12/21/24
October 11, 2010
Yankees' Bleacher Creatures Sing 'Why Are You Gay?': A Minnesota Twins fan was outraged by an intensely homophobic song that was sung by the Bleacher Creatures, fans in Section 203 of Yankees Stadium who've become infamous for their merciless heckling of opposing fans. The song, performed when the grounds crew dances to "YMCA," is called "Why Are You Gay?" Video from 2007. "I couldn't believe my ears," said the fan. "What an embarrassment for Yankees fans and New York City."
That song tells any kid in the bleachers that being gay is wrong. It encourages bullying and for young gay kids to hate themselves. No one would defend the tradition if the target of the song was blacks instead of gays.
They should stop playing "YMCA" at Yankees games and start ejecting fans for that abusive song until they get the message.
posted by rcade at 02:57 PM on October 11, 2010
Being a Mets fan and going to Yankees stadium during the 2001 Subway series, this wasn't even as bad as I've seen before. On the other hand, the majority of Philly fans that I've came across are just plain ignorant.
posted by BornIcon at 03:04 PM on October 11, 2010
This makes me appreciate a Yankees loss even more. Go Rangers Rays.
posted by smithnyiu at 03:33 PM on October 11, 2010
Just stop playing the song. If people complain, tell them that a bunch of jerkasses ruined it for everybody.
Actually, come to think of it - Just stop playing that song anywhere for any reason.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 03:42 PM on October 11, 2010
"This makes me appreciate a Yankees loss even more. Go Rangers Rays."
You do realize this goes on anywhere right? Not defending the song, but if you go to any other stadium, there's a good chance you will hear something just as bad. Just go to Boston wearing a Yankees jersey :)
I would hate to say that its part of the game since I really don't think its an appropriate song to sing, but what else would you expect to happen if you wear a rivals jersey in the middle of a group of drunken fans? At least they didn't puke on him...
I do agree the song should be banned, for reasons completely unrelated to any of its offensive variations.
posted by Andy1087 at 05:06 PM on October 11, 2010
You do realize this goes on anywhere right? Not defending the song, but if you go to any other stadium, there's a good chance you will hear something just as bad. Just go to Boston wearing a Yankees jersey :)
No it doesn't, not to this extent, and in such an organized fashion. I'm sure wearing a Yankee jersey at Fenway isn't fun (unless the fan gets off on being the center of attention, and many do), but Fenway isn't everywhere. I've worn my red sox gear to tampa, atlanta, and baltimore and not had a single remark has been made to me.
but what else would you expect to happen if you wear a rivals jersey in the middle of a group of drunken fans?
If I'm minding my business and simply cheering on my team, not this.
posted by justgary at 05:35 PM on October 11, 2010
You do realize this goes on anywhere right?
I've been to at least 100 pro sporting events. I've never heard an organized song that offensive which is apparently sung on a regular basis. I've seen individuals acting badly and some fights, but nothing like the bigoted group abuse in that video. I'm amazed the Yankees have looked the other way and allowed it to continue.
posted by rcade at 06:03 PM on October 11, 2010
No it doesn't, not to this extent, and in such an organized fashion.
Not making any excuses for this behavior, but I don't know that I'd be in such a hurry to say this, justgary. Unless you've been living under a rock for the past month, you have to be aware that expressions of anti-gay bias are not anywhere near universally frowned upon. Straight people might like to believe that things are all hunky-dory for gays and things like this are anomalous, but there are plenty of people who would have absolutely no shame at standing up in a group of thick-necked sports talk radio yellers and let the queers know what they think of them.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 07:38 PM on October 11, 2010
If I was a New Yorker, I'd be pretty fucking sick of people like that representing my city on the national stage. Were these asshats the same ones that were at the Jets game shouting at women to show them their tits? I find it hard to believe that a city becomes as great as New York while condoning stupid shit like that, but my resistance is weakening.
posted by tahoemoj at 07:59 PM on October 11, 2010
Unless you've been living under a rock for the past month, you have to be aware that expressions of anti-gay bias are not anywhere near universally frowned upon. Straight people might like to believe that things are all hunky-dory for gays and things like this are anomalous, but there are plenty of people who would have absolutely no shame at standing up in a group of thick-necked sports talk radio yellers and let the queers know what they think of them.
