Easy Weekly Poll, This week: Sports events for gays Options

[Tiuri]

Have you always wanted to know what makes your fellow FMF-ers tick?? How they feel about something?? What they like or dislike??


Well, now you can



Send me your suggestions for a poll in a PM and next week's Easy Weekly Poll could be your question


A few rules:
- This is meant to be fun, so no difficult, controversial or political questions.
- Try and limit the number of options


Last week the Euro Games in Budapest ended. Next year the World Outgames will be conducted in Antwerp. In 2014 the Gay Games will take place in Cleveland (USA). All of these are open to everyone, regardless of sexual identity but given that they are organised by LGBT organisations, it is clear who they are aimed at.



How do you feel about these sports events aimed 'specifically' at non-heterosexual participants??? I know the topic title mentions 'gays' but that should be taken to refer to the whole of the LGBT community (whatever that means).

[YORKSHIRE GUY]

No.
Men and women yes. Straights and gays no.

[Nosferatu]

No, definitely not.
I really can't think of anything more unnecessary and divisive. Unless we're talking purely about the local, amateur level, I suppose there's nothing wrong with gay sports teams if its just a social thing.

[daikaioshin]

Surely by doing this we're actively separating ourselves from the sporting community; which we complain about not accepting us...

The Paralympics I can understand; seeing as they have to do things differently. But we're the ones harping on about how we're equal and that we're just like everyone else... So I don't see why we should be the ones reversing that same segregation just because of someones sexuality.

[YORKSHIRE GUY]

That's a good point about local teams.

[CyanIsland]

The last thing we need is more division.

[Astron]

You have to bare in mind though that things like that developed because gay people faced discrimination and still do, especially in sport.

[smalltown]

You have to bare in mind though that things like that developed because gay people faced discrimination and still do, especially in sport.

And the solution to that is competing on the same playing field and demonstrating that you can do it as well or better than everyone else regardless of whether you prefer pork or fish. It certainly isn't actively segregating yourself from everyone else.

[Parsifal]

I voted NO.
If it's a wrestling match I suppose that some straight guys might have some qualms if the opponent is gay.

One of the events at the Gay Games is ballroom dancing. I've watched same-sex ballroom dancing and as a dancer of many years I'll tell you that it looks all wrong. Sorry. There is something about the underlying energy of the two roles that is very definitely male and female.

But everything else, there should be no separation. I suppose that at one time separate sporting events for gays served a purpose, but I think that purpose has outlived itself.

whether you prefer pork beef or fish.

It sounds better.

[YORKSHIRE GUY]

Parsy. This pair are from Britain's Got Talent and did pretty well in reaching the semi finals.

[Parsifal]

I had to watch without sound as I'm in the midst of a changeover from one desktop to another. Watching without sound probably helpled.

They have great technique. I'm impressed. But a certain non-technical "quality" is missing.
Sticking to amateur dancers, if you take the world champion male/female couple, the world champion male/male couple and the world champion female/female couple I would put my money on the male/female couple. No doubt about it.

In the classical "tradiditional" format there is a lot going on. The man leads and the "lady" follows. The concept of leading and following is widely misunderstood by non-dancers and elementary dancers, but so it is. There is a decided difference that opens up the roles so that the lady (follower) feels safe and she can take risks. The man's job (aside from steering the couple across the floor - called "floorcraft") is to present the lady, i.e. show her off and making her look fabulous. (As a spectator, you should be watching the lady and not the man if he's doing his job well.) With the lady in a stunning gown going all out (because she feels safe and on balance) she can create a jaw-dropping effect which is more than just physical, rather it's something that only a lady can do and no man can match it. Similarly, I've seen world-class professional female teachers giving a lesson and leading her student across the floor. They always look a bit awkward in the leading role. There are, by the way, good reasons why the man leads and the lady follows.

The couple in the videos were GREAT! But that subtle non-physical effect was not there.

This post has been edited by Parsifal: Jul 8 2012, 15:59

[PUllio]

I voted Other.

Because I am not in particular in favour of 'gay olympics' and such ventures and don't really pay attention (am no sports addict9, but I wouldn't like to oppose people organising gay social events. Presumably this is a great venue for sporty (and perhaps non-drinking) gays to meet other gays with a shared interest, and I guess that is a good thing.

[Kev]

No!

[blake2108]

Nope.

[devynethang]

I don't think it would be fair to discriminate between sexual orientation but I clicked other because I despise ALL sports and don't give a fuck what they do with them.

[Boy1der]

No, I like well rounded everything and I love kicking straight boys asses in comps especially since word has got out to some that I may be gay!

[Parsifal]

Like I said before I do not favor separate sporting events for gays and straights. But ballroom dancing (aka DanceSport) is a sport where the best of same-sex couples haven't a snowball's chance in hell against the best male/female couples. There's a whole different dynamic at work when you have a couple competing, each in a different role, as with individual or team competitors.

Here's the current world champions in international standard.


And if you want to watch a 15-minute 4-dance final with seven couples at Blackpool:


That's really enough for now, but I can't resist throwing in some skin while I'm at it.

[AdrienAsche]

Absolutely not. How else could we see straight guys in the showers?

[Parsifal]

Absolutely not. How else could we see straight guys in the showers?

The best reason I've heard yet.

[stretchmonkey]

No, definitely not.
I really can't think of anything more unnecessary and divisive. Unless we're talking purely about the local, amateur level, I suppose there's nothing wrong with gay sports teams if its just a social thing.

Yeah i'd absolutely agree with that.