Katie Sowers is not only the first female ever on a 49ers coaching staff, she is also the NFL’s first openly LGBT coach, male or female.
“There are so many people who identify as LGBT in the NFL, as in any business, that do not feel comfortable being public about their sexual orientation,” Sowers told Outsports.com. “The more we can create an environment that welcomes all types of people, no matter their race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, the more we can help ease the pain and burden that many carry every day.” |
Because in today's world it still does matter.
bedrooms of the nation.
Do we get a pass if a political topic is football related? Do we get to discuss athletes' political statements? I'm just pointing out that the line this site is taking is incredibly blurry and, in my mind, silly.
I really don't give a fuck about her orientation. And really happy for her.
While I understand her coming out, it is passe. Just do your effin job.
I hope she has a long future in the NFL. Mazel Tof!
You can't really believe that, can you?
I'm shocked. Totally.
Fidel Castro: Ahhh, the Americans aren't so bad, they named a street after me in San Francisco.
[Aide whispers in his ear]
Fidel Castro: It's full of *what*?
I'm not sure about for a woman, but for a male...if they are outed, it is a big deal. That's one reason to come out on your own and make it public, I'd think.
If the goal is to eventually get to a world where nobody bothers to out themselves because it doesn't matter, we're not going to get there by pretending we're already there.
Why can't she be just a football coach? Think about it..she's carrying on for one of the best football coaches ever. One that would be 100% behind this. Who is that, you ask?
The NFL named a trophy after him.
Yeah it only matters if you make it matter. Can you imagine a coach having a press conference telling everyone he sexually prefers women?
"I called you all here today to confirm to you, and make public, that I dig chicks...you know...in that special way.
What I'm trying to say is, when I have special adult time with someone, I have special adult time with a laaaaaaady.
Ok guys, just so you know, and that this is clear...I don't like dudes...I mean, I like them, as friends only, not in the [air quotes] gay way. I like the poonanny, sorry...can I say poonanny? I think you guys get it."
NOOOOOOBODY CARES. And why your sexual preference has to be talked about with regard to the workplace is asinine and inappropriate. You know what equality is...professionals don't talk about their sexual preference, they show up and do their jobs.
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If your sexual orientation doesn't matter why do you have to call attention to it ?
Yeah it only matters if you make it matter. Can you imagine a coach having a press conference telling everyone he sexually prefers women?
"I called you all here today to confirm to you, and make public, that I dig chicks...you know...in that special way.
What I'm trying to say is, when I have special adult time with someone, I have special adult time with a laaaaaaady.
Ok guys, just so you know, and that this is clear...I don't like dudes...I mean, I like them, as friends only, not in the [air quotes] gay way. I like the poonanny, sorry...can I say poonanny? I think you guys get it."
NOOOOOOBODY CARES. And why your sexual preference has to be talked about with regard to the workplace is asinine and inappropriate. You know what equality is...professionals don't talk about their sexual preference, they show up and do their jobs.
I hate to break it to you, but there are LGBTQ affinity groups at a number of this country's highest profile and best companies. So....your take on professionals is wrong.
I used to work for a large company that had such a group. It was silly and I hope one day will be looked as such. It should be looked at as silly as the scenario I described above.
And I do think k it's inappropriate, also. Not their sexuality, of course, but emphasis on it in the workplace.
If you want real equality, you don't have these. I guess you can start a heterosexual pride professional club and then it would be equal, but non-sensical.
Or you could just take people at their word that they really don't care. I think the vast majority of Americans just want to enjoy and talk about actual football, not the sexuality of the coaches and players. Equality means not making a big deal out of it. And I support her rights. But come on, she's in San Francisco. It's not all that courageous. More like, "yeah, ok, but how's Hoyer looking to you. I think it's much more of a big deal that she's the first woman coach in the NFL than her being openly gay.
Amazing and weird to see people come to NBA and wrestling threads just to say that they don't watch the NBA or wrestling or come onto other news stories to say that they don't care.
