Homonegativity in Britain: Changing Attitudes Towards Same-Sex Relationships

2021

Sociology

The relationship between English football and homosexuality has changed significantly in recent years. However, research examining this area of study has predominantly focused on the attitudes of ostensibly heterosexual men. By drawing on semi-structured interviews with 35 ‘out’ gay male fans, this article is the first to focus explicitly on LGBT fans’ sense of place in English football. Contrary to previous research, these gay male fans represent ‘authentic’ notions of fandom through their passion for football and respective clubs. The recent emergence of LGBT Fan Groups has provided sexual minority fans increased visibility, and a sense of belonging and community. Finally, despite ongoing concerns about football stadia’s hypermasculine and heteronormative environment, these fans believe that they have become an increasingly inclusive space. Accordingly, this article demonstrates that sexual minority fans are central to English football and argues that future research must acknowledge their increased prevalence.

Section: English Football Masculinity and Homophobiamentioning

confidence: 78%

Gay Male Football Fans’ Experiences: Authenticity, Belonging and Conditional Acceptance

2021

Sociology

“…The age demographic of these men ranged from US high school (typically aged between 14 and 17) to young elite professionals (aged between 18 and 26). Accordingly, all of these participants are categorized as 'millennials' iii and, as such, have likely grown-up in an era of low cultural homophobia (Twenge, Sherman and Wells, 2016;Watt and Elliot, 2019). The men came from a range of sporting backgrounds, such as lacrosse, American football, soccer, cross-country, track and field, hockey, and cricket.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gay male athletes’ coming-out stories on Outsports.com

International Review for the Sociology of Sport

Morales

2020

For two decades, Outsports.com – the world’s first website dedicated to the LGBT+ community’s experiences in sport – has provided sexual minority athletes with the opportunity to share their stories. In this research, we examine the published coming-out narratives of 60 out gay male athletes across a variety of different sports. Our analysis indicates that, prior to coming-out, many of these athletes felt the need to adopt an identity predicated on masculine stereotypes, thus distancing themselves from homosexuality. Upon coming-out to teammates, however, most of these athletes experienced acceptance and inclusivity which, in turn, led to improved health and wellbeing. Additionally, we document the changing nature of homosexually themed language on these men’s sports teams. Finally, we recognize the importance of mediums such as Outsports in providing athletes across the world the opportunity to share their coming-out stories. Accordingly, this research advances a body of evidence documenting sport’s growing inclusivity for the LGBT+ community.

“…The British Social Attitudes Survey (BSAS), for example, showed that, in 1983, 62% of the population believed that same-sex sex between consenting adults was 'always wrong' or 'mostly wrong'. Toward the end of the decade, this figure had increased to 75% of those sampled (Watt and Elliot 2019).…”

Section: Cricket Masculinity and Homophobiamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cultural attitudes toward homosexuality in the UK have improved significantly over the past two decades (Watt and Elliot 2019); indeed, the most recent BSAS showed that only 12% of those sampled believed same-sex sex to be 'always wrong'-down over 50% from three decades earlier. And despite ongoing claims that sport is slower to embrace social change than wider society, there is a plethora of evidence which documents sport's increased support for homosexuality (Anderson, Magrath and Bullingham 2016).…”

Section: Homophobia In Sport: 'It's Just Not Cricket'mentioning

confidence: 99%

Inclusionary and exclusionary banter: English club cricket, inclusive attitudes and male camaraderie

Lawless

2020

Sport in Society

Sport has traditionally been a hostile environment for lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people.More recently, however, research on a range of British sports has documented a considerable shift toward inclusivity for sexual minorities. Curiously, despite its global popularity, no research has yet measured attitudes in cricket. By drawing on 12 semi-structured interviews with a club cricket team in the South East of England, we show inclusive attitudes toward homosexuality in sport and society. We also explore how forms of 'banter' among members of the club are complex and multifaceted. Accordingly, we propose that banter in grassroots cricket can be conceptualized into 'inclusionary' forms (incorporating how a close team relationship can facilitate inclusive forms of banter) and 'exclusionary' forms (incorporating jokes which transgress acceptable forms of banter). This research therefore acts as a point of departure for further investigations of the operation of banter across different levels of sport.