there are a few hundred gay people at each game, they just don't feel the need to tell everybody the same as other people don't shout that they are straight or make a big deal out of it. They are just football fans.

I do remember somebody on here saying they were gay when the Stokes stuff happened, he also said it didn't offend him in the slightest.

It would be the same as any other supporters group I imagine. The London Supporters group don't get sectioned off and put in a corner...the JSBs do (!!)

 

[Nick]

It would be the same as any other supporters group I imagine. The London Supporters group don't get sectioned off and put in a corner...the JSBs do (!!)

Yes but they are just meeting up because of locality aren't they?

I didn't literally mean sectioning off, but I am not sure what it will do to battle homophobia?

 

[KG7]

Well they're meeting up because of locality and a love of CCFC.

This group would be meeting up because of sexuality and a love of CCFC. No different!

For a start it would be a presence associated with the club whereas up until now there has been none. Familiarity leads to education. IMO if there was an LGBTQ presence at football games then eventually homophobic attitudes and chanting would be eradicated.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

Well they're meeting up because of locality and a love of CCFC.

This group would be meeting up because of sexuality and a love of CCFC. No different!

For a start it would be a presence associated with the club whereas up until now there has been none. Familiarity leads to education. IMO if there was an LGBTQ presence at football games then eventually homophobic attitudes and chanting would be eradicated.

Doesn't even have to be that. If some LGBTQ+ (apparently the + is on it nowadays btw ) fans feel they can't attend now because of perceived atmosphere etc, then a group might encourage them to attend... and then find their own assumptions are unfounded too.

Surely we want more fans?

So yeah, in an ideal world we'd all be equal, but I see no harm in you asking and, people will either decide they want to be part of it, or they'll decide not to be/ you'll find out we have no LGBTQ+ fans anyway!

 

[Nick]

Well they're meeting up because of locality and a love of CCFC.

This group would be meeting up because of sexuality and a love of CCFC. No different!

For a start it would be a presence associated with the club whereas up until now there has been none. Familiarity leads to education. IMO if there was an LGBTQ presence at football games then eventually homophobic attitudes and chanting would be eradicated.

I am not sure it would stop it, sadly. I have witnessed things like the goalkeeper wearing pink, but have never heard anything on the level of something like racism.

 

[Nick]

Doesn't even have to be that. If some LGBTQ+ (apparently the + is on it nowadays btw ) fans feel they can't attend now because of perceived atmosphere etc, then a group might encourage them to attend... and then find their own assumptions are unfounded too.

Surely we want more fans?

So yeah, in an ideal world we'd all be equal, but I see no harm in you asking and, people will either decide they want to be part of it, or they'll decide not to be/ you'll find out we have no LGBTQ+ fans anyway!

Of course, there's no harm.

What would a group do differently? If they said "We are an LGBT group going to the game". Is it really that bad at our matches?

Just see if as if there was a racial group going to a game because they feel they couldn't go normally.

 

[clint van damme]

I know that people might see it differently, but I don't see why people need to group themselves off.

I understand some people live in the stone ages, the same with racism but at a game it doesn't really matter if the bloke next to me is black, white, gay, straight etc they are a city fan, that's all. When people start putting themselves into separate groups it sort of goes against treating everybody as equal.

but if you'd experienced any issues attending games because of your sexuality then challenging it as part of a group would surely be easier than attempting it as an individual?
Would probably help to speak to people who had similar experiences as well.

 

[KG7]

They would be there for the people that want to join and can help to educate supporters if they need to.

I'm sure someone who has a greater presence in the LGBTQ community will have a better idea of how it can make an impact than me...

 

[Nick]

but if you'd experienced any issues attending games because of your sexuality then challenging it as part of a group would surely be easier than attempting it as an individual?
Would probably help to speak to people who had similar experiences as well.

I agree about that.

Does this still happen in this day and age at a football match? (I might be being naive).

I know there have been chants when an opposition fan has been wearing pink and giving it loads also. The old "Whos the gayboy in the pink" and stuff like that but only a couple of times in how many years?

How does sexuality even come into it when going to watch a football match? I couldn't tell you whether the blokes who sit near me are gay or straight, I don't pay too much attention and couldn't really care.

