The first American professional soccer player to publicly come out said gay players are “fighting for the right to exist” in men’s team sports.
David Testo also believes that players who have not come out as gay may now feel even more pressure and discomfort as a result of Pride Night and similar initiatives.
Testo played two seasons in Major League Soccer with the Columbus Crew before moving to Canada to continue his professional career with the Vancouver Whitecaps and Montreal Impact.
In November 2011, a month after being released by the Impact, he said in an interview with Radio-Canada that he had come out to his teammates and management during his time at the club.
Get off the sidelines and get in the game
Our weekly newsletter is packed with information on everything from locker room chatter to pressing LGBTQ sports issues.
Nearly 13 years later, MLS has expanded to 29 teams and made major strides in LGBTQ visibility across North American professional soccer, with team Pride nights, annual “Playing for Pride” fundraisers, special edition jerseys and more.
But in that time, only four other MLS players have come out as gay. In 2013, Robbie Rogers returned from England to play for the LA Galaxy. In 2015, former San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Matt Hatzke wrote an article for OutSports about his struggles with his sexuality. Three years later, Collin Martin came out while playing for Minnesota United. And in early 2019, former Columbus Crew goalkeeper Matt Pacifici introduced his girlfriend to the world.
For Testo, now 43 and working as a yoga instructor on Vancouver Island, it’s sad that the number of gay male athletes like him is still so small.
He believes there are many people around the world who are “suffering” in locker room environments.
“They always think about how they speak, where they look, what other people are saying. They are unable to have a truly loving partner in life,” he said in an interview. La Presse.
“They don’t get the friends and support they need.”
Surprisingly, Test worries that escalating efforts to raise awareness about LGBTQ inclusion will push closeted players further into their shells.
“The situation hasn’t changed. In fact it may have regressed,” he said.
He describes corporate-led campaigns as a “double-edged sword” – eye-catching pride jersey designs and the use of rainbow captain’s armbands across the league resonate with certain groups: players who are strong advocates, LGBTQ fans who buy merchandise and senior executives who want to promote their club’s values.
While Testo understands the value of Pride Night (he attended a special game hosted by CF Montreal last season), he also feels that within team dynamics, the symbolism can bring stress and anxiety to those who have yet to embrace who they are.
Related
“That makes us feel even more insecure,” Test said. “Am I the only one being targeted? It exposes the fact that you’re not living your true life. It makes it even more uncomfortable for the players.”
Recently, there have been incidents of backlash against Pride activities by individuals who are unaware or ignorant of the impact their snubs have on closeted gay teammates.
Rainbow armbands have been rejected in the Dutch Eredivisie and Premier League for the past three seasons, while in France’s Ligue 1, players are choosing to sit out matches and accept the consequences rather than wear rainbow numbers or shirts featuring anti-homophobic messages.
“The reality is, we’re fighting for survival. We’re fighting for the right to exist,” Test said.
“If someone can’t wear the armband, it just says they’re not an ally. But what if your best friend on the team doesn’t identify as straight? On a team, it gets even harder.”
Testo’s views echo those of other high-profile athletes who have come out in recent years. In his autobiography, “My Life On The Line,” which he co-wrote with Outsports’ Said Zeigler, former New England Patriots linebacker Ryan O’Callaghan wrote that as a young player in 2006, he was uncomfortable with what former NFL player Esera Tuaolo, who had come out as gay, had said to other rookie draftees about homophobia in the NFL.
Meanwhile in soccer, some male players who have come out as gay or bisexual say they felt uneasy when rainbow lace was offered to players in the locker room, fearing negative reactions from teammates or worse.
In his book, O’Callaghan acknowledges the good intentions behind Tuaolo’s speech but stresses that a more worthwhile approach would have been to address the sexist and misogynistic language, as well as the fact that his teammates frequently spoke about women and “sexual conquests,” making him feel isolated.
Test’s insight into a problem that, in football at least, shows little sign of being resolved will be particularly welcomed by EDI executives at clubs and leagues who are ready to dig deeper into the effectiveness of the campaign.
He encourages a new approach: “If our aim is to win, we have to want to ease the burden on players who are going through difficult times and enable them to perform at their best.”
Source: Outsports – www.outsports.com