No where did I say things are 'hunky-dory for gays', or that they don't face discrimination or harm. I'm fully aware of what's going on and I don't live under a rock. My comment was in reference to what you're seeing in the video, not a larger comment on society, which you seem to be taking it as.
If the original comment was referring to discrimination and abuse happening in the world at large, then I mistook his point. If he's saying that this happens often at major sporting events, then no, it doesn't, and saying 'well, it happens everywhere', what did they expect, doesn't help things.
If I confused you, please use rcade's comment as my view, since you have no problem with his. I could do without the lecture.
posted by justgary at 08:01 PM on October 11, 2010
Man, gary, you think there's not going to be a lecture? Have you been living under a rock?
Play the song one more time and eject everyone in the section unless they agree to sloppy makeouts with a member of the same sex for the remainder of the game.
posted by wfrazerjr at 08:50 PM on October 11, 2010
justgary, you said, "No it doesn't, not to this extent, and in such an organized fashion.", which does seem to suggest (to paraphrase Sinclair Lewis) that you believe that "it can't happen here". Do you really believe the behavior is anomalous? Do you really believe that nowhere else will you find organized anti-gay chanting?
I could do without the lecture.
And I could do without the drama.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 08:51 PM on October 11, 2010
I've been to at least 100 pro sporting events. I've never heard an organized song that offensive which is apparently sung on a regular basis.
Don't follow Arsenal, then?
posted by rodgerd at 10:28 PM on October 11, 2010
Do you really believe the behavior is anomalous? Do you really believe that nowhere else will you find organized anti-gay chanting?
Can you think of examples of fan behavior this boorish that occurs regularly (at least in the U.S.)? The Jets fans harassing women is the closest I can think of, and I think the team put an end to that. They should do the same here.
Don't follow Arsenal, then?
Presuming you're talking about the "Yid" stuff, I am not really in a position to judge how offensive that gets. I can't tell what fans are chanting when I watch on TV.
posted by rcade at 10:34 PM on October 11, 2010
Do you really believe the behavior is anomalous? Do you really believe that nowhere else will you find organized anti-gay chanting?
You know, instead of pinning it on Gary to find it when it's clearly not something happening all over the place, why don't you take the initiative and find a few examples where it is happening? Because I'm pretty sure if this was happening in an organized fashion at public events, we'd already know about it.
So why don't we?
As for someone who doesn't want drama ...
Unless you've been living under a rock for the past month, you have to be aware that expressions of anti-gay bias are not anywhere near universally frowned upon. Straight people might like to believe that things are all hunky-dory for gays and things like this are anomalous, but there are plenty of people who would have absolutely no shame at standing up in a group of thick-necked sports talk radio yellers and let the queers know what they think of them.
... perhaps you should stop causing it. You're obviously intelligent enough to know Gary's comment wasn't an offhand dismissal of the terrible discrimination and issues gays face every day, so why even go that route unless you're looking for drama yourself?
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:00 PM on October 11, 2010
For people saying you don't hear about this happening at any other stadiums: Just because you haven't heard of it doesn't mean it doesn't happen. I mean, this started at least 3 years ago, but you didn't hear about it until now. I've been to plenty of Yankees games and I never knew this went on. I guess you have just been lucky to not be around any of these fools as its happening.
However, when I said it happens everywhere, I was NOT justifying what they were doing with the fact that others do it. I was saying that all stadiums have assholes who ruin the game for others, so personally I wouldn't use this as a reason to root against NY. Just use one of the many others.
