Gay and bisexual wrestlers

[dlg3000]

This isn't about people who are rumored to be gay or bisexual, but this is about people who are openly gay or bisexual. Who, other than Orlando Jordan, Pat Patterson, and Kanyon (RIP) are or were openly gay or bisexual in pro wrestling? Is the pro wrestling business any more or any less homophobic than any other business?

[invaderdave]

Jim Barnett was also openly gay.

Pro wrestling doesn't exactly have the best track record when it comes to promoting "openly gay" characters. As for in the back, I'm sure it's just like any community with gay people; some people don't like it, and some people don't mind it at all.

[poi zen rana]

I would say wrestling as a whole is still more homophobic than the average business. I say this based on the few out wrestlers I have heard of (basically just the ones mentioned) and the prevalence of effeminate gimmicks being used for heat. that is not to say all wrestling companies or wrestlers are homophobic, it just seems homophobia has a bigger place in wrestling than it does in most industries.

[worldsstrongestman]

Terry Garvin

[shadowangel]

Jan 11, 2011 13:35:53 GMT -5 poi zen rana said:

I would say wrestling as a whole is still more homophobic than the average business.

That can also be said about basically every sport out there.
A couple of months ago there was a big article about football (soccer) and homosexuality. They interviewed players and they all said the same: "There are homosexual playes but they all cover it up, because they're afraid of the other players and the fans". It got so far that some of them even marrying or getting in a relationship with a woman just to cover it even more up (Which is not unsual, for example Elton John did that too in the 80's and somehow i bet there are some homosexual wrestlers who cover it up that way). At least in germany no football play has outed himself so far and i think the same can be said about every other country (the only homosexual football player i know of is Justin Fashanu who commited suicide because of all the hate he received for it)

[YAKMAN is ICHIBAN]

I've heard rumors that Fabulous Moolah and Mae Young were lesbians (not necessarily a couple or anything), but I doubt that there is anything to it. Considering it seems to be more socially acceptable, I'm surprised there aren't more (any?!) openly gay or bi women.

There's an indy wrestler named Simon Sermon who is openly gay. He makes it part of his character as well, and doesn't play it flamboyantly. This interview is from 2007, so I don't know if he is still around. The latest I can find is stuff from 2008. If anyone knows more feel free to post, I only found this by searching gay pro wrestlers.

"Simon Sermon is the Greatest European Champion of All Time. From Manchester England, and somehow stranded in small minded Georgia, Simon makes his rounds in the wrestling circuit as the self proclaimed Unified European Champion with belt, accent, flag, and all. Simon has a very smug like him or leave him attitude that usually rubs most people the wrong way. He also does not skirt the gay issue at all and is not afraid to mix it up with the fans when they try to make his sexuality an issue. If Simon sticks around, he is usually one of the most over characters on the roster. All without makeup, perfume, and pigtails."

www.associatedcontent.com/article/165073/changing_perceptions_an_interview_with.html?cat=49

[poi zen rana]

that is very true. sports as a whole seem to cherish traditional interpretations of masculinity. never mind the fact that sexual preference has nothing to do "toughness".

has there ever been a wrestler somewhere who's gimmick was that of a homophobic heel? that would be fun to see.

[YAKMAN is ICHIBAN]

I would love for some wrestling company to try to take on some of these tougher issues. Bring in some seriously skilled writers, slick production.... sort of more of a film-making take on the whole thing.


I know of a pro wrestler/trainer who actually hit on myself and another guy when we were looking into getting trained... I won't name names though, since I doubt anyone wants it public that they would accept sexual favors as payment for training. Needless to say, we turned to more professional individuals. (Well, my friend did. I bailed on the whole wrestling career idea when I decided I wanted to have functioning knees when I was 50)

[Peeetah]

Vin Gerard's gay isn't he?

[Joe Galt]

Jan 11, 2011 14:05:37 GMT -5 YAKMAN is ICHIBAN said:

I bailed on the whole wrestling career idea when I decided I wanted to have functioning knees when I was 50)

...and that`s if you had an extremely light schedule. Good choice to make IMHO.

[shadowangel]

Jan 11, 2011 14:03:21 GMT -5 YAKMAN is ICHIBAN said:

I've heard rumors that Fabulous Moolah and Mae Young were lesbians (not necessarily a couple or anything), but I doubt that there is anything to it. Considering it seems to be more socially acceptable, I'm surprised there aren't more (any?!) openly gay or bi women.

