Monday, June 28, 2021, 09:30
Come out of the closet, they claim …
Because I am that homosexual footballer that you are looking for coinciding with Pride the same ones that hardly attend to our reality the rest of the year.
There will be more, sure, but in any case I am. Almost no one knows (or at this rate will know), but I am. The advice one of those in the know gave me was to pretend to have a girlfriend. He was willing to help me by putting girl and photographers. This is how things are …
When this time comes, in short, it repeats itself unfailingly that no player declares himself gay, that he can’t be, that by pure statistics somebody has to be, that the first step involves visibility and helps the rest …
So far, what I am. From here, what I see. When I ajar the door of the damn closet, in case I gave to leave …
What I see is that those who rule at the national level they take the Super Cup to Arabia. What I see is that those who rule internationally they take the World Cup to Qatar. What I see is that those who command at a general level so much the LGTBI collective gives them if the country that humiliates him with one hand puts money with the other.
What i see is the occasional large club sponsored by states where homosexuality is punishable by death. What I see is that football serves to whitewash regimes that do not comply with human rights.
What I see is that many campaigns against racism were organized over the years, but none against homophobia. What I see is that, so long after, ‘Fagot’ is still used as an insult in almost every stadium. What I see is that a lot of coaches use it too. What I see is that it is also used by quite a few colleagues. What I see is that others have made it clear that they would not like to share equipment with someone like me. What I see is that it is handled in all categories, shame should give many parents what their little ones have to hear …
What I also see is a selection that does not use a certain number because it is considered “the one with the fagots.” What I see is that the captain of another is screwed up for putting on a rainbow armband. What i see is that human rights and politics are confused to prevent a stadium from being illuminated with those same colors. What I see are aggressive hobbies. What I see are violent attitudes.
What I see is harassment from social networks. What i see is the rise of homophobic political parties. What I see are governments that pass laws that directly prohibit talking about homosexuality.
What I see if I broaden my gaze is that other sports put a price on our dignity, 200 euros specifically (and for that you have to prove the insult), but at least they sanction.
What i see is discrimination, anyway.
And what I hear is that soccer is for men … as long as those men are straight. The noun machado is still used (and admitted) with a positive meaning.
Come out of the closet, they claim, putting the spotlight on me instead of putting it on the institutions that do not favor it.
Wish i could do it in peace and with freedom. I wish I could do it without that creating a problem with my club, with my sponsors or with the fans. I wish love was not judged. I’m a footballer and I’m gay, yes. I’m proud. Can you all say the same?