When I don't care about something.... I don't open the thread. Easy enough.
well, to be fair, I refresh a lot.
So, yes, while it does seem silly on some level to feel the need to talk publicly about one's sexual preferences, I'd say it might just matter. And if I was a teenager in process of figuring out that I'm gay, I'd say it most definitely matters.
Amazing and weird to see people come to NBA and wrestling threads just to say that they don't watch the NBA or wrestling or come onto other news stories to say that they don't care.
When I don't care about something.... I don't open the thread. Easy enough.
I think people like myself don't care that she's LGBT, they care about these incessant stories being bombarded on us, though. It's easy to say, "well, you don't have to click," or whatever, and that's true. But for me, it's about saying, the vast majority of people are accepting of you, let's move on. And do we have to have our favorite football or sports websites DAILY delivering us content about what I believe is a non-issue anymore, instead of actual sports or football? A fair criticism is to say, tune out, change the channel, don't click or read the story...I get that. Look, I appreciate it when a woman is trying to make it in a male-dominated profession. Good for her. But the fact that she prefers women sexually, I hope as a society that we aren't too far away from these kinds of things not being a story. Shouldn't that be the goal? Personally, I think if she didn't say anything, everyone who cared probably already assumed she was, even if not overtly. I wish her all the luck. It's just media-fatigue of all this social justice activism everywhere you look for me, maybe others, maybe I'm in the minority on this, and I'm ok with that. But just because my opinion, and possibly others, is "We don't care," it doesn't mean that the opinion isn't one we don't want to share. I think more people should stand up and say, "WE DON'T CARE!" So we see less of these stories. To your point, the correct course is probably not click on the stories. And I probably wouldn't if it wasn't BBI.
So, yes, while it does seem silly on some level to feel the need to talk publicly about one's sexual preferences, I'd say it might just matter. And if I was a teenager in process of figuring out that I'm gay, I'd say it most definitely matters.
Why would we ever get to the point where everyone (or even just people with a large platform/reach) thinks the same. We shouldn't even want that. We should learn to just disagree and move on. Talking strictly peoples' opinions, here, not where it extends to laws and so forth.
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homophobia thrives, unfortunately. And as a society, we are hardly at the point yet where people with fame and influence no longer use their religious beliefs to publicly condemn the lifestyle choices of others. (Reggie White, anyone??)
So, yes, while it does seem silly on some level to feel the need to talk publicly about one's sexual preferences, I'd say it might just matter. And if I was a teenager in process of figuring out that I'm gay, I'd say it most definitely matters.
Why would we ever get to the point where everyone (or even just people with a large platform/reach) thinks the same. We shouldn't even want that. We should learn to just disagree and move on. Talking strictly peoples' opinions, here, not where it extends to laws and so forth.
This view works when the subject is politics. Not so much when the views in question open the door to people being discriminated against. You know there was a time when the opinion expressed above was said in relation to things like interracial marriage or segregation, right? And I'm not saying that's what you're doing or that you want to see people discriminated against, just pointing out the obvious connection between opinions of moral superiority and the propensity for people to be treated as second class citizens.
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people come to threads to say that they don't care about something.
Amazing and weird to see people come to NBA and wrestling threads just to say that they don't watch the NBA or wrestling or come onto other news stories to say that they don't care.
When I don't care about something.... I don't open the thread. Easy enough.