Just to be clear, these guys singing should be given a warning and then kicked out if there's any more trouble from them during the game whatsoever. I do not condone what they said.
posted by Andy1087 at 12:32 AM on October 12, 2010
I mean, this started at least 3 years ago, but you didn't hear about it until now.
Previous mention of "YMCA/Why Are You Gay":
And they have their own Wikipedia page which references the "YMCA" chant, so people have "heard about it" before now.
posted by grum@work at 01:04 AM on October 12, 2010
Well I was assuming that since there was such a big deal being made about it right now that it was most peoples first time hearing about it. Sorry bout that.
posted by Andy1087 at 01:28 AM on October 12, 2010
Do you really believe that nowhere else will you find organized anti-gay chanting?
Andy1087: However, when I said it happens everywhere
posted by justgary at 10:09 AM on October 12, 2010
The irony of the fact that YMCA was the breakout hit for an all-gay band seems to be lost on the slobs so gleefully singing along with it. Is that song now public domain? I'm surprised the Village People continue to allow the song to be played, knowing what is going on with it. Why don't they just refuse to allow the stadium to play their song as long as the bigotry continues? And if it is now public domain, why doesn't the league step in to prohibit it from being played at Yankee games? It seems to be a really simple solution, if a solution is indeed sought.
And yeah, I'm sure shit like that does happen all over the place, although I've never witnessed anything like it in my 40 years. That doesn't make it right, especially when an end can easily be put to it.
posted by tahoemoj at 11:37 AM on October 12, 2010
Since I've been name checked I guess I'll chime in on this. (most of this is from my very poor memory, so dates may not be entirely accurate)
I'm kind of surprised it took this long for there to be a backlash. They have been doing this nearly as long as YMCA has been played at the Stadium (mid-late 90s). I will admit that when I first started frequenting the section I joined in. At that point it was pretty much isolated to one section (where the original creatures were located) and it always seemed to be directed towards opposing fans who were being assholes themselves (not that this condones the song at all).
By my second full season in the bleachers there were more and more people singing it, mostly just the chorus because these weren't regulars who knew all the lyrics. And they would target anyone wearing the opposing team's gear. After a while my conscious got the better of me and I stopped singing along. Around 2007 (I think) security became tighter out there. They put a stop to many of the chants and song including WAYG. Towards the end of the 2008 season they seemed to ease up a bit and when the new Stadium opened it was completely back again. In light of this article I would expect security to once again put the kibosh on the song.
And if it is now public domain, why doesn't the league step in to prohibit it from being played at Yankee games? It seems to be a really simple solution, if a solution is indeed sought.
That would be fantastic. I believe one of the reasons WAYG started was that people were sick of hearing it every game (and I am in no way saying it's an excuse, just stating what I have heard.)
posted by goddam at 12:12 PM on October 12, 2010
Is that song now public domain? I'm surprised the Village People continue to allow the song to be played, knowing what is going on with it.
It's not public domain, and I'd be surprised if the Village People still own the rights to the song. My guess is that the publisher owns the rights, and simply enjoys the royalties they get every time it is played.
posted by grum@work at 12:47 PM on October 12, 2010
Since I've been name checked I guess I'll chime in on this.
I did not want to drag you into this. I simply wanted to point out that first hand knowledge of the song was from at least 2004, and you were the source.
posted by grum@work at 12:49 PM on October 12, 2010
I did not want to drag you into this. I simply wanted to point out that first hand knowledge of the song was from at least 2004, and you were the source.
No worries. I had thought about adding my 2. Your comment just gave me a nudge.
posted by goddam at 01:00 PM on October 12, 2010
Don't follow Arsenal, then?
Presuming you're talking about the "Yid" stuff, I am not really in a position to judge how offensive that gets. I can't tell what fans are chanting when I watch on TV.
No, more the "Arsene Wenger is a pedophile" song.
posted by rodgerd at 09:36 PM on October 12, 2010
Why are you gay? Well, see, sometimes when two people love each other very much...no, wait, wrong story...
Seriously, what a bunch of lunkheads.