Foul Play
Homo hiccup: Gays may soon be out in the military but not at the World Cup
As of today, gays got a step closer to being out in the U.S. Army, but still cut out of the World Cup.
Indeed, it's bad news for the millions of gay soccer fanatics who follow the FIFA World Cup around the globe every four years: In 2022, Qatar, which prohibits homosexual activity, will host the games.
On Monday, at the launch of a post-2010 World Cup legacy project in South Africa, FIFA president Sepp Blatter woefully stated, "I'd say the (gay fans) should refrain from any sexual activities."
The oopsies-moment was said in jest when asked about any potential cultural conflict that could take place in Qatar, which won the role as host on Dec. 2, cutting out competition from the U.S., Australia, Japan and South Korea. The quip has LGBT groups up in arms.
"Sepp Blatter jokes about the risk to gay visitors in 2022, but Qatar's anti-gay policies are no laughing matter," British human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said, reports Sports Illustrated.
Multiple LGBT groups are now demanding official apologies. The spotlight on Qatar has brought into focus that more than 70 other nations still criminalize homosexual relationships, sometimes with death. Arguably, Blatter emitted a tasteless quip rather than took a stand as an anti-gay advocate.
Such a statement said so far in advance leaves several loopholes. In 12 years, Qatar could easily have legalized gay. But in the event that such progress does not come to fruition, homosexual sports fanatics always have the option of not having sex in public.
Whatever the future gay rights atmosphere in Arabia is, we're hoping that Adam Lambert will be the star performer for halftime entertainment.
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