A Response to a Comment...

An anonymous commenter, oh how I love them, made their respectful comment in regards to my rant on the OutGames that I posted last weekend. It reads:

"If you bothered to investigate, you would learn that the Outgames are open to everyone, regardless of sexual orientation. Approximately 10% of the participating athletes are heterosexual. So there is in fact nothing segregated about these games.

The reality for gay athletes who find themselves competing at the elite level, is that they almost always have to conceal their sexual orientation because of threats to their safety, not to mention the financial consequences. Can you imagine if an athlete in the NHL, NBA, NFL or MLB came out? It would likely be akin to what Jackie Robininson had to endure - taunts and death threats.

I cannot think of a single male pro athlete who has come out while still active in their sport. The only ones that I am aware of came out after retirement. That alone is testament to the fact that society still has a long way to go in terms of accepting this segment of humanity.

Dude it's not about having more rights than anyone else. It's about being treated with the dignity and respect that all people deserve.

Sincerely,
Straight Female in Montreal"

The one point that really kinda fires me up was the Jackie Robinson part of the comment. Jackie Robinson was a crusader for equality and he had to endure intolerance to his race. He had to endure it. He may have been able to take the easy road and play in the Negro leagues, but he didn't. He didn't break off and create his own team or his own league... he wanted to be equal and play in the best league in America. And he did... he's a great man because of it.

If you looked at the Negro leagues then, it continued to segregate the black community from equal rights, because they felt scared by the white community and fear is what drove racial hostility in those decades. Jackie Robinson showed courage to bring the black community up to a higher standing in America and if no one wants to do it in the gay community, there will be no tolerance for it, because there isn't a benchmark to stand upon.

Segregation on their own part will hurt the gay community, because very few people show respect for a group or organization that keeps to themselves. Despite the 10% heterosexual participation of the OutGames, it's still called the OutGames. Now, the Out community itself is far more sensitive and far more progressive in the tolerance beliefs, that's granted... but I'm sure there will be some intolerance from the hetero community towards those who participated in these games and isn't gay.

There is a level or respect that is missing everywhere... 'the why can't I's' of the world hurt everything for everyone. Something has to give... I fear it won't be soon though.