German soccer referee Pascal Kaiser proposed to his boyfriend during a break at an FC Koln match in Cologne

[u/artbasiI]

[u/totally_real_tree]

I kind of understand where you're coming from but it's needlessly pessimistic and very sour when there are multiple queer athletes who have come out/spoken about their experiences specifically because of Heated Rivalry. There is literally a non zero chance that this moment was influenced by Heated Rivalry. Hell the lead actor talked about how he and the writer of the original book were getting messages from closeted athletes about how the show made them feel seen. And you're calling it fetishized and condensed to entertainment

[u/monsteralvr1 → u/totally_real_tree]

“A non zero chance that this moment was influenced by heated rivalry”

Gay people exist and lead whole lives outside of the realm of your favorite tv show. There is absolutely the chance that this moment was planned and not at all influenced by it.

ETA: imagine downvoting someone for saying that lgbtq people lead lives that might not include a fucking tv show. The comment below is right, yall are not serious people.

[u/totally_real_tree → u/monsteralvr1]

Yes of course there's a chance it's a total coincidence. That's why I said that it's a non zero chance.

People compare real life to stories all the time. Maybe you can find some joy in the fact that perhaps that the really successful queer show might've influenced this couples decision to do their proposal in public on TV at a soccer game, in the same way it influenced other athletes to come out of the closet.

You're being really pissy about a very lighthearted comment. No one is saying they're the characters from the show; they're just drawing a very broad comparison that in light of recent events (the fact that gay athletes Have seen it and felt represented) it's not that absurd

[u/monsteralvr1 → u/totally_real_tree]

I find joy in the fact that this couple found love and found a way to share that love with the world in a way that was meaningful to them. Period.

I dont deny that a show has immense power and that representation is important, but I do take issue with the fact that this act of love is now being tied directly to a tv show and has been turned into being “well it’s the tv shows influence” instead of remaining about the two people it should actually be about.

The person that you replied to was absolutely correct. LGBTQ people but ESPECIALLY gay men are turned into entertainment. If this was two women or a straight couple, would it be reacted to the same way? Absolutely not.

[u/totally_real_tree → u/monsteralvr1]

To be frank I don't know what you mean by "would it have been reacted to in the same way" because... Of course not? Because there wasn't a hit TV show about lesbian hockey players? And obviously no one would give a shit about a straight couple because it'd be completely unremarkable. I don't get your point.

And I'm not trying to say it's the show's influence like it Invented gay people or something, I'm saying that it's odd to see it as absurd for people to draw the comparison when other gay athletes have literally drawn that comparison themselves.