GAY RUGBY

23/11/2003

Dear Editor

I expect like most of the country I was glued to the Rugby and jumped with joy when we English became the World Cup holders. Judo and Sombo wrestlers have special kindred with Rugby players we understand what is liked to be smashed to the ground and a lot of Rugby players take up Judo and Sombo during the summer. Yet the fitness and quality of this England rugby Team is an inspiration to all Sportsmen.

On the Sunday I decided to peruse the Newspapers as most sporting events I watch never seem to the same as what the journalists see after enjoying the read my mood changed to anger. Why because there was an article about the GAY WORLD RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIPS, why anger here was the Homosexual lobby capitalising on the Rugby triumph to promote their strange sexual habits, what is worse this England triumph was for everyone in England. What has some bodies sexual habits got to do with playing sport was the English team asked are you normal sexed or are you homosexual I very much doubt it. Surely the criteria are who is best for the team and country.  If you think I am making this up check out International Gay Rugby Association & Board, there is also a Federation of Gay Games. One must wonder how you qualify for these teams?

So some of you are saying what a bigot that Clarke is if the Homosexual want to play games with each other why not let then. Well let me ask this question would I be allowed to form an association called THE STRAIGHT RUGBY CLUB for normal sexed men I very much doubt it. Bringing sexual preference, race, colour, religion etc, etc into Sport only demeanours it as some one who competed at World Class level in Judo, Sombo Wrestling and Jiu Jitsu I have competed against all races and religions. When I have looked at my fight list my name and my opponents name are listed with our country. I have never needed to ask what religion are you and are you Homosexual, law of averages tell me I must have fought an Homosexual the only thing I cared about was me winning.

I have for a long time felt these so called equal opportunities are reality nothing more then a trick to appease militant minority groups at the expense of the majority. Look around you would you be allowed to have a White Music awards NO but you can have a Black Music awards, would you be allowed to have a White Police Officers Association NO but you can have a Black one. 40 years ago there was massive racial prejudice which was wrong, homosexual were hounded out of jobs because of their sexuality that was wrong but was it legislation that stopped this or was it just that the indigenous British people accepted them and let them become part of British Society.

What is wrong is that legislation is being made to make us like each other this is wrong and unworkable, it will only fester inner hatred. We should be allowed to say what we feel at least this way you will get the real bigots in the open. I have never had a problem with a persons race, colour or religion maybe it is because I have travelled and competed all over, but I will admit to being slightly homophobic I do not want see any one hurt, driven out of houses, losing their jobs etc just because of their sexuality, mind you I do not want them to have preferential treatment because of it. I am just disgusted by the idea of two men having sex and I can never understand why people want to parade about telling everyone about their sexuality. To me sex is private and personal thing and long may it be so.

I have posted this on the Internet, as I doubt the local paper will print it

Martin Clarke