Red Card Homophobia Celebrates its One Year Anniversary
As the first year of Red Card Homophobia comes to a close, we would like to take a look back at how the organization began, and the accomplishments that have been made over the past 365 days. We would also like to take this opportunity to extend our gracious thanks to everyone who played a role in keeping the RCH mission alive.
Red Card Homophobia began a year ago when a few football fans decided to come together to make a difference. They decided to put their words into actions and start an organization to spread the word about ending homophobia in the beautiful game. The accomplishments during our first year have been larger than what we initially expected.
We worked to spread the word through social networking sites. Our Twitter account has more than 1,000 followers. Professional footballers such as Glen Johnson and Charlie Adam have retweeted our message to give homophobia the red card. Our Facebook page has been “liked” by nearly 2,000 people and growing.
In addition to social networking sites, our website www.RedCardHomophobia.com has accumulated 41,261 hits since going live. Thanks to our wonderful writers, 71 articles have been posted this past year. A Red Card Homophobia online shop, where people can buy official merchandise with the RCH logo, was also put up. The shop is mainly for our followers, so they can show their support for RCH and spread our mission outside of the online world.
One of RCH’s biggest accomplishments this year was when one of the RCH moderators got in contact with the Dutch football club AFC Ajax to inform the players of our goal. With the permission of Ajax, five of their players agreed to have their picture taken with the RCH logo to show their support in ending homophobia in football.
Red Card Homophobia is a collaborative effort. We would like to sincerely thank the many amazing people who have contributed their precious time and energy to secure the growth of this humble organization. We would like to thank everyone who has worked with us this past year — whether you tweeted our #redcardhomophobia Twitter hashtag, wrote at least one article for the website, or just mentioned RCH to your friends. No contribution was and will ever be too large or too small. You are deeply appreciated.
And now, the second year begins. The RCH team will work harder to help the organization grow and accomplish our mission. With new ideas and your help, we hope this coming year will be brighter and better for Red Card Homophobia.
The road to end homophobia is a long and difficult path, but we are on our way. With your cooperation, we can make this world a more beautiful place to live in, not just for football players, but for everyone.
Adelaide United’s Levchenko supports coming out of gay players
Levchenko during training with Adelaide United. Photo credit: AdelaideNow
Newly signed Adelaide United player Evgeniy “Lev” Levchenko is never unassertive when it comes to his beliefs. After appearing on the cover of L’HOMO, Levchenko again showed his support for gay football players.
Speaking with AdelaideNow, the Ukranian midfielder shared his passion for cars, social networking, football, and gay rights.
“You know, for me, it’s just like living in prison,” said Levchenko about homosexual football players who choose not to come out. “There are gay football players, but they won’t come out because they’re scared. I know many of them don’t live a normal life and that is the issue. You don’t have to [come out] – but do it if you want to.”
Levchenko, who is heterosexual, became more vocal about his support in gay players when one of his friends decided to go public with his homosexuality. “I understood him. [I felt like] he was hiding his feelings and emotions all of his life,” he said. Levchenko shared that his football friend is now happier since his coming out. The tragic death of Justin Fashanu, who also played for a football club in Adelaide, was another defining moment that led to Levchenko’s passionate advocacy for gay rights.
Source: [AdelaideNow]
Follow Evgeniy Levchenko (@elevchenko) on Twitter.
- N.E.
Gay and Gay Friendly Football Clubs: The Prejudices Team
In the first article in our series on gay and gay-friendly football clubs around the world we look at the Prejudices Team from the Netherlands. We spoke with Marloes, who worked with the Prejudices Team as part of a graduation project and is also a member of Red Card Homophobia.
When was the team formed?
In the summer of 2009, when Ed Wallinga, alderman in the municipality of Enschede started
with this whole idea. He is gay himself and wanted to do something against intolerance and
discrimination. He thought that competing in football would be the best instrument to reach
those goals.
Can you explain the idea behind creating the Prejudices Team?
