Gay surfer David Wakefield struggled with revealing his sexual preference to his broader surfing community for 20 years. Photo: Out In The Lineup
The film was also unable to secure comment from any current World Tour competitors, which is telling in the sense that it revealed the difficulty in securing an interview with a pro surfer about a social issue, but not much else. Coordinating interviews with pro surfers is like watching MTV’s Teen Mom. Very difficult, no matter the subject. It also omitted an important perspective.
As such, I surveyed a few ASP athletes with varying response rates, but Ace Buchan shared an exceptionally thoughtful statement:
“As far as my experiences go I don’t think homophobia is any more present in my generation of surfers than in any other cross section of society,” Ace wrote in an email. “That doesn’t mean it isn’t prevalent and should therefore be addressed. I think the modern age of interconnectedness via social media has made the youth more aware of these issues but that reliance on devices and pc’s for information rather than genuine social dialogue with peers doesn’t challenge opinions and stereotypes as much as it should.
I haven’t personally encountered any ugly homophobic incidents in the lineup or on tour, but I can’t imagine that the pro surfing world would be a very easy place to come out. In saying that, most surfers and lineups in the modern day that I encounter are very welcoming and accepting of different ages and genres of surfer so I would hope that ones sexual orientation would be accepted in the same manner.”
The fact that the ASP and Ace Buchan shared overwhelmingly supportive and compassionate sentiments in no way dismisses homophobia as a serious issue in surfing, or in any sport for that matter. But it is encouraging, worth noting, and it reveals a more optimistic and welcoming portrait of acceptance than the film portrays.
The most poignant statement in the film comes from former U.S. Representative Barney Frank, who is married to a gay surfer. He confides that one of the greatest trials of homosexuality is the fact that, unlike race – a physically discernible trait – one can choose to hide their sexual identity. That voluntary masking creates a torturous scenario for gay individuals coming to terms with their identity.
We all share in the responsibility of building a safe environment for individuals to feel comfortable being themselves. That’s why Out In The Lineup is a necessary film.
It takes a gigantic step forward for surfers worldwide in facilitating acceptance. The conversation is now boldly on the map. Winning awards at film festivals and whatnot. It’s killing stigma, fear, and ignorance by raising a hand.
I tip my hat to Thomas and the team behind Out In The Lineup for boldly pursuing their passions, undeterred by a fear of non-acceptance, ignorance, or homophobia. By blazing new trails in the name of social change and human rights, they’ve done surfing a groundbreaking service. From that first email in 2010, I’d say we’ve all come a long way in the right direction. Last name and all.