I think people like myself don't care that she's LGBT, they care about these incessant stories being bombarded on us, though. It's easy to say, "well, you don't have to click," or whatever, and that's true. But for me, it's about saying, the vast majority of people are accepting of you, let's move on. And do we have to have our favorite football or sports websites DAILY delivering us content about what I believe is a non-issue anymore, instead of actual sports or football? A fair criticism is to say, tune out, change the channel, don't click or read the story...I get that. Look, I appreciate it when a woman is trying to make it in a male-dominated profession. Good for her. But the fact that she prefers women sexually, I hope as a society that we aren't too far away from these kinds of things not being a story. Shouldn't that be the goal? Personally, I think if she didn't say anything, everyone who cared probably already assumed she was, even if not overtly. I wish her all the luck. It's just media-fatigue of all this social justice activism everywhere you look for me, maybe others, maybe I'm in the minority on this, and I'm ok with that. But just because my opinion, and possibly others, is "We don't care," it doesn't mean that the opinion isn't one we don't want to share. I think more people should stand up and say, "WE DON'T CARE!" So we see less of these stories. To your point, the correct course is probably not click on the stories. And I probably wouldn't if it wasn't BBI.
You vastly exaggerate the number of LGBT related stories, especially on BBI. Some on Michael Sam, some on the dumb Aaron Rodgers rumors. Why does it bother you so much? I don't care about 90% of the news.
We're all the same! Until one of us is different...then we have to perseverate on that difference in order to become equals again.
Is that how it works?
No one should have to hide their orientation in fear that they'll hurt their own prospects.
No one should have to hide their orientation in fear that they'll hurt their own prospects.
Bingo.
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In comment 13571262 Metnut said:
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people come to threads to say that they don't care about something.
Amazing and weird to see people come to NBA and wrestling threads just to say that they don't watch the NBA or wrestling or come onto other news stories to say that they don't care.
When I don't care about something.... I don't open the thread. Easy enough.
I think people like myself don't care that she's LGBT, they care about these incessant stories being bombarded on us, though. It's easy to say, "well, you don't have to click," or whatever, and that's true. But for me, it's about saying, the vast majority of people are accepting of you, let's move on. And do we have to have our favorite football or sports websites DAILY delivering us content about what I believe is a non-issue anymore, instead of actual sports or football? A fair criticism is to say, tune out, change the channel, don't click or read the story...I get that. Look, I appreciate it when a woman is trying to make it in a male-dominated profession. Good for her. But the fact that she prefers women sexually, I hope as a society that we aren't too far away from these kinds of things not being a story. Shouldn't that be the goal? Personally, I think if she didn't say anything, everyone who cared probably already assumed she was, even if not overtly. I wish her all the luck. It's just media-fatigue of all this social justice activism everywhere you look for me, maybe others, maybe I'm in the minority on this, and I'm ok with that. But just because my opinion, and possibly others, is "We don't care," it doesn't mean that the opinion isn't one we don't want to share. I think more people should stand up and say, "WE DON'T CARE!" So we see less of these stories. To your point, the correct course is probably not click on the stories. And I probably wouldn't if it wasn't BBI.
You vastly exaggerate the number of LGBT related stories, especially on BBI. Some on Michael Sam, some on the dumb Aaron Rodgers rumors. Why does it bother you so much? I don't care about 90% of the news.
I should've been more clear. Not so much about BBI, but media as a whole. My response here and to this thread is more of a reflection of these stories everywhere. I think some of you guys are overstating things. Yes, significant events have happened in our recent history. But I think America is a pretty accepting place, and I think we'll all be better off if we just state that view and expect it as the norm.
No one should have to hide their orientation in fear that they'll hurt their own prospects.
I wholeheartedly agree. I just think that fight has already been won. As evidenced by the accurate post earlier that many, many major companies have PRIDE clubs within them and so forth. I support their equal treatment, and I don't think being gay is a big issue in most places in terms of hiring. At my old job, I suspected that it might actually help your prospects of getting hired. I'm sure there are some places where this is not the case.
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It's a story because LGBT people still have to jump through hoops and are still faced with opposition from archaic, backwards-thinkers and their road is often more difficult than it is for others.
No one should have to hide their orientation in fear that they'll hurt their own prospects.
I wholeheartedly agree. I just think that fight has already been won. As evidenced by the accurate post earlier that many, many major companies have PRIDE clubs within them and so forth. I support their equal treatment, and I don't think being gay is a big issue in most places in terms of hiring. At my old job, I suspected that it might actually help your prospects of getting hired. I'm sure there are some places where this is not the case.
