Recently Jason Akermanis put forward the view that homosexual footballers should not "out" themselves while playing the game. His reasoning seems to be based on the idea that he and other players would feel discomfited if openly gay players were to share the locker rooms and showers. There has been much made of his "homophobia" and a great deal of verbiage has been generated, but none has made anything of his right to shower free of the sense that he may be being "perved on".

We have routinely separated men and women's public facilities at such venues as swimming complexes and sporting arenas, changing rooms at the beach, shops etc. We have laws in place to prevent people taking photos of others without permission, on the grounds that such photos "may" provide sexual titillation. Public toilets are segregated, even in places like clubs which are semi-private. If I was to enter a female changing room and start having a shower, would the occupants just shrug their shoulders and continue what they were doing or would there be a rush for the door and the nearest copper?

So what is wrong with Akermanis suggesting that he should be free of the scrutiny of someone who may be looking at him as a sexual object? After all, gay men are known to obtain sexual gratification or at least stimulation from looking at other men.

Doesn't his right to "feel safe" from someone else's possible titillation outweigh someone else's right to use the facility?

Antiseptic,
I agree.
If homosexual males are permitted to shower with normal men,
then heterosexual males should be allowed to shower with women.

Dear Anti,

Correct me if I'm wrong, but from the little
I saw of the interviews on TV. It was their
coming out of "the closet" that Akermanis
was objecting to. In other words if they
were gay, they should keep it to themselves.
And he's fine with it.

Which means that he was allright with them
"purving" as you put it, as long as he didn't know
they were gay. How do you feel about that.?
That it's ok to be gay - as long as you don't
tell anyone about it?

I wonder how many gay guys have really made a
move on Akermanis during his career?
Physically, to me he doesn't appear all that hot.
But what do I know? And I can't remember reading
anything about in the media previously about
any "gay problem" in sports. Football players
have had their fair share of other problems
in the media though - haven't they though?

Public Toilets and Change rooms..locker rooms.. yep.. you nailed it antiseptic.

We have separate ones because of the sanctity of the body and not wanting to be perved at.

I think Public toilets should have signs
"Females and Gay men"
Mens should have the sign
"Men and Lesbians"

One Lilydale gym now has 'unisex' locker rooms I'm told.. my wife says I can't go there :) I wonder why.

NOOO!.. don't ask me which one? :) cos I dunno.

Women spend their whole lives being perved on.

Women share dressing rooms with homosexual females.

No doubt males of all sexual orientations have been sharing showers
for years already. Homosexuality amongst sports people, or any group, has never been a rarity. Hopoate ( maybe he doesn't even identify as gay) didn't need to be in a shower room to sexually assault people.

As long as nobody touches another person's body in an intimate way without consent there isn't a problem, or at least not a new problem - just perhaps a new awareness.

Interesting essay:

http://www.alterheros.com/english/dossier/Articles.cfm?InfoID=34

Nonetheless it remains Jason's view that players would not like to share their usually uninhibited dressing rooms with men who are attracted to other men and he has a right to his opinion and feelings as a player who could be in that position:

'Writing in the Herald Sun, Akermanis said: "Football clubs are very different environments. Locker room nudity is an everyday part of our lives and unlike any other work place.

"I believe it would cause discomfort in that environment should someone declare himself gay."

“I know there are many who think a public AFL outing would break down homophobia, but they don't live in football clubs. It's not the job of the minority to make the environment safer. Not now, anyway.”'
http://www.news.com.au/national/jason-akermanis-wrong-about-football-codes-and-gay-players-says-gay-and-lesbian-rights-group/story-e6frfkw0-1225869112311

It is his and other players' feelings that their privacy could be violated that need to be considered and we have no right to tell them otherwise.

Maybe this will lead to players being more conscious of their exposure in dressing rooms - women for example are generally far less inclined to be as up-front with their nudity or part-nudity in dressing rooms.

ARL and NRL players have complained previously about media intrusion into dressing rooms and by female reporters. Some intrusion was (wrongly) forced onto them as publicity (more like public perving).

Frankly I do not know any straight women or men who wouldn't be more cautious about their exposure in dressing rooms or toilets in the presence of gays or lesbians.

The Hopoate example is ridiculous, it was aberrant behaviour that resulted in discipline and players regardless of side expressed abhorrence at his behaviour.

When it is all boiled down, players have a right to privacy and even though they normally put up with a lot because of primitive facilities, they shouldn't be ridiculed or required to offer explanations for demanding or exercising that right. They are no lesser men for it.