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There is no love lost between me and the Kiss Cam at sporting events. You know what I am talking about, right? They show a couple on the jumbotron and then the two of them are supposed to kiss.
Like that.
I hate the Kiss Cam. I hate the Kiss Cam because I don't go to sporting events on dates. My husband hates crowds. I go to hockey games with my friends. I go to basketball games with my father-in-law. Sometimes I worry that I will be on the Kiss Cam with the stranger on my left. The whole thing is uncomfortable and stupid.
I was actually relieved when I first heard that the Washington Mystics didn't use the Kiss Cam. I love going to Mystics games and it just seemed like a bonus.
Until I learned why the Mystics don't have a Kiss Cam.
Why? Because the spectators at WNBA games generally fall into two
categories: (1) dads and their daughters and (2) lesbians. If a Kiss
Cam were to be installed at Mystics games, little innocent children
could be subjected to the horrific view of two women locking lips.
Really? They are afraid people at a WNBA would be offended by two women kissing? I could be wrong, but I thought that the WNBA embraced everything about girl power. Isn't a professional women's basketball league the epitome of feminism? Doesn't equality mean... equality?
If you've ever been to a WNBA game, you know the lesbian quotient is high. (Off and
on the court, right girls?) You'll find a disproportionately high
number of girl-loving girls holding season tickets. But for the
Mystics, the chance that two gals might share a smooch in front of an
audience — that includes kids! — just isn't worth the risk. And not
only is management okay with it, but so too are team members. (Possibly
under direction from management?)Says Mystics managing partner Sheila Johnson: "We got a lot of kids here. We just don't find it appropriate."
The Washington Mystics don't find women kissing each other in front of children appropriate? Why not? I cannot speak for all parents, but I want my children to accept and understand that romantic love does not have to be between a man and a woman. I want my children to be open-minded.
I don't want my children to know that our local WNBA team is afraid of them seeing two girls kissing each other.
And what about the other questions? On Draft Day Suit Laurie White says:
...analyzing this can get sticky fast, with underlying issues including but perhaps not limited to the following:
Should women who financially support an organization as fans not be
permitted to be broadcast in an activity that’s common at professional
sporting events? Should a significant portion of the fan base be told
that the sight of them showing affection is repugnant, bad for business
and potentially bad for kids...Are children potentially damaged by the sight of a lesbian couple
kissing in 3-d? And should parents be confronted with an issue like
this in this kind of environment?When women’s sports struggle financially and rely on the support of
sponsors, must they resort, as to the Mystics have, to one like Exxon
Mobil, who received a zero corporate quality rating from the Human
Rights Campaign and are the only Fortune 10 company not to have a
non-discrimination policy related to sexual orientation?Why is this issue on the front page of the Sports section when
women’s sports routinely struggle for air time (before, during and
after games) hence amplifying sponsorship needs and causing the whole
circle to remain, sadly, unbroken and back at “no kiss cam” square one?Do you see what I mean? Ouch, my head.
Mine too, Laurie. Mine too.
And while I am still paranoid about The Kiss Cam camera man or woman focusing in on me and my father-in-law at a Wizards game, the next time I go to a Capitals game with my friend Nancy I hope the Kiss Cam focuses on us. I am a straight woman, but I will plant a big fat smooch right on her mouth.
Contributing Editor Sarah also blogs at Sarah and the Goon Squad and MamaPop.
