Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 21:06:26 +0100 Subject: Washington Memorial Service for Football Star Justin Fashanu From: OW-jgh The life and career of Britain's first and only openly-gay professional footballer, Justin Fashanu, will be commemorated at a Memorial Service in Washington DC on Sunday, 13th September, 1998. At the time of his suicide in May, Fashanu, aged 37, had embarked on a new career, coaching the U.S. football team Maryland Mania. His success was cut short by charges that he sexually assaulted a 17-year-old youth. Justin denied the charges, claiming that he was being blackmailed by his accuser. Fashanu had the double distinction of being Britain's first million-pound (US $ 1.6 million) black footballer, and he remains the only prominent British black public figure to come out as gay. The Memorial Service will be held at All Souls' Unitarian Church, 16th and Harvard Streets NW, Washington DC, Sunday, 13th September, 7-9 p.m.. Keynote speakers will include the British gay rights campaigner, Peter Tatchell of OutRage!, who was a close friend of Fashanu's from 1981. Tatchell said: "Justin was dragged down by the homophobia of Christian fundamentalism and the football profession. Despite his mistakes, he was basically a good, kind, talented and courageous person. "We met at the London gay nightclub 'Heaven' in 1981, soon after I had been selected as the Labour candidate for Bermondsey and he had signed with Nottingham Forest football club for £1 million. We became close friends. "Justin would often phone me to discuss the homophobic pressure he was under at Nottingham Forest and his difficulties in coping with being gay. "Although I helped him come to terms with his homosexuality, it was only a temporary respite. When his football career later went on the slide, he turned to evangelical Christianity. That caused him immense grief. "Justin was distressed by his treatment at Nottingham Forest. The manager, Brian Clough, was virulently homophobic. He abused Fashanu as a 'bloody poof'. Not surprisingly, Justin's on-the-pitch peformance nose-dived. "Becoming a born-again Christian screwed up Fashanu's life. He became very confused and unhappy about his sexuality. While publicly proclaiming Christian celibacy, he resorted to furtive gay sex. That made it impossible for him to have a stable gay relationship. "He was devastated when the black press and his brother John publicly denounced him after he came out in 1990. Justin never got over that rejection and betrayal." Further information: Peter Tatchell until 31st August +44-171-403 1790 from 1st September +1-202-462 5133 -- You may leave this list automatically by sending a message to list-processor@diversity.org.uk, containing a line that says unsubscribe outrage-world The 'lists' command will give information about other services