Positive Gay Message

[eggwards]

Tonight, Randy lostncove asked several Live Journalers to call his brother, Mitch, and give him a message about gays that would counteract the message preached to him at the conservative Christian college he attends.

I had an opportunity to try this a few weeks ago when Randy handed me the phone in an Austin parking garage and told me to give the Positive Gay Message for Mitch a shot. Unfortunately, He never got the message, since he lost his phone. Now with his phone restored, I get to be heard!

The message is about the same as the one I ad-libbed a few weeks ago, though I think the endings a little more serious. when I got out of work today at 8 pm CST, I gave him a call from the parking garage.

Since I actually scripted it, here's the message:




Mitch, My name is Michael Edwards, I live in Houston, Texas where tonight it's a nice 60 degrees. I've have met your brother while he's been here in Austin, and I'm on Live Journal. My LJ nickname is Eggwards. He loves you very much, and wants you to have this positive gay message.

I tried to give you this message a few weeks ago as I was visiting your brother in Austin, but unfortunately you lost your phone. I'm glad I have this opportunity to give you this message.

Let's talk about the homoerotic aspects of Pro Football in the US and Canada. Pro football is a sport that is considered violent and masculine, but there are aspects that show the true gay roots of the sport. Let's look at them.

1. There's a bunch of large, sweaty men running into each other, jumping on top of each other, and grinding their body parts into those of their fellow competitors.

2. They pat each other on the butt.

3. They shower together, not just on game day, but almost every day.

4. They've worn such colors as orange, powder blue, teal, and pewter. Colors that no straight person would choose for a uniform.

Yes, while the homophobia of several players tries to deny these facts, Dave Kopay, and Esera Tuaolo have proved that there are gay brethren who do play the sport. They provide hope for others who play the sport and are hiding their true nature. They bravely are forging the future for other gays to come out and play this truly gay sport.

Mitch, thanks for listening to this Positive Gay Message, and thanks for being supportive in the face of intolerance and ignorance. 

Comments

[standardtom.livejournal.com]

Absolutely great message, Michael.

I was just reading it to my partner, Derek, and he brought up one other thing about football to think about: that special physical relationship between the quarterback and the center. Yeah!

[eggwards.livejournal.com]

Damn! You're so right! How could I forget the fact that the quarterback is always bending over to grab the center's balls!

A missed opportunity.

[standardtom.livejournal.com]

And I've seen a number of football centers whose balls were worth grabbing.

[aadroma.livejournal.com]

I, sadly, do remember the Tuaolo interview, where they interviewed various other players, one of which stated that had Tuaolo come out during his football career, he would have gotten severe retribution from it, and it was echoed by many others. Kind of disappointing :P

[eggwards.livejournal.com]

The jock mentality is just the thing I'm trying to skewer. The comments from Jeremy Shockey and Garrison Hearst recently show that the same homophobic attitude exists as it has for years in team sports. Of course, the media is also on a witch hunt to try to out an active player in both football and baseball - see Mike Piazza. While they'd love to get the big scoop, they don't seem to understand the real ramifications the outing would have for a player. Hatred and rejection would eventually throw all but the toughest men off the team. The jocks who've come out after their playing days have acknowledged this. I don't know if any man is ready to become sports next "Jackie Robinson" breaking the sexual preference barrier.

However, the media barely acknowledges the lesbian impact in women's basketball.

[listens2kids.livejournal.com]

Points 1-4 cracked me up. *smile* I'm sure his brother will love the message.

[eggwards.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Most of that was drummed out of me in Austin one night, I just had to remember what I said.

I forgot about the jockstraps and tight pants with shoulder pads look! Damn! I knew I was forgetting something!

Re:

[listens2kids.livejournal.com]

Don't forget Daisy Dukes! *laugh* A gay fashion staple.

Really gay? Try boxing!

[ilorsodirettore.livejournal.com]

I have a video tape of an all-gay stand-up comedy show from a few years back, one of the comics said this:

"I don't like sports, don't like 'em. Except boxing! I love boxing...(you do, too, that's great...) What other sport has two men in satin shorts fighting over a belt? Amd they do it in gloves! And the winner gets a purse!! Its the accessory connection that I love!"

Let them straight boys chew on THAT for a while!