A study by the German sport University shows that homophobia in European sports continues to be a Problem. In England, the Premier League footballers and other athletes to set a sign against homophobia.
Sport is often seen as the big stage of life, all are the same, and sold. As a Prime example of the pure power principle. But so far, it is not with the equality in sports, apparently.
The German sport University in Cologne (DSHS) published at the beginning of the month, the first results of a Europe-wide study of the 5,500 people took part. Thereafter, nine out of ten respondents from the LGBTI community, LGBTI is the acronym for the lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and inter-sexual note. d. Red.] of the opinion that there is in the Sport of homophobia and transphobia.
The most common derogatory Remarks (82 percent of respondents) and sexual discrimination (75 percent). One in five Respondents reported violent clashes, more than a third spoke of “physical Violations”.
Professor Ilse Hartmann-Tews, who was part of the DSHS Team, who led the study, told DW that the experiences in the 28 EU countries are very different. Although it was a comprehensive analysis of the results is still too early, however, now say that the sports organisations should do more to address these problems.
“Kick it Out”, a leading British anti-discrimination group that focuses on football, reported recently that the cases of homophobia in British football had increased in the last season, to nine percent. “Kick it Out” sees this as evidence of a General Trend of increasing discrimination.
Stonewall puts exclamation point
But there is a glimmer of light. On Friday evening, the Stonewall FC occurs – of the most successful LGBT football club in the world – in an English Amateur League game against Wilberforce Wanderers. Not just anywhere, but in venerable Wembley stadium in London. Team Manager Eric Najib occurs to some extent in the footsteps of Sir Alex Ferguson, Jurgen Klopp, Jose Mourinho and many other football greats who have played with their Teams in that place, the many as the spiritual home of football par excellence.
Manchester-City-coach Pep Guardiola during last year’s Rainbow Laces campaign
Najib is since 2001, the Stonewall FC, which had been founded a decade earlier. His experience, Najib said the DW, agreed with the results of the DSHS study. On the contrary, he is experiencing increasing respect and more tolerance in Stonewall’s sporting opponents, in his opinion, a reflection of the attitude within the company.
“For example, we played once against a team from Spain. On the place there was no Problem,” says Najib. “But afterwards, the players wanted to come out of the locker room, after we had left the grounds. I don’t know what you thought, what would happen. But they felt, apparently, just uncomfortable.”
The ratio had changed in the meantime thoroughly. “Within two or three years, in which we will play in the same League and the same faces, is from a ‘hi’ ‘How are you?’ and ‘How’s your season going?’. With familiarity everything is human.”
The game in the English national stadium is part of the “Rainbow Laces”campaign by Stonewall, the LGBT charity organization that is associated with the Team. Football players in the Premier League, international Rugby players, Darts players and athletes from all kinds of sports wear since November, rainbow-coloured laces on their shoes to show their support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and Transgender players and Fans.
Rainbow-Coloured Laces
So the national Rugby teams from France and new Zealand competed last week in the colours of the rainbow laced boots against Wales, to support the former Rugby Star Gareth Thomas, the victim of a homophobic was Robbery. The 44-year-old former Welsh international player since 2009, is open to his homosexuality.
In the German Sport although there are similar campaigns and initiatives, but not in the same order of magnitude as the “Rainbow Laces”. The German Olympic sports Confederation (DOSB), which represents about 27 million members of the Association, the Sport is nevertheless on the right track. “The way in which the whole of society develops in terms of homosexuality, contributes to the fact that the Sport opens more and more,” said Kirsten Witte-Abe of the DOSB Department “equal opportunities and diversity” of the DW.
“Well-known athletes like [former German national soccer player] of Thomas Hitzlsperger or [beach volleyball at the Olympic games] Kira Walkenhorst also help to raise awareness by publicly acknowledged their homosexuality.”
Different approach in Germany
The German football League (DFL) has brought about Anti-discrimination programmes. She works with Gay organizations to raise the awareness of the clubs and the players. That is, shows the fact that far from all the clubs of the first and second Bundesliga have the campaign “football for diversity”.
Thomas Hitzlsperger is one of the few Top players who have been outed as gay
A DFL representative said the DW, the Association of note currently, there is no increase of homophobia in German football, even if there is no concrete Numbers. You take the Problem seriously. Currently, the DFL plan, no separate action during certain games, in order to set a sign against homophobia and transphobia – as it is the Association with its campaigns against racism and for refugees had done.
In contrast to the DFL, the German football ignored-Bund (DFB), repeated requests to the DW on this topic. Fortunately for Stonewall FC and the team Manager Najib, the English Association FA was more open-minded. “Some of the people with whom or under whose direction I used to play football, wept on the phone when you are out of the game at Wembley heard,” says Najib. “As much as we are from the Stonewall FC, the happy Team, the benefits of the game, I think that it is a celebration for all LGBT football teams.”
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