All to no avail. The only openly queer players were women: an extension of similar patterns in other sports. I kept the term simple in the hopes of catching as many articles as possible with just one query. It of course triggered any time Brian Gay was mentioned, keeping me in the loop on his career path — an unhelpful, but chuckle-worthy bonus.
Most of the stories were on elite lesbian players that had their sexuality mentioned in a profile. The first time I got an actual hit was in September , when Tadd Fujikawa became the first openly gay male golf professional. No other caveats. Not the youngest player, or the first in over 20 years. Just, the first. Seeing his name did spark something of recognition, but most of his popularity came from events before I had even picked up a golf club.
It turns out I recognised him from a flashback I had seen about a year old making the cut on the PGA Tour, but not much more than that. As it turns out, what happened was quite underwhelming: as golf is prone to do when dealing with situations that can challenge the status quo, it chooses a centrist position, and hopes everything blows over quickly. This need for individual activism, rather than a celebration of diversity and acknowledgement of the need for structural change from within, will almost never result in actual changes to the culture or public image of golf.
So, what happens when you have a culture that favours players similar to those already playing it, and that has no desire for structural change? It creates a culture where masculinity is inherently tied to your perceived golf ability. It just breaks the swing mould, nothing more. The mould is the set of expectations of personality and ability that are placed upon golfers.
People love to say that golf is a meritocracy: you play well, you win. Claiming a meritocracy means you assume the mould only consists of ability. That is to say, those that can play well, will have success in the game. He is quick to debunk any rumours that his parents are bankrolling his career. After that, he would have to pay. Sounds reasonable, right? His parents merely presented him with opportunities; his success is wholly based on how much he seized those opportunities, and thereby his merit.
It has no clue who you are, what you believe in, what the colour of your skin is, what your upbringing was. It does not care. You can nitpick, of course, but […] the guy who shoots the lowest score is going to win. But the world that golf ball is resting on does. It cares a lot. Being presented so many possibilities is a privilege in and of itself. Of course you need to grab it yourself, and work your ass off yourself. However, straight men in America are transforming gradually to where they can know gay me, and know that gay men are not going to come on to them in the locker room.
The PGA of America is heavily promoting diversity and Inclusion in order to make the game of golf a more positive and equitable atmosphere. And I think the more and more we have events and conversations that create awareness and education, things will keep transforming quickly.
I know it will create awareness between the LGBTQ community and the golf community, please join us if you can. He can be reached at sfpridegolf gmail. Cookie banner We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. By choosing I Accept , you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies.
Filed under: Coming Out Stories. Share this story Share this on Facebook Share this on Twitter Share All sharing options Share All sharing options for: Gay golf pro sees sport as more accepting and wants golfers to come out. Reddit Pocket Flipboard Email. Up until a few years ago, I thought I was the only gay, male golf pro in the world.
Greg Fitzgerald and Tiger Woods. Share this story Twitter Facebook. There are numerous prominent figures in golf with gay children or siblings.
In an interview with David Feherty a few years ago, Brandt Snedeker said he believed there were gay players on Tour. Golf could use more Snedekers willing to speak up for tolerance. Someday a PGA Tour golfer will come out to the pleasant realization that what was to him a seismic announcement is considered by most everyone else to be barely worth the noting. His peers are more likely to care about whether he plays fast. The two constituencies I cheerfully ignore are those who insist that golf is a narrow, intolerant world, and those who wish it were.
Hashimoto erased a three-stroke deficit entering the final round with an early eagle en route to shooting Dryvebox is a mobile simulator that allows players to experience golf anywhere and everywhere. Dryvebox brings golf education and fun, …. State am, right?
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