So what do you think of the Gaa's decision to allow and subsequently deny openly gay referee David Gough permission to wear a rainbow wristband on Saturday in Croke Park in support of the gay marriage referendum? The Gaa has said that they are an apolitical association and as such should stay neutral on these issues, which is fine, it's not the Gaa's job to take sides in referendums but I am curious as to why he was given permission and then told no in a very short space of time, why the sudden change of heart?

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 09/03/2015 11:48:18    1700763

He should have been allowed wear it imo.

A pride wristband is not a political statement as far as I know. Unless he was wearing something specifically about the referendum then I don't see how it was political.

Unless I'm missing something?

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13837 - 09/03/2015 12:33:22    1700798

All we can do is guess, but it is likely that someone in the organization pointed out the political aspect of the wristband, and its potential consequences for setting precedents about making any political statements. Better to be safe than sorry I suppose. No harm to Gough, it was a nice idea but he too has to see the bigger picture.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3854 - 09/03/2015 12:37:02    1700801

Very strange. He should of worn it if he wanted to as an individual. I know as a referee he represents the gaa but he also represents himself.!

.tribute (Cavan) - Posts: 360 - 09/03/2015 12:37:41    1700803

I am of the opinion that he should have been allowed wear it aswell, I don't think there's any harm in it and it doesn't say that the Gaa is supporting one side or the other, if that was the case then every referee would have been wearing the wristband.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 09/03/2015 12:47:05    1700809

valerie mulcahy wore rainbow laces in support of this. a shame and a disgrace if he is not allowed. the gaa should allow people to be who they want to be. swap gay for any other minority group and it would be allowed. black, traveller, women all allowed

offtheground1 (Down) - Posts: 128 - 09/03/2015 12:51:11    1700812

Was the Ref going to waer it in order to show his support for a yes vote in the upcoming referendum?

Southsham (Limerick) - Posts: 752 - 09/03/2015 13:02:51    1700818

I have to agree with the GAA on this one. Permitting would set a precedent, and political pressure groups and lobbyists would jump on the opportunity to promote on a national stage, televised to hundreds of thousands. In this case was for the upcoming referendum, but what about future political issues, such as the abortion debate on fatal foetal abnormalities ? Whats to stop either side designing a wristband, headband, whatever to promote their cause, and "using" a supporting referee or player to get attention. Uniforms are there for a reason, and unless agreed by majority, such as charitable issues like the pink strips for cancer awareness, should be treated with the respect they deserve

Burnsey (Down) - Posts: 561 - 09/03/2015 13:07:00    1700827

Burnsey

I can't imagine the Gaa will be taking a position on the abortion referendum (if that ever happens) but I think by now being gay is very uncontroversial and probably widely socially accepted whereas as little as 10 years ago it probably wasn't. So I think the Gaa could have let him wear the wristband without necessarily taking a position because as far as I'm aware there is currently no official yes vote wristband, was it not just a gay pride wristband?

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 09/03/2015 13:23:04    1700842

Htaem
County: Meath
Posts: 6128

1700842 Burnsey

I can't imagine the Gaa will be taking a position on the abortion referendum (if that ever happens) but I think by now being gay is very uncontroversial and probably widely socially accepted whereas as little as 10 years ago it probably wasn't. So I think the Gaa could have let him wear the wristband without necessarily taking a position because as far as I'm aware there is currently no official yes vote wristband, was it not just a gay pride wristband?


I have to agree with Burnsey on this one. As you say yourself being gay is no longer much of an issue to the vast majority of people, but the danger is that if the GAA didn't take a stand on the wristband issue, especially with the upcoming referendum, then other pressure groups involved in much more contentious issues could point to this as an excuse to get some player or official that agrees with their viewpoint to display a headband or some such in full view of possibly thousands of fans and viewers if and when that issue is up before the electorate.
That said, I hope that when the referendum has concluded he is allowed wear the wristband as was initally agreed with GAA bosses.

AHP (Dublin) - Posts: 323 - 09/03/2015 13:37:29    1700853

If it was just a gay pride wrist band then he should without question be able to wear it.. he should to be able to wear a rainbow head band if he so wishes..

BUT

If the wrist band had anything to do with the actual referendum issue itself.. an official Yes wrist band or whatever

Then No... the GAA made the right call, he shouldn't be able to use his position within the GAA to promote a Yes vote

That wouldn't be fair

BUT again... if it was just a gay pride message then it should have been allowed

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 09/03/2015 13:39:07    1700854

I agree with the GAA's decision. Since the foundation of the GAA they have avoided politics and after the civil war did much to heal the wounds of that terrible conflict. The LGBA is undoubtedly a political pressure and lobby group. As regards arguments that the wearing of the wristband is a personal statement this is somewhat disingenous. Do hetrosexual referees wear wristbands declaring that they are straight? No of course not. A referees sexuality should be a private matter.

lilywhite1 (Kildare) - Posts: 3051 - 09/03/2015 13:44:44    1700860

AHP

I understand what people are saying, look I suppose it all boils down to the meaning of the wristband, if it was a gay pride wristband then I think he should have been allowed wear it, if it was officially a Yes vote wristband then I think the Gaa has a point in saying no. But I think the ironic thing here is that if he was allowed to wear it, it probably would have passed off without much hassle but because he was granted permission and subsequently stopped it becomes a talking point.

