Page 1 / 2 - Home

Given the homophobia that persists in sports, there is something strongly subversive in the show's suggestion that Conrad--the captain of the England team, and therefore, basically, the premier player in the country--could be interested in men. That his interest should be presented so matter-of-factly, and that Conrad himself should be so totally at ease with it, only makes it that much more subversive.

While he keeps his affair with Noah very discreet--and thus never has to deal with personally-directed prejudice head-on--it is made clear on several occasions that Conrad doesn't take kindly to anti-gay attitudes. When a teammate says that homosexuality is “not normal, is it? At least, not where I come from”, Conrad replies bitingly “Where's that, then? The Virgin Islands?”

Shortly afterwards, Conrad can be heard exclaiming explosively “I'm going to belt someone if I have to listen to any more of this homophobic shit.”

He is also instrumental in helping Noah to accept his sexuality. When Noah tells Conrad that it is a relief to no longer “feel like a freak”, he responds with, “That's what I told you. It's all in the head.”

Conrad makes an interesting addition to the small, but growing, gallery of bisexual male characters on television. On that list are Keller on Oz, Andrew on Desperate Housewives, and Captain Jack Harkness on Dr. Who. In some ways, Conrad is an improvement on the old models. Unlike Keller, he evidently doesn't have a problem identifying himself with the ‘fags', and he is not evil or manipulative (or a killer), as both Keller and Andrew could be described as being.

At the same time, however, he does confirm some bisexual stereotypes. Most of the characters on Footballers' Wives, whether bi or straight, are serial bed-hoppers, but between his threesome-friendly marriage, his adulterous affair with Tanya and near-simultaneous affair with Noah, Conrad does come off as both hedonistic and amoral when it comes to sex.

The most positive thing about his portrayal is the relaxed and unforced way in which his dual attractions are presented. While Captain Jack on Dr. Who was a thoroughly likeable character, there was always something stilted about the way in which the show dealt with his bisexuality. If he kissed a female character, then he would promptly have to kiss a male character in the next second, just to remind us that he was bi.

Conrad, in contrast, is someone whose relationships grow organically. It's just that one of them happens to be with a man instead of a woman.

If Conrad's easy existence and comfort with his own sexuality might seem almost too good to be true, Noah is there to remind us just how difficult life can still be for queer men in sports.

His confusion, initial denial, and very nervous first forays into the world of gay bars, gay magazines and same-sex hookups will ring a bell for anyone who has ever been in the process of coming out. But for him there is the additional pressure of having a career that both demands a public persona, and virtually seems to foreclose the possibility of being openly gay.

If much of Footballers' Wives may seem like pure melodrama, the drama that descends upon Noah when news of his sexuality begins to be leaked in the press feels only too real. And it lends the show some genuine grit, and anger, amidst all the frothy suds.

Noah may be a talented player with an unassuming personality, but he is at first treated like a pariah by his management - including, somewhat shockingly, the lesbian Hazel, who lunges at him calling him “You stupid little poof”.

It is noteworthy that the show's writers choose to connect Noah's storyline to a real-life history by specifically referencing Justin Fashanu--Britain 's first and only openly gay professional footballer, who came out in 1990 and who tragically killed himself in 1998--giving Hazel the line “The last thing we need is another Justin Fashanu on our hands”.

The ups and downs that follow Noah's outing may be in the tradition of the show's high octane plot twists, but in the case of this particular storyline, they start to feel a lot less like soap, and a lot more like social commentary. And there aren't too many folks who expected to find that on Footballers' Wives.

To find out more about Footballers' Wives visit the BBC America site
Get Season 1 and Season 2 of Footballers' Wives (Region 1 DVD)

Page 1 / 2 - Home