I think we're moving in the right direction, absolutely, but I definitely don't think it's a fight that has already been won.
There are a lot of places in this country where those who are part of the LGBT community still feel like they need to hide who they are in fear that they'll be treated or looked at differently.
It's something that I think we need to keep pushing forward on, and something that I think should be talked about.
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In comment 13571504 allstarjim said:
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In comment 13571262 Metnut said:
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people come to threads to say that they don't care about something.
Amazing and weird to see people come to NBA and wrestling threads just to say that they don't watch the NBA or wrestling or come onto other news stories to say that they don't care.
When I don't care about something.... I don't open the thread. Easy enough.
I think people like myself don't care that she's LGBT, they care about these incessant stories being bombarded on us, though. It's easy to say, "well, you don't have to click," or whatever, and that's true. But for me, it's about saying, the vast majority of people are accepting of you, let's move on. And do we have to have our favorite football or sports websites DAILY delivering us content about what I believe is a non-issue anymore, instead of actual sports or football? A fair criticism is to say, tune out, change the channel, don't click or read the story...I get that. Look, I appreciate it when a woman is trying to make it in a male-dominated profession. Good for her. But the fact that she prefers women sexually, I hope as a society that we aren't too far away from these kinds of things not being a story. Shouldn't that be the goal? Personally, I think if she didn't say anything, everyone who cared probably already assumed she was, even if not overtly. I wish her all the luck. It's just media-fatigue of all this social justice activism everywhere you look for me, maybe others, maybe I'm in the minority on this, and I'm ok with that. But just because my opinion, and possibly others, is "We don't care," it doesn't mean that the opinion isn't one we don't want to share. I think more people should stand up and say, "WE DON'T CARE!" So we see less of these stories. To your point, the correct course is probably not click on the stories. And I probably wouldn't if it wasn't BBI.
You vastly exaggerate the number of LGBT related stories, especially on BBI. Some on Michael Sam, some on the dumb Aaron Rodgers rumors. Why does it bother you so much? I don't care about 90% of the news.
I should've been more clear. Not so much about BBI, but media as a whole. My response here and to this thread is more of a reflection of these stories everywhere. I think some of you guys are overstating things. Yes, significant events have happened in our recent history. But I think America is a pretty accepting place, and I think we'll all be better off if we just state that view and expect it as the norm.
It's nice that you do think that but the truth is, it's not nearly as accepting as you think it is. A pretty big event just happened a few weekends ago that you might've heard about that showed just how 'accepting' America has always been and, unfortunately, will probably always be. Just a little over 20 years ago it was major news that a black man was starting in a Super Bowl... nowadays, it wouldn't be news because it's happened so often that it's not news anymore.
She's the first.
Therefore it's news.
Which means as recently as when Eli Manning was about to be drafted, it was illegal in over a dozen states for consenting gay adults to have sex how they'd like.
Progress was and is made in part because people came out of the closet, not in spite of it. Gay Americans went from the "other" to our neighbors and mailmen and coaches. From "a bunch of perverted queers on Castro" to "oh shit Bob our accountant is gay? I like Bob, I'm cool with that."
Which is not to characterize this girl as some grand revolutionary, but her admission is confluent with many in her shoes who facilitated advancement for LGBTs vs discrimination.
For instance... wasn't there just a change in our military regarding LBGT soldiers? Seems like if it wasn't a big deal, then that change shouldn't have had to be made would it? But it was... so...
For instance... wasn't there just a change in our military regarding LBGT soldiers? Seems like if it wasn't a big deal, then that change shouldn't have had to be made would it? But it was... so...
Yup.
We've still got a ways to go, Boneman.
It's a popcorn thread. That's why there are so may clicks and so far, it hasn't failed to entertain.
It has come down to a debate on whether it's a news worthy story or not.
Think about that.