Excuse ignorance - does being related to partner make you better or worse tennis player?
If not, why need different competitions?
Typically if to closely related probably worse. Should be at least first or second cousin :-?
Excuse ignorance - does being related to partner make you better or worse tennis player?
If not, why need different competitions?
You are not probably aware, but many cities had LGBT leagues because the players were harassed at regular leagues. If you don't understand something, at least stop pretending it is not an issue. If you think marijuana and this issue are similar, you must be a really ignorant prson. But I suppose you are proud of that.
For example?
The previous family divisions included:
Husband-Wife
Father-Son
Sr Father-Daughter
Father-Daughter
Super Sr Father-Daughter
Sr Mother-Daughter
Mother-Son
Super Sr Mother-Daughter
Mother-Daughter
Sr Father-Son
Super Sr Father-Son
Grandfather-Grandson
Husband-Wife Combo 100
Husband-Wife Combo 120
These are NOT NTRP based tournaments - they are only relationship based. So it makes sense to offer same gender tournaments since the level of partners may be quite wide and this would give them an opportunity to play together.
There are already potentially homosexual and lesbian leagues, mens and ladies doubles.
Read my above post. There already are husband-wife leagues, not just regular mixed doubles.
See my post above, where do transgender fit in? Mother, father, son, daughter?
Definitely not heterosexual.
I guess it's possible, but what's your point? You can also have transgender people who are attracted to the same gender. I still don't see why the same gender events are a problem.
Same gender events already exist, what is suggested by these leagues is separating people by sexuality, the next step by colour or religion?
Inclusion is the way ahead, not seperation. I am more than willing to play with or against homosexuals or lesbians.
Same gender events exist, and so do mixed gender events. These have nothing to do with the husband-wife events. If there are husband-wife events, why not same gender partner events? Again, it is no big deal and shouldn't be made out to be one.
You keep using the term gender, what is being suggested is separating people by sexual orientation. That is a big difference.
Apartheid started like this!
What the? I'm saying same gender couples. As in their sexual orientation is toward the same gender. And flippant comments about apartheid are not cool.
It is not a flippant comment. Seperating people by sexual orientation is not cool and is most definitely a retrograde step.
It is a flippant comment. Apartheid was a government forcing black people to live as inferiors. This is an extra category in a USTA league that the people in question want. It is not retrograde in any way whatsoever.
Apartheid means "the state of being apart", it has other uses other than your example.
My belief is that segregation is bad, inclusion is good.
Apartheid means "the state of being apart", it has other uses other than your example.
My belief is that segregation is bad, inclusion is good.
Really?! You seriously expected your use of apartheid to be taken that way? Saying apartheid "started like this" to boot.
Anyway, husband wife events are just as segregated as same gender events. Should we do away with those too?
GB is obviously trolling and/or being purposefully obtuse.
These family divisions exist for totally social reasons. A husband-wife, mother-daughter, etc. might not have been inclined to play an event, but making it an event specifically "mother-daughter, couple, etc." event provides a fun incentive to get people out on the courts.
The fact that there will now be gay couple events in addition to all of the other family divisions just means more people will be showing up to these events. That is more integration than segregation. You know that. You are just being a contrarian. And your use of the world apartheid is ridiculous and offensive.
US tennis has been falling behind the rest of the world in the area of same gender couple's tennis so this addresses several problems.
The previous family divisions included:
Husband-Wife
Father-Son
Sr Father-Daughter
Father-Daughter
Super Sr Father-Daughter
Sr Mother-Daughter
Mother-Son
Super Sr Mother-Daughter
Mother-Daughter
Sr Father-Son
Super Sr Father-Son
Grandfather-Grandson
Husband-Wife Combo 100
Husband-Wife Combo 120
These are NOT NTRP based tournaments - they are only relationship based. So it makes sense to offer same gender tournaments since the level of partners may be quite wide and this would give them an opportunity to play together.