Certainly. The original idea was to have an entirely gay football team. That soon turned into a very diverse team with many different backgrounds, not only gay people but people with disabilities, immigrants, people suffering from manic depression, women, et cetera. Anyone who might have to deal with certain prejudices. The thought behind it was, when you let this “special” team play against a “normal” team, and let them discuss some things afterwards, you can make certain prejudices less of a taboo. The team wants nothing else. We are very realistic about not being able to get rid of prejudice in this world.
What has been the overall reception you have received since forming the team?
At first the media attention was huge. Not just locally, but nationally as well. Even Louis van
Gaal wished us good luck and called it a “good idea”. Though of course not all responses
were positive ones. An important sports journalist, Johan Derksen, who always has a strong
opinion about things, said it was “a ridiculous plan”.
Ed Wallinga’s conclusion was that at least it gives people something to think about. And
that’s exactly what we strive for.
Has the team gained any local attention?
So far we have played matches against a lot of local amateur clubs. We also participate in
other activities and try to get as much interesting local parties involved as possible. But I
must say we also try to look further than just the region Twente and that we approach national
organisations for partnerships as well.
How many members does the team have?
There isn’t an exact number, because it changes a lot. There is a base team consisting of about
14 players and around it are people who are occasionally called up to play along. We are
always looking for more members. Especially people who can actually play a decent game of
football. *laughs* That way we have a better chance at impressing the other team. *winks*
Where does the team practice and play games?
The team have done so in the past, but right now they don’t practice together. The games they
play are mostly played in the city Enschede and the surrounding area. We don’t have our own
field but come and visit amateur football clubs.
What plans do you have for the team in the future?
The Prejudice Team project leader, Nick Thies, made the decision to let the team be part of a
bigger whole. He expanded the Prejudice Team with other activities, such as a RespectCafé
and the RespectQuiz that accompanies it. The RespectCafé provides an amateur football club
with a very amusing evening + a serious undertone. As for the future, there are even plans of
handing out special prejudice awards next year. And of course getting even more interesting
parties involved.
If one of our readers was interested in joining the team how could they go about that?
They would have to live close to the region Twente in the Netherlands. If they contact me at marloes.rchomophobia@gmail.com I will gladly redirect them to the project leader. By the way, there are people in Amsterdam who are also interested in forming a similar team. So if anyone in another country is thinking “this sounds like something I want to do as well”, they should definitely also contact me.
And finally what has been your most memorable experience with the Prejudices Team?
When we played against a group of young men from an ethnic minority who had started their
own football team. Afterwards, when they were asked “So who do you think is the gay
person on this prejudice team? And who do you think is the psychiatric patient?” one of them
said: “But why do we need to know that? We played a nice game, isn’t that enough? Does it
really matter?” A valuable lesson.
For more information on the Prejudices Team you can visit their website: http://fcvooroordelen.wordpress.com/ (website in Dutch).
Red Card Homophobia are pleased to announce a new series of articles that will be debuting later this week which focus on gay and gay-friendly football clubs around the world. The articles will be in the form of Q & A, and will look at all aspects of these clubs, including their history, memorable moments, and the affect they have had at the local and even national level combating homophobia in football and sport in general. We have covered stories on gay football clubs before, such as Stonewall FC founder Aslie Pitter being honoured as a Member of the British Empire and matches and events part of Football v Homophobia, and received favorable input from supporters so we hope this new series will be popular as well.
If you are a part of, or know of any club, that would be interested in being interviewed for this series please send us an email.
Justin Fashanu to be Honoured in New Biography
Next year will see the release of a biography of former Norwich City player Justin Fashanu, whose career as the only openly gay footballer of his time is the inspiration for movements like Red Card Homophobia and the Justin Campaign, named in his honour.
Canadian writer and former broadcast journalist Nick Baker is behind the biography, and hopes to bring the story of Fashanu’s life to a new generation of football fans, particularly to highlight his bravery in the face of an overwhelmingly homophobic football culture. “The reason I am writing the book is because I believe it is long overdue,” Baker says. “Justin was not only Britain’s first million pound black footballer but also the first professional football player in the world to disclose he was gay. The decision to tell the world was incredibly brave, especially in an era that was predominantly homophobic.”
