“Now before I explain any of my personal views, I must say that I am not
heterophobic, I’ve never had any problems with heterosexuals and that I don’t think any lower of individuals who choose, “that type” of lifestyle.”
This letter is in response to, “Coming out of the closet,” by Derrick Sanchez.
I find this article misplaced and disturbing. Mr. Sanchez uses less than one fourth of this article to talk about nothing sports related, this is an opinion piece and misplaced in the paper. What I am concerned about is the way Sanchez has manipulated Sheryl Swoops’ comments, perhaps in an attempt to spin the issue in favor of his obviously strong opinions about her coming out.
My problem is with this statement, “The talk about the WNBA being full of lesbians is not true; there are as many straight women in the league as there are gay. What really irritates me is when people talk about football, baseball, and the NBA, you don’t hear all of this talk about the gay guys playing. But when you talk about the WNBA, then it becomes an issue. Sexuality and gender don’t change anyone’s performance on the court.”
When Sanchez uses this quote he only uses a part of it: “What really irritates me is when people talk about football, baseball and the NBA, you don’t hear all of this talk about the gay guys playing. But when you talk about the WNBA then it becomes anIssue”.
Had Mr. Sanchez used the entire quote, and read it more carefully he would realize Sheryl Swoops was trying to say that the media and society have placed a double standard on how sexuality is viewed with in American sports.
Why is it okay for a, lesbian to come out and not a gay man? Because heterosexual men have been taught to fear gay men, fear that at any second the gay man might make some advance that would cause him to question his own sexuality; should the advance cause arousal. Male dominated society looks at lesbians as sex objects, players in an unrealistic fantasy for mans pleasure. If the lesbian doesn’t play along she is simply insignificant, viewed as militant and hard. Sexuality and gender don’t change anyone’s performance on the court.” Her point is that there is a double standard against gay men in sports, and it’s wrong because it is prejudicial, sexuality has nothing to do with athletic ability.
Sanchez’s locker room confessions are a sad commentary on the truth about the ignorance and fear society has attached to homosexuals and how this irrational fear has been handed down from one generation to the next.
I find it simply silly and childish that he would even consider Swoop’s sexuality would somehow make her a less qualified ambassador for the WNBA. I am sure when she sits down at a business meeting the first issue on the agenda will not be her sexuality.
Sanchez has also questioned Sheryl Swoops ability to continue being a good role model. In my opinion Sheryl Swoops is no less of a role model for being true to herself. Honesty is in short supply from some other professional athletes who like to pose as good role models, but do steroids to cheat. It makes me ill to think a heterosexual cheater would be considered a better influence on a child than a gay honest person.
In Sanchez’s own words, “maybe young women and teenaged girls will come out and tell their parents that their favorite basketball player came out so they will too.” Will Sheryl Swoops outing will cause a mass outing of young girls in an attempt to be more like her? This is total conjecture, paranoia and simply ignorance.
Why should anyone have to be, “miserable” in their existence because people like Mr. Sanchez have a problem with their sexuality not looking good for women’s basketball?
In my opinion, D. Sanchez went down the wrong road with this article; he misrepresented Sheryl Swoops words. Everything about it is misleading, and a commentary on sexuality not sports.
D. Sanchez, I suggest you take a deeper look at how you really feel about homosexuals. Sexuality is not a disease and for some not a choice. To live in oppression in a society that is intolerant and to be forced to accept it because it makes heterosexual people comfortable is horrible.