Column: Darren Young is gay... what about it?

Darren Young

After being unsure of what to focus my latest article on, I decided that the recent revelation that ‘Darren Young is gay’ would serve as the perfect platform. Although this is a WWE-based writer and my primary focus will always be on professional wrestling, Young’s newsflash over his sexuality is something that needs to be addressed not only in wrestling but in all walks of life, regardless of profession or cultural background.

What’s really awful is that already there have been messages of hate or oppression upon Darren Young because of his lifestyle choices by narrow-minded individuals. And as terrible as it is, the bad will always eclipse the good in these situations, the more likely they are to wound, despite the support being there from a majority of regular people.

Does ones sexual preference mean they are any less of a performer or ‘superstar’? I for one certainly believe that isn’t the case. Who you choose to go to bed with has no bearing on your ability as an entertainer or sportsmen for the millions of gripped fans every week on TV. And if anything, you could be using you position as a person of influence to thousands and thousands of fans to be promoting good, honest, positive messages.

A perfect example of someone who was oppressed by sexuality within the world of wrestling is the late (and in my opinion massively underrated, if not hampered by injuries) Chris Kanyon. He was entertaining and did certainly have a degree of talent between the ropes, but his private life was contentious and attributed to a source of his depression, which ultimately led to the WWE alumni’s death in 2010, at just 40 years old. From his days as Mortis and being part of The Flock, winning the United States Championship gold and teaming with DDP to become WCW and WWE Tag Team titleholders to his eventual retirement due to constant injuries, Kanyon was a memorable part of a certain era of pro-wrestling where it was still taboo to be openly gay.

Some superstars have even used homosexuality (regardless of their own orientation) as part of their character and gimmick. Who remembers the brilliance of Billy & Chuck, the over-the-top tag team managed by the equally camp Rico? Billy Gunn, who for a majority of his career has flaunted his derrière, is one hell of an athlete who used that sexuality as a key part of his time in one of WWE’s most successful tag teams of the early 2000s. Think back to the wedding on SmackDown in 2002 and just how memorable a WWE moment that was. But more to the point, think of what the undercurrent was all the time, these were ‘gay’ wrestlers.

Goldust

Has there ever been a more androgynous character in the history of wrestling as Goldust? The creation of a golden, amorous, overtly sexual purveyor of the uncomfortable is one of the most successful uses of sexuality in wrestling. And as far as success, longevity and fan respect, Dustin Runnels/Rhodes has it. His ‘bizarre’ behaviour (code for gay/bisexual overtones) not only drew in fans and got him over, it endured to where he has now become one of the most beloved and fondly remembered survivors of the Attitude Era.

And when you think of Goldust, old-time fans or wrestling historians will surely point you in the direction of an inspiration and innovator of androgyny in wrestling: Adrian Street. Growing from a small town, Brynmawr, in South Wales, not too far from where I myself live, Street was the originator of that ‘approach’ to a wrestling character, breaking boundaries and challenging ‘the norm’ with his ‘Exotic’ Adrian Street persona. In 1986, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter awarded him their Best Gimmick award, which he can add to a plethora of other championship wins and accomplishments, including NWA Florida championships and the privilege of being managed at one time by J.J. Dillon of Four Horsemen fame.

If I were Darren Young, I’d be using this ‘news’ as a platform to encourage more people to feel proud in their own skin and simply ‘be themselves’. With a worldwide TV audience, as well as millions more around the world susceptible to WWE’s far reach, it’s a perfect vehicle for equal opportunities and tolerance of lifestyles. With the Be A Star initiative and anti-bullying campaigns, Darren Young could very well spearhead something that has only positive outcomes, with WWE having its first openly gay superstar in the limelight.

And oh…who doesn’t love Pat Patterson?