Homosexuality in English football Homosexuality in English football Homosexuality in English football is sometimes said to be a taboo subject by both players and the media. As of 2012, there are no openly gay footballers in England's top four divisions. Some, such as Peter Clayton, who chairs the FA's "Homophobia in Football" working group have argued that clubs prevent players from "coming out" as footballers have an increasing commercial market value which may be damaged. Homosexuality in England and Wales (but not Scotland or Northern Ireland) was decriminalised in 1967, leading to a more liberal public attitude. There are many openly gay politicians and
Russell Cooper social conservatism, and attacks on the federal Labor government. The Nationals produced a number of controversial advertisements, one of which alleged that the Labor Opposition's plan to decriminalise homosexuality would lead to a flood of gays from southern states moving to Queensland. These advertisements were satirised by Labor ads depicting Cooper as a wild-eyed reactionary. In the election, the Nationals were heavily defeated, suffering the worst defeat of a sitting government in Queensland. This was mainly due to a massive Labor wave that swept through Brisbane; Labor took all but five of the capital's 36 seats. However, Cooper was not