However I agree that the Gaa should stay as politically neutral as possible and shouldn't come under pressure from lobby groups to support one side or the other in any referendums.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 09/03/2015 13:49:40    1700863

Purely for positive PR reasons I think the GAA should have probably let him wear it as no doubt this will be used as another stick to beat the GAA with by parts of the media.

However they have made the correct decision in my opinion.The ref said he was in part wearing it to promote the yes vote which is a political issue and people should not be using the GAA field to persue political agendas.

If a referee wore a symbol promoting the NO vote the GAA would get massive criticism for allowing it to happen so they are right not to allow this to happen in my opinion.

uibhfhaili1986 (Offaly) - Posts: 1296 - 09/03/2015 14:19:56    1700884

I believe the GAA made the right decision but as usual it was being hypocritical , it is right not to let him wear it because of the GAA trying to be apolitical but there is no sports organization in the world that is more political that the GAA and in my opinion did not help to heal wounds after the civil war if anything made them wider .

tinrylandman (Carlow) - Posts: 387 - 09/03/2015 14:22:03    1700885

Agree with the GAA. Absolutely not. The fella is there to referee a game of football, nothing more, nothing less.
If he wants to make a political statement, do it on his own time. Perfectly entitled to do so. It's would pretty much electioneering to wear said wristband - not the time or place for that.

srb (Antrim) - Posts: 344 - 09/03/2015 14:22:45    1700887

tinrylandman
County: Carlow
Posts: 355

1700885
I believe the GAA made the right decision but as usual it was being hypocritical , it is right not to let him wear it because of the GAA trying to be apolitical but there is no sports organization in the world that is more political that the GAA and in my opinion did not help to heal wounds after the civil war if anything made them wider .

+1

Could hardly believe it when I read all of the comments saying that the GAA is apolitical. The GAA is nothing if not a political organisation (though Chapter 1.11 states that the association is non-party political. Read the preamble to the Official Guide:

The Gaelic Athletic Association today is an organisation which
reaches into every corner of the land and has its roots in every
Irish parish. Throughout the Country, legions of voluntary
workers willingly make sacrifices to promote its ideals and carry
its daily burdens. Why does the Association receive this unselfish
support?
Those who play its games, those who organise its activities
and those who control its destinies see in the G.A.A. a means
of consolidating our Irish identity. The games to them are
more than games - they have a national significance - and the
promotion of native pastimes becomes a part of the full national
ideal, which envisages the speaking of our own language,
music and dances. The primary purpose of the G.A.A. is the
organisation of native pastimes and the promotion of athletic
fitness as a means to create a disciplined, self- reliant, national-
minded manhood. The overall result is the expression of a
people's preference for native ways as opposed to imported ones.
Since she has not control over all the national territory,
Ireland's claim to nationhood is impaired. It would be still
more impaired if she were to lose her language, if she failed to
provide a decent livelihood for her people at home, or if she
were to forsake her own games and customs in favour of the
games and customs of another nation. If pride in the attributes
of nationhood dies, something good and distinctive in our
race dies with it. Each national quality that is lost makes us so
much poorer as a Nation. Today, the native games take on a
new significance when it is realised that they have been a part,
and still are a part, of the Nation's desire to live her own life, to
govern her own affairs.

That text is heavily political,as it Chapter One of the same document. Even if we take the recent example of the Dublin senior team wearing jerseys raising awareness about men's mental health issues, a political message is being dispersed. At least one Irish MEP is serving as chairman of a GAA club at present, while another TD is advising an inter-county management team. So it seems arbitrary to me that they would prevent Mr. Gough from simply wearing a wrist band in support of a political cause.

Gleebo (Mayo) - Posts: 2208 - 09/03/2015 14:48:12    1700901

GAA is right to steer away from this IMO as are clubs etc. I think the controversy around this has served this cause well enough - far more than if he was allowed wear the bracelet, so the bracelet more than accheived its purpose.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4957 - 09/03/2015 15:02:31    1700912

Gleebo,

Could you please explain to me how a team promoting health awareness issues, particularly in suicide in young men, is the same politically as advocating a yes vote in the upcoming same sex marriage referendum? How is the Pieta house a political message, at all? They are not comparable.

If you agree with Gough wearing a gay pride wristband in advance of the referendum, then would you agree with someone wearing a similar wristband against gay rights?

Would you agree with someone wearing a pro choice wristband? Or would you agree with someone wearing an abortion kills wristband?

Some things should remain away from the field of play. Upcoming referendums is certainly one thing that should be exempt (even if I do agree with the referee, and admire him for his stance, I think some things should be kept separate.)

james2011 (Wexford) - Posts: 615 - 09/03/2015 15:05:05    1700914

Gleebo

How do you consider the opening preamble political? The GAA is the National Sports organization dedicated to promoting and preserving national games and secondly the Irish language - would you say that even that is political? perhaps these days it is.

zinny (Wexford) - Posts: 2034 - 09/03/2015 15:36:56    1700935