Cheer "males - Minimize Exaggerated Or Theatrical Movements"

Cheerleading is a sport that embraces performance, or at least it used to be. The statement in the title of my thread really offends me. I may be standing lone on that - and thats okay. I feel this is a sugar-coated way to say "We don't want the guys to look gay! We want a better imagine of heterosexuality to promote to get more boys in the sport!" While I don't like things like guys flying elite stunt sequences to bow and arrows - or crazy hair flips - That doesn't mean someone can have over exaggerated facials or performance or to quite frankly - be themselves. This is an equal opportunity sport and I have seen a TON personal development from A LOT of people in the sport. I have seen homophobic heterosexual males embrace the values of change and equal opportunities for all.

Long story short - I have contacted GLAAD and ACLU to seek more advice from them and find out what their stance is on this issue is. I would appreciate ALL feedback from others so I can go into open conversation with them and maybe be introduced to ideas or arguments that I am not seeing due to my own opinions. Please share your thoughts and I will continue to update this thread and I hear back from them and let you know what these organizations thoughts and opinions are on the issue.

Am I being defensive and reading to much into this? Or is this really a discrimination issue targeted at males in our industry?

No. I feel discriminated against. But I'm shablaming more now than I ever have.

No. You are not being too defensive. I was absolutely horrified. I was hoping someone would contact GLAAD or at least be a lawyer with spare time on their hands.

This is a tough issue. It's very hard to tell a 4 year old boy that he can't act naturally. That may be an exaggeration, but if he acts "theatrical" now, its only going to become more prominent later on. You have to stop it while its young, and to me, that is simply wrong.

You're not alone. That was an incredibly offensive statement that has no place in a document on "image etiquette" or anywhere.

I think "theatrical" in many people's mind is code for something not said blantantly. USASF should be ashamed.

I think a strong argument will be put up to deny any discrimination/connotations of sexuality, but i am personally offended for my athletes and every theatrical male cheerleader in the world who has seen cheer as a place to embrace himself for who he is and be rewarded for it with praise, and friends he may not have otherwise had. I am proud of you for looking into this issue, and i think it is INCREDIBLY legitimate. It is just as legitimate as many other situations that have caused an uprising of human rights arguments.

ACLU just got back to me. I have scanned and faxed a copy of the statements dropped by the USASF and they are further looking into the issues. I hope to hear back from GLAAD later today.

I am so glad people are sharing the same opinions as me. I am actually curious to hear what someone ALL FOR this rule thinks? If your worried about being tore apart on the boards for believing different - Please PM me your response. I would love to hear an argument that is for this.

I say shimmy away.

ACLU rocks! Let's keep cheerleading a safe haven for kids that are often targeted for bullying!

I believe that cheer is the perfect marriage of performance and athleticism. When you take out the performance aspect I begin to wonder why I took her out of gymnastics. And then when you aim that at a particular sex I see red. Discrimination is discrimination is discrimination and it stinks no matter how much fabreeze you spray on it.

I think this is a sad example of bullying to a specific group of athletes because of their genetic makeup.
(yes, I said makeup do not deduct me for that)

In a time that we have faced so much loss due to bullying, I am just deeply disturbed by this.

Thank you for contacting them, this is so offensive I cant even

We need to contact all the talk shows, everyone supports it gets better campaign, apparently USASF does not

One point I'd like to add is that cheerleading is unique. Cheerleading allows gay/straight boys to compete together and support one another and become friends. Ex. Baseball- gay boy might feel ashamed, Ballet-straight boy might feel embarrassed, cheerleading- gay boy gets to be himself with no judgement and straight boy gets to be around pretty girls. I am straight and have been in cheerleading for 15+ years and I'll admit I started a bit timid but now most of my best friends are gay and wouldn't trade em for the world. Cheerleading teaches kids these things, why is this bad?

It's 2012.. I thought we were moving forward with civil rights. :/

I was both offended and saddened to read this particular statement from USASF.

I would wear a shirt to address this in a heart beat, so would my CP

my thoughts exactly. we have all rallied together this season over the deaths of two cheer athletes and it's absolutely dumbfounding that the usasf would make such a decision after such tragedies that were so involved in our sport.

it would also be nice to have a better explanation of what exactly "theatrical" means. is a fist pump after a pass proper "etiquette" because it is deemed more masculine? are hands on the hips after you land a pass a no-no? what's next...banning two boys basing together?