<div class="quote_poster">Quoting virve119:</div><div class="quote_post">Well I guess this goes to show that not all gay people are born that way (which is the common excuse). I'm not gay-hating here, but I just can't see myself looking up to an NBA player if I knew he was gay, I mean honestly unbeliever, could you? But hey, that's just me. She may not want her young fans to look at her differently, but many of them will. Heck, little kids' parents may not want them idolizing a lesbian athletes, it could give them wrong ideas. It may be sad, but for a lot of people, she will no longer be known as sheryl Swoopes, the one with 3 golds, 3 mvps and 4 chips. For many less knowledgeable fans, she'll probably be known as the "gay one".</div> Yea i agree with you, I have no problem with Swoopes being gay but im sure gay haters will start hating her. Im sure when her team is on the road playing against a team, i bet at least one gay hater, will make an inappriote sign or say something inapproite to her.
it's not just sheryl trust me: <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Is Diana Taurasi a lesbian? Does it matter if she is? WNBA Star admits to crush on a woman I don’t want to start rumors about someone’s sexual orientation, but for many years we gays and lesbians have had to read between the lines to figure out who is gay or not. WNBA star Diana Taurasi recently made some comments that had me wondering if she is a lesbian. </div> Link not that there's anything wrong with that.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting unbeliever:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm curious, was the driver wearing a shirt that said "Sheryl Swoopes' Gay Lover"? Or were you just using your "gaydar"?</div> Yeah.....The chick she was with had a fade, and looked more manly than most guys do. Put two and two together, and you have a closet lesbian (atleast not now)
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting deception:</div><div class="quote_post">its amazing how tribal people still are about homosexuality. her claiming that she wasn't born gay is going to irk lots of homosexuals i think.</div> I'm not even sure what that means in regards to my post, but at face value.. I don't think it's going to "irk lots of homosexuals" because quite honestly most of them just won't care. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Purple Fever:</div><div class="quote_post">Look how open minded all these people in this thread are, but I'm quite sure you'll feel a lot different if an NBA superstar comes out and says he was gay. Afterall, 5% of the NBA are gay, according to the Tracy McGrady Stats Tracker?.</div> Why would you make the assumption that it would matter if someone came out, just because it was a different league? What someone else prefers in their partner in terms of personality, gender, etc has no impact whatsoever on my life, at all. If they're a good person who treats other people decently, *that* is what counts. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rock4life:</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah.....The chick she was with had a fade, and looked more manly than most guys do. Put two and two together, and you have a closet lesbian (atleast not now)</div> Gaydar then, gotcha. I dunno, maybe it's because I'm not burdened by some archaic set of religious pseudo-morals, but people's sexual preferences really don't bother me, at all. First off it's none of my business and second of all, if they're all consenting adults.. we simply do not have the right to tell them how to live their lives.
I just don't want little girls to look at WNBA players and say, "I want to be gay now". I mean let's be honest here, when you were in highschool, 85% of the girls on the basketball team were obviously lesbian. Not the closet lesbian, but the "macho, I'll beat your a** Lesbian." I have no interest in what your sexuality is as a female (unless your Bi, but I won't go there). But when I watch the WNBA, I want to see "women" compete. Not women who look like I do (a guy). What's wrong with being a lady these days? Anyway, Swoopes is courageous for coming out. She opened the door for the whole league to come out now. So I guess that's a good thing, or maybe not. I don't know
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting unbeliever:</div><div class="quote_post"> Why would you make the assumption that it would matter if someone came out, just because it was a different league? What someone else prefers in their partner in terms of personality, gender, etc has no impact whatsoever on my life, at all. If they're a good person who treats other people decently, *that* is what counts. </div> Because almost 95% of the people who follow this league are men, and believe it or not, we see it differently if woman admits she prefers her own gender than for a guy to do so. Just becuase we are guys. You may not want to believe this, but it's a fact nonetheless. A sad one.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rock4life:</div><div class="quote_post">I just don't want little girls to look at WNBA players and say, "I want to be gay now". </div> It really doesn't work that way in 99% of the cases. It might make some people more comfortable and confident enough to come out and be who they feel they are, which is an incredibly positive thing in my opinion. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Purple Fever:</div><div class="quote_post">Because almost 95% of the people who follow this league are men, and believe it or not, we see it differently if woman admits she prefers her own gender than for a guy to do so. Just becuase we are guys. You may not want to believe this, but it's a fact nonetheless. A sad one.