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Hulk Hogan - sexuality in professional wrestling

4K views 22 replies 18 participants last post by  deepelemblues 
#1 ·
Legendary Hulk Hogan Says Pro Wrestling Has Moved Past Its 'Barbaric Mindset' About Gays

Judgments about someone's sexuality have no place in professional wrestling, said Hulk Hogan. During a recent interview, the legendary grappler -- arguably the biggest name in sports entertainment history -- stated the industry has moved past the "barbaric mindset" which once made it unsafe for athletes to be openly gay.



"I think everybody's been reeducated, so it's not that big a deal," said Hogan when asked about the spate of professional athletes, including World Wrestling Entertainment superstar Darren Young, who have come out in recent years.

"At least for me -- and I can only speak from my heart -- I've got people all around me who are gay, so it's not an issue with me," shared Hogan during an in-person meeting at the new Santa Clara, California-based Levi's Stadium, which will house WrestleMania 31 next March 29. "I think the whole world feels like that now."

Unfortunately, that optimistic perspective is not entirely accurate. However, Hogan does reflect growing support for LGBT individuals in sports. Jason Collins continued his career with the NBA after coming out in April 2013. Michael Sam, GQ's Man of the Year, has bounced around the NFL. Likewise, WWE's Young revealed his sexual orientation just last year.

Not long ago, though, sports -- including big-time wrestling -- were less accommodating for gay competitors. Only recently have most pro athletes remained active in their chosen careers after coming out. Though he didn't deny this reality, Hogan decried the prevailing thoughts of that time.



"For me, and professional sports, if people lost their jobs before, that's a crime to me," he said, "That's not something that would entertain anybody's thought process that I work with now."

Fans of the grappling icon, a combined 12-time World Heavyweight champion in WWE and World Championship Wrestling, first became aware of his acceptance of the LGBT community on the televised reality series Brooke Knows Best. On this spin-off of the popular Hogan Knows Best, viewers learned one of daughter Brooke's roommates and eventual best friends, Glenn Douglas Packard, is gay.

"He's one of my best friends too," Hogan said of Packard. "Brooke was in New York the other day for an interview, and Glenn sent me a text about it. She didn't; he did."

As Hogan noted, Packard is only one of several key people in his life who are out. According to the star, his interactions with the LGBT community -- particularly in the context of professional wrestling -- extend back to when he first met eventual WWE legend Pat Patterson.

"I knew Pat was gay back in 1976, when he helped me start wrestling," Hogan stated. "Whenever I see Pat, I give him a big hug and kiss. He's my guy!

"There are several wrestlers in Japan who are gay," he continued, "I've just never looked at it as anything weird. It was normal."

After humble beginnings in the '70s, Hogan became the world's most recognizable pro wrestler in the 1980s. The "Real American" held the then-World Wrestling Federation championship consecutively from 1984-88, headlined the biggest pay-per-view events in history (starting with WrestleMania) and went mainstream through his Rock 'n Wrestling partnership with pop superstar Cyndi Lauper and a role in the blockbuster Rocky III.

The height of Hogan's in-ring success came during a time when clichéd characters dominated sports entertainment. From African savages to Caucasian hillbillies, pro wrestling reflected the most basic of stereotypes (including a flamboyant, effeminate evil "gay" -- as seen in the above video of The Hulkster facing "Adorable" Adrian Adonis).

Hogan fired off a list of once-common ethnic stereotypes -- "'Asian people are smart,' '******** are dumb,' 'Black people are fast'" -- when describing the "inherited mindset" professional wrestling operated under during that era. "It's whatever people thought," he said, "That we realized isn't true."

Now, though, Hogan says the world -- and the pro wrestling industry as a result -- has been reeducated to see people differently. The once-standard archetypes have been broken down, he said, indicating they have no place in professional wrestling... on -- or off -- camera. Indeed, the WWE frequently partners with Gays & Lesbians Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and even launched its own Be a Star anti-bullying campaign.

"That barbaric mindset we inherited is not a set piece in people's minds," Hogan asserted.