After making the courageous and unprecedented decision to come out in 1990, Justin Fashanu faced constant discrimination from both football crowds and the people who were to shape his career – teammates and managers alike. His brother, John, publicly criticised Justin’s sexuality, and he was unable to secure a full-time contract with a football club after his decision, despite his fitness and form. Justin committed suicide in 1998 following allegations of sexual assault.
Though Justin’s life and career ended tragically and prematurely, he left behind a legacy that continues to inspire those who believe in equal rights and challenge the homophobia that dominates football. As Baker says, “Today, more than 15 years later other professional sports people are finally following his lead, like the rugby player Gareth Thomas and cricketer Steven Davies, but it was Justin who took the initial stand. That should never be forgotten.” Gareth Thomas has agreed to write the foreword for the biography.
Baker remains in the research stages of his book. He says, “I would really love to interview anyone who knew Justin in Norwich back then – old friends, teammates, coaching staff, acquaintances outside the club – anyone who knew him in some way.” He encourages anyone who can contribute to the making of this important book to email him at nick@makebelievemedia.com.
- I.G.
Source: Norwich Evening News 24
Cameron Condemns Homophobia in Sport
David Cameron’s supporters have hailed him as a young politician, one who is in touch with the times and understands the needs of Britain today. Just before coming under intense political pressure due to his links to the Murdoch media empire, British Prime Minister David Cameron wrote an article for pinknews.co.uk in which he condemned homophobia in sport 1.
Cameron’s message that homophobia is unacceptable is a laudable one. Whether Cameron’s interest in and support of football is genuine has been called into question 2; this doesn’t change the fact that he realises that the current homophobic messages that can be heard in many football stadiums is outdated and stifling soccer as a sport. This article is also a positive turnaround from Cameron’s shambolic Gay Times interview3. Despite this shaky start Cameron has hosted a number of receptions focused on gay rights including an event which focused on homophobia in sport. With the Olympics soon to be hosted in London, sport will take over England’s capital city providing a platform to highlight homophobia in sport.
However, Cameron must now continue to advance the anti-homophobia message in football rather than use these issues to superficially retain votes while doing nothing of note to help those suffering from discrimination. Perhaps if Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband devoted a small amount of time to decrying homophobia in any of the many varying mainstream public forums available to them then perhaps homophobia would become a higher priority in Westminster and penetrate the consciousness of Britain as a whole.
Sources: [1 Pink News ] [2 Political Scrapbook ] [ 3 Gay Times Interview - Video]
Homosexuality and Women’s Football
With the Women’s World Cup just ending, the high-profile event has brought attention to issues for gay female players. In contrast to the news coverage of the Nigerian women’s national team, who claimed to have ‘cleansed’ their team of lesbian players, the current FIFA #2 ranked-team, Germany has taken a more accepting view of homosexuals in football as a national team and as a host country.
FIFA Must Commit to Anti-Homophobia Campaign
In our campaign for the eradication of homophobia in football, one of the issues that we at Red Card Homophobia have repeatedly highlighted is the need for top-down reform from the game’s most powerful bodies. Being a grass-roots organisation, we understand the importance of reaching out to football supporters one by one, to change attitudes and foster a more accepting environment in which gay football players can be as open and proud as their straight counterparts.
But authorities such as FIFA, UEFA and national football associations must explicitly renounce homophobia if these bottom-up initiatives are to have their desired effect. The ultimate goal is to put every player, staff member and supporter on a level playing field, regardless of sexual orientation. As long as homophobic attitudes are tolerated by these authorities, we will not have achieved real change.
The reason why this is such an imperative is that recent pushes to achieve FIFA support for the anti-homophobia crusade have been met with disappointing levels of apathy and a distinct lack of commitment. In December last year, Qatar was handed hosting duties for the 2022 World Cup amid widespread concerns regarding how its traditionally homophobic laws would affect players and supporters from the LGBTQ community. In response to questions as to how FIFA, with its famous anti-discrimination campaign, would handle these concerns, President Sepp Blatter callously joked that “they should refrain from any sexual activities”. For an organisation that prides itself on its policies of inclusion and acceptance, Blatter’s comments and FIFA’s reluctance to address the issue represents several steps backward in an era that is supposed to represent progressivism.
