hypochondriac

Precisely! It's a fact that the gay people I know feel more comfortable living and visiting Brighton than they would do in other areas. One of them has parents who live in a small village near Milton Keynes and often remarks the looks etc he gets when he walks down the road with his boyfriend compared to Brighton. Unless you are suggesting that all areas of Britain treat everyone the same?

so you don't think there are certain areas of England where gay people would feel more comfortable about open displays of their sexuality? As already mentioned soho etc. you're living in a fantasy world mate.

Ffs I didn't say that! It's a fact that certain areas are viewed as friendlier to gay people than others and as a consequence there is a higher gay population than average in those areas.

So are you saying that areas in Britain with large gay communities do not exist?

Hold on you really are talking some nonsense and making up things I have said. I never denied that there are not loads of gat people spread all over the country, I merely said that people in general like to live with people who are similar to them. It's why as I already said we have Polish areas, Muslim areas, why in America you have black areas etc. Obviously there are other factors about why they are grouped together but one of those factors is that people feel more comfortable in numbers. It's human nature and pretty undeniable. I never said that in all cases people who are gay group together or all that nonsense you made up about cabin crew.

No one has said that Charlie, you are reaching once again. Also as you have failed to answer, what is the definition of a homophobic crime?

Unless the definition of a hate crime is clearly defined then the figures are largely meaningless IMO.

We've had this discussion. What is classed as a hate crime? And how is a transgender person relevant to a gay person? Even many homosexuals get annoyed by the comparisons.

Yes but they shouldn't feel pressured into doing it just because it would be easier for others. Totally up to the individual.

Hold on no I didn't you are trying to twist my words. We are clearly talking in general terms here and in general people feel more comfortable around like minded people. Otherwise why do areas like Soho and large parts of Brighton exist? Or why does Southampton have a large Polish population for example? Why are they not evenly spread over the rest of the UK?

I don't think the reason to come out should be because it will then be easier for everyone else. If someone wants to make their sexuality public then they should do it for themselves, not because they fancy doing it for noble reasons.

That's rubbish, we weren't shocking. Both teams were poor but it was pretty even (and dull!)

And no one has really disagreed with that. It's what those reasons are and the numbers who feel this way that no one really knows for sure.

I didn't say they felt uncomfortable simply that they felt more comfortable among a load of other gay people in much the same way as most people feel more comfortable in the company of people who are the same as them. That's hardly earth shattering news.

I can see your point. I'm not sure I'd want the media hassle either.

I suspect that is true. Gay people feel more comfortable surrounded by other like minded people in Brighton and soho. That's hardly a shock.

But equally just because that's what you may experience does not mean it is prevalent in wider society or that your experience is typical of homophobic Britain. We have just as many posters on here saying that what you and others describe is not their reality just as there are people who support you. I don't see many if any gay people holding hands and kissing in public so not sure why a football match would be much different.

That's my point. No one is denying it happens- undoubtedly it does.

I'm not sure posting about it on a football forum is going to make it an issue in the eyes of the public! Just because the act of coming our or gay people in general are not really a big deal, doesn't mean the issues surrounding it aren't worth talking about and discussing. Particularly if there are people under the impression that disgusting homophobia is routinely spouted by average members of the British public on a daily basis! How sheltered and naive we must be for questioning this narrative...

poor old Chapel End Charlie. Dropped a b*llock here it would seem...

I didn't know financial sales was the worst for that sort of thing!

Exactly. I'd like to think that people have other things to talk about rather than branding someone a gay male. Maybe that's the mindset of footballers too and why they wouldn't want to come out and deal with both the positive and the negative attention. Thanks for giving your perspective and as a gay man I suspect it is slightly more informed on the issue than most of us on here.

Hold on I haven't offered any conclusions about that. I've offered some suggestions rather than jumping to conclusions and stating things as fact like you have.

People can make their own minds up but if the media make a big song and dance about something it gives the illusion that it's a super big and important thing when it isn't really. Good to see you read what I type though

It could be but there isn't really any way of knowing if it is a widespread problem, short of a study which surveys footballers to investigate. I'm not sure why you have a problem with the word maybe, it just shows that when we are discussing the motivations for gay footballers we really don't know a lot so best not to jump to conclusions. I used the gay friend comment to underline the fact that context is key with 'hate crimes' so why you keep bringing it up I have no idea. Do you have a problem with people having gay friends?