Brett Banter

In light of recent victories by the G.L.B.T. community with the allowing of same sex marriages in New York, comes a somewhat interesting twist in the guise of a federal lawsuit over what constitutes a gay softball player.

The suit stems from a 2008 battle at the Gay World Series near Seattle. The second place team was pinched for allegedly having too many non-gays (who are allowed in moderation under a "straight cap") on its roster. The team was stripped of its second place finish and three of the alleged non-gays have filed a discrimination suit. It is has become a battleground over what constitutes gay in the modern age.

Private sports leagues can exclude people based on sexual orientation, but the suit asks a question of how do you know? The story in the New York Times does a great job of exploring the issue as different people see these leagues in different ways. Some see it as a support group for gays. Others see it as a competitive venture. Others see them as a loud and proud emblem of gay culture.
The basic premise is how do you know? Does the gay guy or gal out there who wants to win at all costs get offended if someone wears a tutu? Should they be kicked off a team? Should the jerk who doesn’t give a crap about same-sex marriage like the other gay players get booted? What defines gay and who defines it? In a world where people are supposed to be embrace individuality and freedom of expression, gays are being forced to homogenize with other gays. You can’t just be gay enough, you have to go all out.

As acceptance of homosexuality and bisexuality becomes more and more mainstream, will people still see a need for a separate league for gays? The biggest line may be crossed when a professional male athlete crosses that divide. And while that will create a stir, will it get to the question posed in the lawsuit?

The gay softball question continues.