BOYS WILL BE BOYS

The notion of gay athletes has somehow always encountered resistance and controversy within the sport community. Stereotypes can define the performance of the athletes as well as their suitability to a specific discipline. Gender roles are constructed and performed within society. The binary code is widely imposed by the tradition and, in the worst case, is the only one allowed by law. Rugby by definition is a hard contact and manly game. Up until a few years ago, the possibility of gay players on the pitch was not even contemplated. The very common stereotype depicted homosexuals as weaker than straight guys and definitely not suitable for a “gentlemen’s fight club” like rugby. The locker room was a sacred space devoted to pure masculinity, where gay individuals would not fit. At the dawn of the third millennium, it was this discomfort that pushed a few 'ruckers,' also members of the Toronto's LGBTQ community, to form the first gay-friendly rugby team in the city. They unconsciously started the process of deconstructing and re-describing the concept of masculinity within the sport performance. Established in 2003, Muddy York RFC primarily competes against ‘straight’ sides in the Toronto Rugby Union. The club also travels for exhibition matches against other inclusive teams, hosts the annual Beaver Bowl Tournament, and every two years participates in the Bingham Cup, an international competition often labeled as the LGBTQ Rugby World Cup.