June is Satisfaction Month. Devoted to celebrating and commemorating LGBTQ+ pleasure, Satisfaction Month is over 50 years previous and began after the Stonewall riots, a collection of homosexual liberation protests in 1969.
PokerNews will launch a collection of articles to mark Satisfaction Month, showcasing the position LGBTQ+ people play in our business and the discrimination they’ve confronted. They can even spotlight what they really feel may be achieved to foster better inclusivity for the LGBTQ+ neighborhood in poker.
Poker is a sport for everybody, and everybody ought to really feel secure, welcomed, and included, regardless of how they establish.
Introducing Thumm
To kick off Satisfaction Month, PokerNews spoke with Niclas “flushiisback” Thumm.
Thumm is homosexual and is greatest recognized for his sixth-place end within the 2023 PokerStars Gamers No-Restrict Maintain’em Championship. He just lately final-tabled the EPT Monte Carlo Foremost Occasion, once more ending in sixth place.
Thumm first received into poker by a fellow German: Felix “xflixx” Schneiders.
“It was his technique content material that I loved probably the most,” stated Thumm. “But additionally the social side of the sport. Assembly folks received me into poker as a lot because the problem to make good choices on the desk.”
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Heading to the PSPC
As Thumm’s love for the sport grew, so did his elevated urge for food for enjoying. In 2021, he entered the PokerStars ‘Dare to Stream’ competitors, and though he did not win, he obtained the neighborhood award for his efforts. His prize was a Platinum Move which he obtained from Schneiders at a Highway to PSPC occasion in Liechtenstein.
From there, he headed to the Bahamas, making all of it the way in which to the ultimate desk, however grew to become the goal of on-line trolls after he was proven kissing his boyfriend on the livestream.
“I used to be with my boyfriend Timo on the PSPC closing desk, and we had been focused by some hate after we kissed. There was a whole lot of hate speech within the Twitch and YouTube chat. We do not actually care about what different folks say, nevertheless it nonetheless hurts.
“I do know there are allies on the market, in the neighborhood and within the chat, which could be very optimistic. I am very grateful for that.”
Goal of On-line Hate
Nonetheless, this wasn’t an remoted incident, as even on-line, he has been the goal of insults. Throughout this yr’s Spring Championship of On-line Poker, Thumm posted a screenshot of a participant’s chat message to social media, the place he was referred to as a slur by one of many different gamers at his desk.
“The participant is a long-time crusher and will know how one can behave respectfully on the desk,” Thumm stated. “I used to be actually offended. It is the worst factor to say to an LGBTQ+ particular person as a result of it is a time period that dehumanizes us. I used to be enjoying a session with many tables and I attempted to maintain calm, however the subsequent 1-2 hours I nonetheless felt uncomfortable.
“Tilt isn’t an excuse for sending hateful messages”
“They despatched the hate speech after I gained most of their chips β it occurred on tilt, however tilt isn’t an excuse for sending hateful messages. They uncovered themselves as being hateful. By sharing it on social media, we are able to present them and others that this is not acceptable.”
The response from his neighborhood was instantaneous, with many sending messages of assist.
“When different folks unfold hate, we have to unfold love as an alternative to outweigh their behaviour,” stated Thumm.
The PokerStars Help account posted that they “took the mandatory actions on the account.” In a follow-up e mail, PokerStars that the participant’s chat privileges had been suspended.
“Their language was completely inappropriate and abusive to others,” the e-mail learn. “Our video games are to be saved clear, enjoyable, and a snug surroundings for everybody. We can’t tolerate any such conduct at our tables.”
Gamers “Scared to Come Out”
Regardless of his experiences, Thumm hopes others aren’t impacted and desires folks weren’t too afraid to return out in at present’s poker surroundings.
“I do know there are some folks within the poker world who’ve chosen to not come out as a result of they’re scared”
“I’m fearful for individuals who see the hate speech and who aren’t out but. I do know there are some folks within the poker world who’ve chosen to not come out as a result of they’re fearful of it. I am fearful it should scare them away.
As for what may be achieved, Thumm is all the time eager to shine a light-weight on the LGBTQ+ neighborhood wherever potential inside the poker business.
“It is tremendous essential β whether or not that is highlighting them in streams or having pleasure card decks. Simply to be seen is vastly essential to the neighborhood; how nice wouldn’t it be to have an award for greatest ally in poker? Or a particular Satisfaction Month match collection? We have to keep robust as a neighborhood.”
For Thumm, positivity is the important thing to making sure that everybody continues to feels welcomed and included within the sport.
“I say hey to everybody after I get seated at a desk, simply to indicate everyone seems to be welcome. I additionally attempt to say optimistic issues to individuals who appear uncomfortable on the desk.
“It is nice when there are allies on the desk; you simply have to remain calm and take care of the state of affairs.If there may be any hateful behaviour, you simply need to attempt to de-escalate and assist people who find themselves focused.”
Managing Editor
Based mostly in the UK, Will began working for PokerNews as a contract stay reporter in 2015 and joined the full-time employees in 2019.
He graduated from the College of Kent in 2017 with a B.A. in German. He additionally holds an NCTJ Diploma in Sports activities Journalism.