Also last year, president of Croatian football Vladimir Markovic forbade the presence of gay footballers in Croatian football, arguing that “only healthy people” were welcome. FIFA did not condemn the statement outright, and thus prompted a vast outcry from supporters of the LGBTQ community demanding that FIFA cease to implicitly support such homophobic attitudes.
More recently, FIFA dismissed a comment by Nigerian women’s football coach, Eucharia Uche, claiming that homosexuality was “spiritually, morally very wrong” and that “divine intervention” had saved her team from housing any lesbian players. Despite public outrage at the fact that a football institution itself has been propounding anti-gay messages, FIFA declined to comment on them, let alone condemn them. As Joanie Evans, co-president of the International Gay and Lesbian Football Association says, “Women in sport are seen as a poor relation as it is. To discriminate against women again because of their sexuality is really damaging.”
It appeared that, with the Women’s World Cup this year, FIFA was set to take a step in the right direction. Robert Kastl, organiser of Berlin’s annual Gay Pride Parade, had secured use of the square in front of the Brandenburg Gate for June 25, the night before the World Cup was to commence. FIFA, seeking to use the square for its World Cup opening event, agreed with Kastl’s condition that it would issue an official public statement denouncing homophobia and place homophobia alongside racism and hooliganism on the list of FIFA’s highest anti-discrimination concerns. However, FIFA ultimately decided against using the venue and thus failed to follow through on its anti-homophobia promises.
Had FIFA taken this first crucial step against homophobia, as it came so close to doing, it would have sent a strong message to member football associations such as those of Nigeria and Croatia that football is no longer stuck in a bigoted past and no longer tolerates discrimination on the basis of sexuality. FIFA’s talk on anti-discrimination would have been strengthened by the fact that it no longer turned a blind eye to homophobia, one of the most pervasive and entrenched forms of discrimination. However, FIFA remains firmly rooted in a comfortable, cowardly position of apathy, and continues to promote the assumption that football is a ‘straight’ sport through its consistent failures to speak out.
At Red Card Homophobia, we reissue our urgent call for FIFA to stop ignoring the growing demands from individuals and groups around the world for action against homophobia. As we grow more and more diverse and accepting, so too must football and the people who represent it. Here’s hoping that the next time FIFA is handed an opportunity to denounce homophobia like the one provided by Robert Kastl, it chooses to seize it and bring football into a new age.
- I.G.
Sources: [The Daily Beast] [The New York Times]
Eucharia Uche believes some of her players are gay and says it is morally wrong. Photo credit: NYT
With the ongoing Women’s World Cup (WWC), top female football teams have captured the attention of sports fans around the globe with their exciting matches and skills. Even though they have bowed out of WWC, Nigeria’s national female football team continues to gain more buzz. Unfortunately, it is neither because of the players’ talents nor their achievements.
Eucharia Uche, who is head coach of Nigeria’s female football NT, has imposed a strict no lesbian policy in the team, sparking debate in various websites and communities. To aid her in deciding whether a member of her team is straight or gay, Uche claimed to rely on rumors and speculation.
In a phone interview with The New York Times, 38-year-old Uche said, “I came to realize [lesbianism] is not a physical battle; we need divine intervention in order to control and curb it.” This divine intervention plan from Uche includes regularly inviting Pentecostal ministers to pray with and counsel her players, Bible readings and prayer sessions.
Aside from Uche, FIFA also received the angry backlash of football fans and LGBT communities for being lenient about homophobia issues such as this. FIFA has responded that no action can be made about Nigeria’s case since no official complaints have been submitted.
An LGBT movement, All Out, has organized an online petition to call out Uche’s homophobic behavior and to encourage FIFA to be proactive about the issue. As of July 7, All Out has reported 45,000 signatures and counting.
Demand that FIFA take a stand against homophobia. Click HERE to sign All Out’s online petition.
- N.E.
Updates and News
Another Ajax player has agreed to allow us to share their photo as part of our campaign to end homophobia in football. Thank you Vurnon Anita!
