“They’ll think it’s a joke, but for us, it is not!”: speeches of resistance from Brazilian gay soccer clubs

Abstract

In soccer, discrimination against homosexuals is perpetrated by homophobic injury, a performative speech act that silences and excludes gay individuals, reinforcing the hegemonic masculinity. As a reaction, gay soccer clubs have emerged to provide participation in the sport. Recognizing its relevance as practices of resistance, this article analyzes discourses of resistance to heteronormativity supported by players from gay soccer clubs. Interviews were conducted with 22 gay players from these clubs present in nine Brazilian capitals. According to the interviews, interpreted from the perspective of Foucault’s discourse analysis, three resistance discourses permeate such initiatives: resignification of injury by humor; interaction rules; and silences and invisibility. It is concluded that the speeches operate in a dual logic, in which the presence of statements tensioning the gender-sexuality order and the closet regime does not prevent the persistence of statements that reinforces these same heteronormative deployments.

Keywords: Resistance; Heteronormativity; Gay Soccer Clubs; Discourse.