</div> Yeah, I get it. I just happen to think it's ignorant and a waste of one's energies. I have no problem with other people having different opinions about moral judgements they may care to make. You don't think being gay is "right"? That's fine, I support your right to have that opinion. I guess I just don't understand why any rational and compassionate person can think that way. Which is just my own opinion of course.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">It really doesn't work that way in 99% of the cases. It might make some people more comfortable and confident enough to come out and be who they feel they are, which is an incredibly positive thing in my opinion. </div> Can you back up that stat? If that's true then 1 out of every 100 girls following the WNBA would become gay because of this. I don't know how many fans they have, but that would work out to a very sizeable number (I know you were just being figurative with that stat, but even still, I'm just trying to prove a point). And if it's true that Taurasi is a lesbian too, then that's two of their biggest stars coming out of the closet. Some parents may not be wanting their kids to watch the WNBA anymore if they find out that many of the stars are openly gay. If I had a hid, that's probably what I would think. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah, I get it. I just happen to think it's ignorant and a waste of one's energies. I have no problem with other people having different opinions about moral judgements they may care to make. You don't think being gay is "right"? That's fine, I support your right to have that opinion. I guess I just don't understand why any rational and compassionate person can think that way. Which is just my own opinion of course.</div> That is you, and just like they have the right to be gay, others have the right to look strangely on that. You may not be one of them, but some people do, and that is their right (as long as they don't harrass them). It is different though, and that's why people look at it strangely. Here is an analogy. Would you look strangely on a tribe of people who were cannibalistic (for arguments sake, lets say that they only cannibalize those that are already dead). That's the way that they were brought up in their tribe, and it is completely normal to them, but many (if not all) of us would still be disgusted by that.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting virve119:</div><div class="quote_post">That is you, and just like they have the right to be gay, others have the right to look strangely on that. You may not be one of them, but some people do, and that is their right (as long as they don't harrass them). It is different though, and that's why people look at it strangely. Here is an analogy. Would you look strangely on a tribe of people who were cannibalistic (for arguments sake, lets say that they only cannibalize those that are already dead). That's the way that they were brought up in their tribe, and it is completely normal to them, but many (if not all) of us would still be disgusted by that.</div> I live my life by two main ideals. Compassion and responsibility. A group of people that eat their dead violate neither of those two things. If, however, they killed someone to eat them, that I would judge as morally wrong. Does it digust me? Objectively and being removed from the immediacy of the fact, not really, no. If I was there watching it happen, yeah it might. But that's just a matter of social conditioning and not a moral judgement in itself. We're straying fairly off-topic here though. As to athlete/role-model types coming out as gay, that simply does not bother me. And since I don't find their sexual preferences relevant or inherently "wrong", I don't find it to be a problem. Also, I *do* have kids and as long as they're happy and not hurting other people, I have no problem with them being gay. It's their life, their choice and I only care that they're happy while at least trying to meet my aforementioned standard of compassion and responsibility. *shrug*
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting unbeliever:</div><div class="quote_post"> Yeah, I get it. I just happen to think it's ignorant and a waste of one's energies. I have no problem with other people having different opinions about moral judgements they may care to make. You don't think being gay is "right"? That's fine, I support your right to have that opinion. I guess I just don't understand why any rational and compassionate person can think that way. Which is just my own opinion of course.</div> I have never said being gay isn't "right"; nor have I ever showed any refute towards the concept of homosexuality and the people who possess it. I just made a logical generalization that most male fans who follow this league closely would take it differntly if an NBA star came out of the closet. Wether I share the same beliefs with these people or disagree with them is a different story and I didn't say anything.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting unbeliever:</div><div class="quote_post">It really doesn't work that way in 99% of the cases. It might make some people more comfortable and confident enough to come out and be who they feel they are, which is an incredibly positive thing in my opinion.</div> I disagree. Think about all the little 8 year old girls who dream of being in the WNBA and look up to Swoopes. They probably emulate everything up to Swoope's facial expressions. But I think the biggest problem is the lack of "women" in the WNBA. After all, it's WOMENS NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION. So why do most of the women try so hard to look like "men". Just my observation. I think that's why the league doesn't have broader fan base. If most NBA players wore make up and lipstick, would you watch them?