GB is obviously trolling and/or being purposefully obtuse.
I always think of the movie Shawshank Redemption when I hear that word.
You are not probably aware, but many cities had LGBT leagues because the players were harassed at regular leagues.
Please cite where these incidents occurred and what happened. I've never seen or heard of any reports on them. Normally if there's any unusual occurrence at a tennis match like a fight it's all over the internet or in the tennis tabloids.
Perhaps, you can explain? Why are lots of gay men, so flamboyant, speak with lisp, other stereotype?I have never experienced this on a tennis court, but I am generally a pretty non-effeminate, "you-probably-wouldn't-know-unless-I-told-you-I-was-gay" gay. Though I have my whole life witnessed more flamboyant friends in many public contexts being treated to these little micro- or quasi-mircroagressions by those (usually teenagers, macho types, and older people) who did not mind showing their open distaste-to-contempt for homosexual personalities.
What's going to be next? Doubles divisions where the combined weight of partners has to be greater than 500lbs? Label it as Overweight-Overweight or Obese-Obese??
The USTA needs to eliminate divisions, not create them.
Agreed. However just like the 40+ age division this is just about USTA trying to offer more events and therefore make more money.
No kidding. We really need an alternative to the USTA for people who just want to play tennis and not get wrapped up in all this political stuff that they seem so obsessed with.
My brother is gay and I love him dearly. A friend on my men's, combo, single and mixed teams that is gay. I play doubles with him, go to his and his husband's parties and don't judge or consider his sexuality as an issue, on or off the court.
But for all the people who think the USTA needs this new format, please answer one question: Can't my brother and my gay male friend play with me on my men's teams, my mixed teams, my combo teams and single's team already?
Since yes they can, why on earth is this new division needed other than to simply say "Hey, I am homosexual tennis player"?
My brother and friend are open about their homosexuality and don't see the need for this division as it excludes their heterosexual friends and tennis partners and won't be participating.
And does being bi-sexual get someone banned from these events? And what's to stop me from signing up to play with my gay friend? Is there a entry requirement? :-?
This is simply some 4.5 player who lobbied the USTA who invented a solution to a problem that never existed.
Since yes they can, why on earth is this new division needed other than to simply say "Hey, I am homosexual tennis player"?
The previous family divisions included:
Husband-Wife
Father-Son
Sr Father-Daughter
Father-Daughter
Super Sr Father-Daughter
Sr Mother-Daughter
Mother-Son
Super Sr Mother-Daughter
Mother-Daughter
Sr Father-Son
Super Sr Father-Son
Grandfather-Grandson
Husband-Wife Combo 100
Husband-Wife Combo 120
These are NOT NTRP based tournaments - they are only relationship based. So it makes sense to offer same gender tournaments since the level of partners may be quite wide and this would give them an opportunity to play together.
You really are comparing apples and oranges. We aren't talking about teams here. We are talking about tournament events similar to ones that already exist for mother-daughter, husband-wife, etc. These events exclude childless and single people, respectively. Are you ok with that, or should these events be done away with as well?
Also, it must be nice to play doubles in a husband-wife event and not have the world think that you are making a political statement by doing so.
My brother is gay and I love him dearly. A friend on my men's, combo, single and mixed teams that is gay. I play doubles with him, go to his and his husband's parties and don't judge or consider his sexuality as an issue, on or off the court.
But for all the people who think the USTA needs this new format, please answer one question: Can't my brother and my gay male friend play with me on my men's teams, my mixed teams, my combo teams and single's team already?
Since yes they can, why on earth is this new division needed other than to simply say "Hey, I am homosexual tennis player"?
My brother and friend are open about their homosexuality and don't see the need for this division as it excludes their heterosexual friends and tennis partners and won't be participating.
And does being bi-sexual get someone banned from these events? And what's to stop me from signing up to play with my gay friend? Is there a entry requirement? :-?