They lived together since 1991 and there is Katie Glass who lived with Moolah for over fourty years, even while Moolah was married. So it could be true. I also heard some stories about her demanding sexual favours from female students in her wrestling school but those are just rumours.

As for it being more acceptable: I'm bisexual, in a relationship with my girlfriend for over six years now and about half way through we stopped counting all the insults and death threats we heard from guys.
It may very well true, that a lot of guys like the thought of it, because they know it from their porn movies and drool over the thought of watching two women having sex but in reality, there are more than enough guys who have a very big problem with it.

So i can very well understand why the girls aren't outing themself.

[neal]

It would be less time consuming to make a list of wrestlers who have never been involved in homosexual activities.

[strykerdarksilence]

Brawler

[Andrew is Good]

I do remember reading on that Greg Valentine talking about transvestites, well, I don't remember the details, but I don't know. Somebody has to know what I'm talking about.

As for homophobia in the back, Orlando said he never had any problems, and even had people's encouragement when it came to the bisexual gimmick in WWE. The gimmick he wanted to use in WWE and the one he has now in TNA are pretty different. He was still gonna do the male and female valet thing, but he was just gonna be a cocky wrestler, comes out in a robe, the valet takes his robe off, he kisses both of them, and when pressed about it, ignores it or has no idea what the guy interviewing him is talking about or thinks he's talking about something else. Like, the announcer asks him why he did what he did out there and to explain it, and Orlando would be like, hey, the referee's decision is final man, there are no replays, like, when the interviewer is obviously talking about him kissing both the guy and the girl.

[SamTastic thinks CM Punk sucks]

Independent wrestler Johnny Kashmire who was apart of The Backseat Boyz with Trent Acid is openly gay. He has a column on a Philidephian gay website.

[Rave]

I remember hearing that Johnny Stamboli/Rellik came out in an issue of the old Raw magazine, but I have no idea if that's actually true.

[Legion]

As another poster has said, I doubt anyone has a massive problem with it unless it's being directed at them.

Of course there are going to be the odd issues, we know AJ disliked the idea that gays were lusting after him, and Flair seemed to have a massive issue with OJ bringing his bf to some do, plus there is the religious aspect that guys like GenMe and Jericho have brought up having issues with gay people over.

Flip to that and you have Nash and Punk who clearly dont care at all, and have said as much on their websites and in interviews.

It's all gonna be personal opinion based on that person, for what it's worth, I doubt Vince has an issue with it, look at Pat for an example as to that, but it is an easy gimmick to get heel heat for - but as we've seen with Goldust, fans will cheer a bi wrestler or whatever if given a reason to do so.

["The Rated XXX Superstar" Jed]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:LGBT_professional_wrestlers
Pretty small list. I've also heard a guy who works the indy circuit as "The Hardcore Homo" is in fact legit gay.

[The Captain]

There was a great interview that Kevin Nash did with a gay website about the nature of homosexuals in the wrestling industry. While not gay himself, he's VERY supportive of the gay community(?!?!) and has family members that are openly gay.

This interview I think was done before Kanyon died, but he says there's really nothing to those allegations that he was released because he was gay. More that he wasn't really that good. He also jokes about doing a gay angle with Hall, which is one of the more common slash pairings in wrestling fandom. Don't ask how I know that.

EDIT: here's the interview. www.outsports.com/moresports/20061205nash.htm

[Baldobomb-22-OH-MAN!!!]

Jan 11, 2011 16:40:55 GMT -5 Legion said:

As another poster has said, I doubt anyone has a massive problem with it unless it's being directed at them.

Of course there are going to be the odd issues, we know AJ disliked the idea that gays were lusting after him, and Flair seemed to have a massive issue with OJ bringing his bf to some do, plus there is the religious aspect that guys like GenMe and Jericho have brought up having issues with gay people over.

Flip to that and you have Nash and Punk who clearly dont care at all, and have said as much on their websites and in interviews.

It's all gonna be personal opinion based on that person, for what it's worth, I doubt Vince has an issue with it, look at Pat for an example as to that, but it is an easy gimmick to get heel heat for - but as we've seen with Goldust, fans will cheer a bi wrestler or whatever if given a reason to do so.

from what I understand, Flair's issue wasn't with the guy's sexuality, it was that the guy was really annoying and cocky or something to that effect.