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rock4life:</div><div class="quote_post">I disagree. Think about all the little 8 year old girls who dream of being in the WNBA and look up to Swoopes. They probably emulate everything up to Swoope's facial expressions. But I think the biggest problem is the lack of "women" in the WNBA. After all, it's WOMENS NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION. So why do most of the women try so hard to look like "men". Just my observation. I think that's why the league doesn't have broader fan base. If most NBA players wore make up and lipstick, would you watch them?</div> That's where you're not getting my take on this; Yes I would still watch. Why? Because I enjoy watching professional basketball. Oh and, remember Rodman? He was still fun as hell to watch play, despite (and sometimes because of) his off-court antics. Furthermore, I have no problem with an 8 year-old girl looking up to anyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender, as long as that role-model is a "good" person. Example, I'd have no problem with my daughter looking up to Swoopes but I would take issue if she started idolizing, say, Mike Tyson.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting unbeliever:</div><div class="quote_post">That's where you're not getting my take on this; Yes I would still watch. Why? Because I enjoy watching professional basketball. Oh and, remember Rodman? He was still fun as hell to watch play, despite (and sometimes because of) his off-court antics..</div> Fair enough, but a whole league of Rodman's is a little pushing it. That's my point. I have no problem with Rodman's sexual preference, but when he starts wearing make up during the game, then that's when I get a litte distracted. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting unbeliever:</div><div class="quote_post">Furthermore, I have no problem with an 8 year-old girl looking up to anyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender, as long as that role-model is a "good" person. Example, I'd have no problem with my daughter looking up to Swoopes but I would take issue if she started idolizing, say, Mike Tyson.</div> But ya see, what if your 8yr old girl started acting manly because watching the WNBA? Wouldn't that be a problem...........
Personally I think homosexuality is wrong, and it is obviously intended that men get married and procreate with a woman. I don't necessarily think the person who engages in homosexuality is bad, its just the act they perform is. Just my input.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rock4life:</div><div class="quote_post">But ya see, what if your 8yr old girl started acting manly because watching the WNBA? Wouldn't that be a problem...........</div> Not really, no. As long as she was happy.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting SkiptoMyLue11:</div><div class="quote_post">Personally I think homosexuality is wrong, and it is obviously intended that men get married and procreate with a woman. I don't necessarily think the person who engages in homosexuality is bad, its just the act they perform is. Just my input.</div> Intended by whom? Nature? Certaintly not, there is lots of homosexuality in the animal world. In fact, monogamous relationships (ie, marriage) are against our nature. Which is part of why the divorce rate is so high.
I'm not homophobic or anything, and to be honest I don't care if gays/lesbos do stuff. I just don't want to see it. I find it very nasty. As bad as it sounds, when I think of gay men, I get visions of monkeys. It's not pleasant. And with women.. tongues. But anyways.. Is it really our business about these peoples sexual preferences? If she felt like coming out of her closet, thats wonderful, however - Do we really need to know? Or even better do we care? Because before we know it.. we'll see more of this:
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting unbeliever:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm curious, was the driver wearing a shirt that said "Sheryl Swoopes' Gay Lover"? Or were you just using your "gaydar"? Why? How would his sexual preference impact, in any way, his position as a basketball legend and idol? Last time I checked, that wasn't one of the stats the league tracks. <font color="red">Please use the 'edit' button in the future. ~Locke</font></div> Yeaaaaaaaaaaa, um. Dictionary.com defines idol as: a-An image used as an object of worship. b-A false god. c-One that is adored, often blindly or excessively. I simply could not idol him (that is MJ if he were gay...damn I hate saying that). He isn't "An image used as an object of worship" in my book if he were gay. I would respect his skills and achievements, but he wouldn't be some one I would want to follow. I don't just idolize his game, but him, his personality, his confidence, his hardships that he has overcome... I respect the fact that you could idolize a homosexual, so please respect the fact that I can't. lol (i am not making fun of you in any way either, but this is a sensitive subject for some)
*shrug*, it's a bit of a moot point anyway, re: idols, since I don't idolize anyone, gay or straight. Any energy you might waste on concerning yourself that much with someone else is best directed towards self-improvement.
i dont think thats a very nice way to put it, in the title of this thread. She didnt just jump out and say "Im gay".