Still, the impact of those societal teachings lingers for those who experienced them first-hand, notably Hogan's friend Patterson. On the WWE reality series Legends House, the Hall of Famer tearfully shared a long-standing fear that news of his homosexuality might end his sports entertainment career. When reflecting on Patterson's emotional revelation, Hogan became somber.

"Back when Pat was wrestling, he was afraid to be who he really is -- or was meant to be -- because of all this stuff he inherited from society," he explained, "'You're supposed to be this tough wrestler.' 'You're supposed to be this good-looking, platinum blonde champion who goes out and dates the best looking women.' 'You're supposed to be this.' 'You're supposed to be that.'"

"But that's not true!" Hogan concluded emphatically, "Pat Patterson is supposed to be who he's meant to be, not who people think he should be, if that makes any sense."

For those in the LGBT community, it certainly does.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/pollo-del-mar/legendary-hulk-hogan-says_b_6312158.html
For a man who's public comments are so often misunderstood, taken out of context or downright bizarre - this is quite a beautiful sentiment, especially that last comment that I've bolded. I think wrestling will always be what it will be, but he's definitely right about perception of sexuality changing. :dance
 
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#20 · (Edited)
I have to disagree with all the praise for the Hulkster here.

So he hit all the marks on the checklist and said all the nice things. Wrestling had a barbaric mindset? Sure it did, in many ways. But Hulk knew all the way back in 1976 that Patterson was gay? Just how widespread was knowledge of that? Patterson seemed to have a pretty nice career despite being gay and many, many people seemingly knowing that.

The biggest star of all-time making a very public endorsement of a taboo subject like this - even if he does hold a different opinion in private, he's taken the time to put that aside to support it.
This is exactly what I'm talking about. Maybe your mind doesn't notice the fakeness and extreme simplicity, but your brain does. There's no soul in these comments. They're pap.

I just can't look at these comments as anything more than Hulk Hogan saying what people who are accepted in polite society (as defined by the New York-LA-DC cultural-media axis) are expected to say. Maybe he really believes all these nice things now. I don't know because the topic is something Hogan has clearly talked about with PR people, what he should say, what details he should give out, etc. "Hulkamaniacs, I wasn't right then, things weren't right then, things are better now, and so am I, because I made these friends and my experiences with them opened my eyes [or some other cliché social epiphany explanation]."

Bull-fucking-shit. The world's former biggest disciple of juvee juice and barebacking (metaphorically... I hope) half the wrestling world to get himself to the top of the mountain didn't have some magical movie-script-transformation wherein he accepted tolerance into his heart. I don't buy that. A complex and real human story, not a fairy tale, would have served better.
 
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#21 ·
I have to disagree with all the praise for the Hulkster here.

So he hit all the marks on the checklist and said all the nice things. Wrestling had a barbaric mindset? Sure it did, in many ways. But Hulk knew all the way back in 1976 that Patterson was gay? Just how widespread was knowledge of that? Patterson seemed to have a pretty nice career despite being gay and many, many people seemingly knowing that.
It was a badly kept secret, but the most famous example of homosexuality in professional wrestling - it's only natural that Hogan refer to him as he's part of Hogan's generation.

This is exactly what I'm talking about. Maybe your mind doesn't notice the fakeness and extreme simplicity, but your brain does. There's no soul in these comments. They're pap.

I just can't look at these comments as anything more than Hulk Hogan saying what people who are accepted in polite society (as defined by the New York-LA-DC cultural-media axis) are expected to say. Maybe he really believes all these nice things now. I don't know because the topic is something Hogan has clearly talked about with PR people, what he should say, what details he should give out, etc. "Hulkamaniacs, I wasn't right then, things weren't right then, things are better now, and so am I, because I made these friends and my experiences with them opened my eyes [or some other cliché social epiphany explanation]."

