- Jan 8, 2011
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One point I'd like to add is that cheerleading is unique. Cheerleading allows gay/straight boys to compete together and support one another and become friends. Ex. Baseball- gay boy might feel ashamed, Ballet-straight boy might feel embarrassed, cheerleading- gay boy gets to be himself with no judgement and straight boy gets to be around pretty girls. I am straight and have been in cheerleading for 15+ years and I'll admit I started a bit timid but now most of my best friends are gay and wouldn't trade em for the world. Cheerleading teaches kids these things, why is this bad?Cheerleading is a sport that embraces performance, or at least it used to be. The statement in the title of my thread really offends me. I may be standing lone on that - and thats okay. I feel this is a sugar-coated way to say "We don't want the guys to look gay! We want a better imagine of heterosexuality to promote to get more boys in the sport!" While I don't like things like guys flying elite stunt sequences to bow and arrows - or crazy hair flips - That doesn't mean someone can have over exaggerated facials or performance or to quite frankly - be themselves. This is an equal opportunity sport and I have seen a TON personal development from A LOT of people in the sport. I have seen homophobic heterosexual males embrace the values of change and equal opportunities for all.
Long story short - I have contacted GLAAD and ACLU to seek more advice from them and find out what their stance is on this issue is. I would appreciate ALL feedback from others so I can go into open conversation with them and maybe be introduced to ideas or arguments that I am not seeing due to my own opinions. Please share your thoughts and I will continue to update this thread and I hear back from them and let you know what these organizations thoughts and opinions are on the issue.
Am I being defensive and reading to much into this? Or is this really a discrimination issue targeted at males in our industry?