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AMcHarg
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Joined: 19 Nov 2008
Posts: 623
Location: Livingston, Scotland
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 Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 10:33 pm Post subject: ECF President (CJ) barred from giving prizes at the British |
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| Quote: | The exciting finale to the British Chess Championships has been marred by a controversial decision regarding the prize-giving ceremony.
The president of the English Chess Federation, CJ de Mooi, was barred from presenting the prizes because he was wearing a t-shirt promoting the gay rights organisation, Stonewall.
CJ de Mooi is a colourful character and well known to the British public from his appearances on the popular quiz show Eggheads.
He also seems to be a popular president of the ECF and has received much praise for his work in that capacity and his wider efforts to promote chess.
The "offending" T-Shirt, from CJ's twitter feed read: "Some people are gay. Get over it!"
CJ gave this statement at the ECF forum:
At this morning's prize-giving ceremony of the Darwin Strategic British Chess Championships 2011 an arbiter approached me saying she had "personal reservations" about me wearing a Stonewall t-shirt when presenting prizes to juniors. It was apparently inappropriate for me to wear something mentioning "sexuality" in such an environment.
I did not consider this an issue as I had worn it the previous day in the playing hall and no objections were raised. I am fully CRB checked and was registering my public support of a charity.
The other 2 arbiters said "no problem with it" and "I hadn't actually noticed" but after a discussion returned and suggested if I wanted to wear it, I could just present to the adults. I refused saying "I either present all the prizes or none" but I would leave it as their decision.
After another consultation (I point out that this whole series of events took 5 or 6 minutes in total) I was asked if I would reconsider, to which I responded "Will you?" This gentleman then said he had been told there had been "some complaints" but I have seen nothing to corroborate this so cannot comment.
I took a seat and the awards party was named with Roger Edwards (who has done a wonderful job for the fortnight) taking the honours.
The story has already been picked up by British newspaper The Guardian.
CJ has since offered his resignation to the ECF according to his latest tweet. |
Also on the Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/06/chess-gay-rights-tshirt
Thoughts? |
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admin
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JR
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Joined: 23 Jan 2007
Posts: 447
Location: Edinburgh
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| Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 11:13 pm Post subject: |
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I had a quick read of the frist page then quickly decided to leave, they really like to make a big deal out of nothing.
I am sure people on this forum will be much more civilised  |
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AMcHarg
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Joined: 19 Nov 2008
Posts: 623
Location: Livingston, Scotland
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| Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 11:41 pm Post subject: |
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I suspect it has been blown out of proportion.
It doesn't appear that the arbiter was expressing a homophobic point of view, and obviously thought she was doing what was in the best interests of the tournament. That her opinion is different to CJ's shouldn't detract from the fact that they were both acting with the best of intentions. It's as easy to jump on the "homophobia" bandwagon as it is to jump on the "racist" bandwagon, but they are overused expressions.
It personally wouldn't have bothered me if CJ presented the prizes wearing that t-shirt, and I doubt it would have for the vast majority of the audience either, even the parents of the juniors. The juniors who are too young to understand wouldn't even notice, and those who are old enough to read and understand will be learning about equal rights and opportunities at school anyway; so I doubt they'd find it shocking or offensive.
That said, the t-shirt does appear to be pretty "in your face" and almost confrontational about its message. The charity would probably do better if they approached the issue from a more sensitive angle. I am absolutely pro equal opportunities for all races, genders, sexual orientations, cultures and religions, but stating the obvious "Some people are gay. Get over it" implies that most people can't get over it or are offended by homosexuality; which is simply not true. I don't think homosexuality has ever been more accepted in our society than it is today. |
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Mike Scott
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Joined: 01 Feb 2007
Posts: 676
Location: Edinburgh
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| Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2011 9:07 am Post subject: |
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Ignore what the t-shirt was supporting and ask yourself whether it is really appropriate for a key figure in the prizing giving ceremony, at what should be one of the major UK chess events, to be using it to support a cause, other than perhaps chess itself?
Personally I don't think it is. |
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robin moore
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Joined: 03 Jul 2009
Posts: 164
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| Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2011 9:19 am Post subject: |
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| I am with Mike on this one. As president CJ is there in his official capacity and in no other. This incident may have sent out a lot of wrong publicity signals for the ECF and I believe he will have to resign. |
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admin
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| Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2011 9:30 am Post subject: |
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| He has |
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robin moore
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| Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2011 9:33 am Post subject: |
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| I wasn't sure if it had been accepted. |
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Stuart Blyth
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Joined: 11 Sep 2008
Posts: 209
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| Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2011 9:43 am Post subject: |
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wow, what a story - and not easy to get a handle on!
Could be a very clever move on the part of both Chess and Gay Rights to get some publicity.
Are Stonewall using "terrorist" (note the quotation marks, folks  ) tactics - they either get their message accross or, they are refused, thus exposing the "repressive, homophobic reality of British society"?
Was the ECF put in an impossible position? Allowing the T-shirt to appear, might suggest that the chess community has a reputation for being anti-gay OR might suggest it is "pro-gay", thus giving more ammunition to the "macho" element who already give kids a hard time for playing chess and being "different"?
Is the Stonewall movement now behind the times rather than ahead? In an era where great progress has been made in gay rights, and it's really not an issue for most folk, is it not counterproductive to be "in your face" to this extent?
Is it right to say it's okay for adults to see the t-shirt, but not children? Does this smack a bit of "anti-gay"
Should we all just have a laugh over the event?
I hope it's the first and last  |
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Stuart Blyth
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Joined: 11 Sep 2008
Posts: 209
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| Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2011 11:19 am Post subject: |
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| Is it true that CJ had been wearing the t-shirt throughout the entire congress/championship? Just curious. |
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Andy McCulloch
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Joined: 28 Mar 2007
Posts: 280
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| Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2011 11:28 am Post subject: |
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| CJ was not present for the entire championship. He did wear the T-shirt on the Friday, when he was present as a spectator. |
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JR
King
Joined: 23 Jan 2007
Posts: 447
Location: Edinburgh
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| Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2011 12:14 pm Post subject: |
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I don't think he did anything wrong in wearing the t-shirt, what he has done wrong is making a big deal out of it and going to the press, which there was no need.
It's hardly a resignation matter though, he put 16k of his own money into the event so no-one can doubt his commitment to the job. |
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Jim Crawford
Bishop
Joined: 29 Sep 2008
Posts: 33
Location: Edinburgh
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| Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2011 12:54 pm Post subject: Hmm |
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Well dont have a Problem with the Logo on his shirt but if he has worn it two days on the trot he should have removed it as it will be smelley
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Stuart Blyth
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Joined: 11 Sep 2008
Posts: 209
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| Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2011 1:02 pm Post subject: |
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Jim,
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Stuart Blyth
King
Joined: 11 Sep 2008
Posts: 209
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| Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2011 1:04 pm Post subject: |
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Mind you,
at the average Scottish congress, how much scrutiny in this respect would the majority bear? |
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