Homosexuality in Pro Sports

When NBA player Jason Collins came out as the first openly gay athlete in a major professional sport earlier in the year, many offered supportive words, citing his actions as a major step forward for gay rights. However as journalist Shay Marie states, "There are still plenty of people who feel homosexuality is wrong and don't agree with the lifestyle whether for religious or other reasons," (Marie, 2013).  After coming out, ESPN commentator stated on live television that Collins was "walking in open rebellion to God," (Little, 2013). The criticisms did not end there, however, as conservative journalist Ben Shapiro said, "So, Jason Collins is a hero because he's gay? Our standard for heroism has dropped quite a bit since normandy," (Amand, 2013).

This case is related to co-cultural theory because it portrays a conflict between the non-dominant group of homosexuals and the dominant group of those who disagree with the lifestyle. Historically speaking, homosexuals have always been discriminated against, and while there is growing support for homosexuality, many still disagree with it. As evidenced by the examples above, pundits have gone to lengths to downplay the cultural significance for what Jason Collins did, whether by calling it unheroic in any way or a sin. In doing so, these opponents of homosexuality are trying to impose a negative label on gay people, as if to say they are wrongdoers. As a result, the dominant group of individuals against homosexuality are trying to enforce their power over the non dominant group in an attempt to repress their homosexuality, perhaps hoping to expunge it from society.

In this specific case, the language we use plays a significant role in how we perceive reality, especially when religious rhetoric is used. In the example of Jason Collins, many individuals referred to him as a "sinner", which for anyone who has grown up with a religious background knows the terms brings with it a large amount of weight. Labels such as "sinner" often times serve to set certain individuals below others, essentially stripping them of equal power because they are considered to be worse individuals, something that occurs to homosexuals quite often. It is for this reason we must take into account the social positions of those who attribute labels to others, as often times these labels stem from a desire to stay in power. Living in a society that is largely Christian, the rise of acceptance of homosexuals and the declining rate of individuals attending church may signal a shift in social power for certain individuals, therefore reactionary rhetoric is employed in an attempt to keep social power where it is. By being aware of who is giving what labels, we can better understand our own society and make more informed decisions by pointing out the hidden motives of others.

References

Amand, Jason. (2013, April 30). Jason Collins Receives Some Backlash After Coming Out. Edge on the Net. Retrieved from http://www.edgeonthenet.com/news/sports/news/144087/jason_collins_receives_some_backlash_after_coming_out

Little, Lyneka. (2013, April 30). Gay NBA Player Draws Backlash on TV and Online. Speakeasy. Retrieved from http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2013/04/30/gay-nba-player-draws-backlash-on-tv-and-online/

Marie, Shay. (2013, May 1). The Backlash From Disagreeing with Gay NBA Play Jason Collins. The Source. Retrieved from http://thesource.com/2013/05/01/the-double-standard-its-not-ok-to-disagree-with-gay-nba-player-jason-collins/