As some of you may remember we did an article last month covering the Dutch magazine L’HOMO which featured many athletes in a discussion on homosexuality in sports. That article can be found here. We now have a full translation of the interviews that current and ex- football players did for the magazine via one of our Dutch supporters.
- Demy de Zeeuw (football player for AFC Ajax/ Netherlands NT): With every away game we have to hear ‘Jews are gay’ (Jews is a nickname for Ajax supporters). It’s to show their dislike for Ajax, and in football you do that by cursing with either cancer or gay. Ridiculous, of course, but I’m afraid it’s a hard thing to change. There are enough gays that don’t want to hold hands in public, because they’re afraid of aggression. As long as homosexuality is not completely accepted in society, it won’t happen in football either. I don’t know of any gay football players, but no doubt they’ll be out there. It must be hard to live a double life, but always being picked on in stadiums is hard as well. In showbiz there are a lot of succesful gays that aren’t queery. They aren’t all parading in their speedos through the canals of Amsterdam. When I’m walking on the street with my girlfriend, a lot of men check me out. I don’t know what to think of that, maybe it’s my fashion or the fact that I’m bald. In my close surroundings there are gay people. Fine. In Amsterdam it’s completely normal in shops or restaurants to be served by a gay. I don’t get that people would have a problem with that.
- Kenneth Perez (ex- football player, now analyst): I wouldn’t have any problems with playing alongside a gay player. I think we should stop making such a big deal out of that. In women’s football homosexuality is normal and accepted. Professional football is a macho culture, but I think most players won’t care about it. I expect the weird reactions would come from the supporters. It happened when an ADO the Hague player was butt plugged by his gf, and that didn’t even involve homosexual actions. Shortly after the video leaked on the internet we played against them and it was raining dildos on the field. I’m sure it was meant to be funny, but I wouldn’t be comfortable if it was about me. Sometimes gay men tell me ‘It’s a shame you’re not into men’. It happens a lot that gay men are into straight guys. They want to experiment. I don’t have that urge. My hairdresser in Denmark has become a good friend, he’s gay and has introduced me to a whole new scene. All his friends are nice, well dressed and fun. I have two sons, if one of them would come home with a guy I would have no problem with that.
- Ronald de Boer (ex- football player, 67 caps for Netherlands NT): I used to play in Scotland, for the Rangers. One day before an important clash against Celtic, my manager came up to me to have a private talk. A gossip paper would have a story on me. I got anxious: what did they know? Coach: ’You’ve been spotted with a man, they’re gonna out you’. I was relieved. ‘Let them publish that’, I said, ’No problem’. I myself am not gay curious, but I completely accept homosexuality. I have a lot of gay friends. I’ve become more comfortable with hugging men, in southern Europe that’s completely normal. I didn’t used to kiss my brother or my father, but now I do. I kind of like it. When I was playing in the Netherlands, there were two gay referees. No one treated them funny, they were respected, because they were good at their jobs. It’s weird how that is accepted, while homosexuality among players is still such a taboo. The most well known case of a player that’s supposed to be gay is Marc Overmars. I know him very well and I know he’s not. It’s annoying when people keep going on about it. I personally think you should just come out, but I also understand people who’d want to keep it quiet.
- Evgeniy Levchenko (football player for Willem II): I’ve grown up in Ukraine; a macho culture where homosexuality was a big taboo. When you were into guys, you were supposed to deny it. Russian parents would rather disown their child when he was gay than when he was a murderer. I don’t get that in a free country such as the Netherlands, where I’ve been living since I was 17, homosexuality still isn’t fully accepted. No one has ever called me gay, maybe because I am more macho than I look. I have a lot of gay friends. I don’t think any player would mind playing alongside a gay player, if you’d ask them personally. But if you bring it up in a group, there will be nasty remarks. That’s group pressure. It makes me angry when I hear Italian trainers say that there are no gay men in football, that’s just not true. I know players that I suspect are into men. I guess they’re afraid of the reactions from the audience, but you’ll get used to the chants. So they’ll sing that you’re gay.. You are. It’s not that bad, right? At the same time, I understand the fear. The British player Fashanu has been the only player to come out. It eventually cost him his life; all the negative reactions were too much for him and he’s committed suicide.