Bull-fucking-shit. The world's former biggest disciple of juvee juice and barebacking (metaphorically... I hope) half the wrestling world to get himself to the top of the mountain didn't have some magical movie-script-transformation wherein he accepted tolerance into his heart. I don't buy that. A complex and real human story, not a fairy tale, would have served better.
You're flouting your agenda - as all anti-Hogan marks do. I have not for one second stated that he hasn't done this to improve his public image, I have no issue with your opinion on that. My point is that this is the biggest name and face of all-time endorsing a much misunderstood and taboo subject - regardless of whether he believes it, it's a huge statement. Take your anti-Hogan shit, and stick it where the sun don't shine, because it's irrelevant to the topic, and you're irrelevant to the issue.
 
#7 ·
As someone who despises Hulk Hogan, I can't find anything wrong with his comments. Although, Pat Patterson as homosexual is one of wrestling's worst kept secrets for the last 20-plus years.

What should really stand out with the acceptance (or tolerance) of homosexuality in wrestling is how Darren Young's coming-out has been handled and discussed. Or, in this case, not discussed. It's not even really mentioned, which should be the end-game. The emphasis should be on the talent of the wrestler and what he brings to the ring and the business, not on his sexual orientation.
 
#13 ·
Damn Hulkster, got to give props to you Brother!
 
#15 ·
:clap

Yes, I'm sure Hogan's statements are very sincere and he's not trying to gain kudos and rebuild his reputation as a good guy. I'm sure his opinions are the same when the cameras aren't there..............
 
#19 ·
The biggest star of all-time making a very public endorsement of a taboo subject like this - even if he does hold a different opinion in private, he's taken the time to put that aside to support it.
 
#23 · (Edited)
You're flouting your agenda - as all anti-Hogan marks do. I have not for one second stated that he hasn't done this to improve his public image, I have no issue with your opinion on that. My point is that this is the biggest name and face of all-time endorsing a much misunderstood and taboo subject - regardless of whether he believes it, it's a huge statement. Take your anti-Hogan shit, and stick it where the sun don't shine, because it's irrelevant to the topic, and you're irrelevant to the issue.
I'm not an anti-Hogan mark. Hulk Hogan the character is the greatest wrestling character of all time and Hulk Hogan the person deserves most of the credit for that.

Hulk Hogan the person is also a piece of shit.

You kind of missed the point, what I'm saying is that these comments are cheapened by their obvious massaging and fakeness. Hogan has been coached on what to say. Some PR people fleshed out things for him to say, I guarantee it. It's fake but accurate. Fake but accurate is bullshit. If Hogan really feels this way, let him speak from the heart on it.

Yay for a good cause - but I'm kind of a snob about these kind of things, these comments are fine for people who don't think about them the way I do. But the way I think about them is the quality of the content too and not just the social acceptability or good moral character they express.

Also, again, Hogan is a piece of shit as a human being. So I have a hard time believing that he was actually 'progressive' or whatever in any way regarding homosexuality, except at a personal level with people he knew like Patterson, at any point in time when he was politicking and controlling his way to the top of wrestling, and doing large amounts of drugs and generally being an asshole - aka a big chunk of time in the 80s and 90s.

That is what makes me suspicious of the way his comments imply he was kinda separate from the 'barbarity' because he had friends like Patterson who he had known was gay since 1976. I really doubt that Hogan stood apart from the "barbaric culture" but that's the impression these comments are trying to give. It's classic PR bullshit.

If Hogan is all great now on homosexuality, I want to hear a real story about him that shows some vulnerability or at least more than superficial details on the Hulk's part. It would have a bigger impact for me and I suspect for everyone who read about these comments.

Also Hogan is a piece of shit. I honestly don't say that with much rancor, he is what he is. He's done great things and awful things. The man is a character out of a classical epic come to life. I can respect that, BLEEEEEEEEEEEDAT

It was a badly kept secret, but the most famous example of homosexuality in professional wrestling - it's only natural that Hogan refer to him as he's part of Hogan's generation.
I should have made my point clearer in regards to Patterson. Was Hogan even wrestling yet in 1976? From what I've read he was training to become a wrestler, but hadn't actually started his career yet in 1976. He knew the Briscos. I don't know if Patterson and Hogan knew each other in 1976. Maybe the Hulkster just remembered his dates slightly wrong. And maybe I'm being too skeptical about Hogan claiming he knew Patterson was gay back in the 70s.
 
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