 

[Samo]

I think this is important simply to say here 'we' are, loud and proud, like it or not. I think it's naive to say sexuality doesn't come into it, the footy world is not a tolerant one and like it or not there is still a lot of prejudice. So... I applaud the OP despite his need to immediately distance himself by stating his own sexual orientation.

 

[Nick]

I think this is important simply to say here 'we' are, loud and proud, like it or not. I think it's naive to say sexuality doesn't come into it, the footy world is not a tolerant one and like it or not there is still a lot of prejudice. So... I applaud the OP despite his need to immediately distance himself by stating his own sexual orientation.

They can do that as CCFC fans though, rather than gay ccfc fans, the same as black, white, indian, pakistani, jewish, muslim city fans don't have to say here we are as these fans. They are just city fans.

Of course, if groups of LGBT fans want to go to games then great, the more the merrier. I just worry it would then be separating fans into groups.

How many people sit at football matches looking around the crowd to try and pick out people who might be gay? That's what I meant by sexuality doesn't come into it. If a bloke sits next to me, he is a city fan at the match, I wouldn't sit there trying to work out his religion, sexuality etc.

Do people actually do that?

 

[Samo]

They can do that as CCFC fans though, rather than gay ccfc fans, the same as black, white, indian, pakistani, jewish, muslim city fans don't have to say here we are as these fans. They are just city fans.

Of course, if groups of LGBT fans want to go to games then great, the more the merrier. I just worry it would then be separating fans into groups.

How many people sit at football matches looking around the crowd to try and pick out people who might be gay? That's what I meant by sexuality doesn't come into it. If a bloke sits next to me, he is a city fan at the match, I wouldn't sit there trying to work out his religion, sexuality etc.

Do people actually do that?

Do you think the majority of fans are as accepting as you Nick?

 

[Nick]

Do you think the majority of fans are as accepting as you Nick?

Of course we will have knuckle draggers who live in the 70's.

What I meant by sexuality coming into it, who would know if they are gay or not? It isn't like race where they can see colour of the skin.

It isn't me trying to say people should hide it or anything, it is just do people actually go to the games and try and work out people's sexualities?

 

[skybluetony176]

An LGBT fan group is a great idea while acceptance is being pushed in football. Not one out male footballer while still playing (JF aside) is a shocking statistic and something all sections of the football community should be looking to address. Why not lead that charge from the terraces?

 

[rob9872]

Queer

A bit harsh

BTW note to the op - download grinder and sit on the half way line to catch all

 

[rob9872]

An LGBT fan group is a great idea while acceptance is being pushed in football. Not one out male footballer while still playing (JF aside) is a shocking statistic and something all sections of the football community should be looking to address. Why not lead that charge from the terraces?

JF was asked if it was more difficult being black or gay in 70s football. He said definitely harder being gay as he didn't need to tell his parents that he was black!

 

[cloughie]

I find all this stuff divisive and so ott pc. who is bothered about what someone else gets up to in the privacy of there own home. Maybe someone will want to start a heterosexual only group...........

Just as ridiculous

 

[Nick]

JF was asked if it was more difficult being black or gay in 70s football. He said definitely harder being gay as he didn't need to tell his parents that he was black!

What I mean though is who gets asked their sexuality going to a game? Who on earth knows who is gay and who isn't at a football match?

 

[skybluejelly]

Kg57 states he is not gay so why is he worrying that they are represented...this is the same political correctness as when councils say Muslims are offended by Christmas when they themselves have not complained..In a world of so called inclusiveness why have a separate group to isolate yourself..

 

[CJ_covblaze]

I can see the point that Nick and one or two others are making regarding this but I don't get the impression KG7 is suggesting anyone from this group of fans is sectioned off in their own little group at a game.

It's possible that some from the LGBTQ community want to attend games but due to incidents/comments that occurred in the past (witnessed personally or by family or a mate) they don't feel comfortable doing so. If what KG7 is suggesting can help allay some or all of the fears someone may have then it is a good thing.

 

[Philosoraptor]

To be honest, I wouldn't mind any group forming.... why should we be the only ones who suffer this fucking misery.