
By: Robin Murray-o'hair
Re: "Lesbians Hurt Golf"

"LESBIANS HURT WOMEN'S GOLF," SAYS ANNOUNCER

Will We Ever Get Over Judeo-Christian Homophobia? Not On This
Round of Golf . . .

by Conrad F. Goeringer

     The (Wilmington, DE) News Journal is quoting veteran CBS
announcer Ben Wright as saying that "Lesbians in the sport hurt
women's golf," and that women were handicapped in the game due to
their anatomy.

     The interview took place at the McDonalds LPGA
Championships. Wright, who has been with the CBS network covering
golf for 23 years, reportedly said: "Let's face some facts here.
. . . Lesbians in the sport hurt women's golf." He also accused
gay women of flaunting their sexual preference, saying that on
the LPGA Tour lesbianism "is not reticent. It's paraded. There's
a defiance in them in the last decade."

             And Another Shot in the Trap . . .

     Wright ostensibly went on to say that "Women are
handicapped by having boobs (sic). It's not easy for them to keep
the left arm straight, and that's one of the tenants of the game.
Their boobs get in the way." While Wright's theories on anatomy
certainly give new twist to arguments against women in sports,
the contention that "Lesbians hurt women's golf" is a rehash of
Christian fundamentalist hostility toward gay men and women. In
fact, centuries of religious condemnation against the homosexual
population has resulted in discrimination, harassment, physical
attacks and even death. Gay and Straight Women Victimized

     These remarks if indeed made by Ben Wright are aimed at
both gay and heterosexual women. The argument that women cannot
participate in many sports runs parallel with those which insist
that traditional role models for women should be accepted, that
if women are handicapped by biology in, say, golf, they may be
less-than-capable in other endeavors such as science, business,
or education.

     Some may see in Wright's statements the kernel of Judeo-
Christian teachings about gays and women teachings which are
promoted today by groups on the evangelical right.

             Inquiring Minds Want to Know . . .

     But if women hugging or kissing on the golf turf (or in
the bedroom) worries Wright and others, perhaps we need an
instant-replay of incidents in the manly sport of, say, football.
Jubilant players, "beef on the hoof" linemen and physically-toned
running backs, often embrace, pat each other on the back (or
buttocks!), throw themselves into each other's arms and after the
game frequently shower together. Does this convey some hidden
meaning?

   Hopefully, Mr Wright if he made these statements will
apologize to not only women golfers (who, despite boobs and
lesbianism could probably out golf the 62-year-old, jowl- faced
newshound) but to gay people everywhere. Here's a clear-cut case
where Ben Wright is dead wrong.

                           --30--

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