This is simply some 4.5 player who lobbied the USTA who invented a solution to a problem that never existed.
Exactly. Listen to this guy. because he is right. Someone wanted the spotlight is all.
To answer you question , yes, I think all these restrictive events are so small and exclusive they limit who can play and are basically useless, so why them?
They are pointless.
Tournaments are hard enough to fill without excluding people.
And, I am not comparing apples to apples when I play doubles with a gay man in 4.0 men's tournaments. Pretty sure a tournament is a tournament and if I signed up for exclusive GL tournament with him, am I going to be questioned "are you partners, married or friends" and are we going to play 4.0 men or open or 2.5 men?
And if questioned, does homosexual curiosity grant me access?
Again, all these family divisions are useless IMO. What's the point of having a small, exclusive event?
Maybe the USTA should have straight-gay brother, straight brother - lesbian sister tournaments also-
I feel so excluded that my gay brother and I don't have a separate tournament category just for us-
This isn't a gay-only event. It is a couples event. If your hypothetical gay doubles partner has a husband with whom he plays tennis, he will probably be partnered with him and not you, so your point is moot.
And a tournament is not a tournament. These family tournaments are typically much more social (hence, no need for a huge draw) than the competitive regular USTA tournaments.
How exactly does this change affect you?
This isn't a gay-only event. It is a couples event. If your hypothetical gay doubles partner has a husband with whom he plays tennis, he will probably be partnered with him and not you, so your point is moot.
And a tournament is not a tournament. These family tournaments are typically much more social (hence, no need for a huge draw) than the competitive regular USTA tournaments.
How exactly does this change affect you?
If your hypothetical gay doubles partner has a husband with whom he plays tennis, he will probably be partnered with him and not you, so your point is moot.
TroutSC knows me and he can easily verify my gay 4.0 friend and tennis partner.
Why do you doubt I have a gay friend and tennis partner?
Do you really think everyone in the world is homophobic? Granted there are a lot of homophobic people in the world, but don't assume everyone is.
Brian11785 said:Again, it must be nice to be heterosexual.
Brian11785 said:I imagine you don't appreciate that privilege, but it is there.
You have no idea. Not a day goes by that I don't wake up and want to have a parade of thankfulness about how awesome it is to be heterosexual.
I file it in the drawer next to my White Privilege.
You have no idea. Not a day goes by that I don't wake up and want to have a parade of thankfulness about how awesome it is to be heterosexual.
Definitely don't throw it away. It comes in handy more often than you realize.I file it in the drawer next to my White Privilege.
The previous family divisions included:
Husband-Wife
Father-Son
Sr Father-Daughter
Father-Daughter
Super Sr Father-Daughter
Sr Mother-Daughter
Mother-Son
Super Sr Mother-Daughter
Mother-Daughter
Sr Father-Son
Super Sr Father-Son
Grandfather-Grandson
Husband-Wife Combo 100
Husband-Wife Combo 120
.
It must be noted that these events are not necessarily heterosexual.
There are many grandparents, mothers, fathers, sons and daughters that are homosexual, lesbian or bisexual. So these tournaments are already fully inclusive .
I do not think (and I am sorry if I implied) that you were homophobic for having this opinion on the USTA events. My use of the word hypothetical was a poorly-worded reference to your "if I signed up"....a hyphothetical scenario. It wasn't an implication that you don't actually have gay friends.
I just think this is such a little deal that it isn't even worth opposing. Honestly, outside a few areas, there probably won't be enough gay couples to make an event.
I play USTA leagues, UltimateTennis as well as GLTA tournaments. Just an FYI, but there are always a handful of straight people in the GLTA tournaments (always have been)--I lost a 4.0 doubles final to two hetero married 4.5-ish women who were moved over and down to the 4.0 men's draw last year in a tournament that didn't have enough 4.5 women. The husband of one of the women also played in the tournament.
Not to those that don't have grandchildren, children, or living parents/grandparents.