http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/swimming/28282076
QuoteIan Thorpe: I'm gay, says former Australian Olympic swimmer
Five-time Olympic swimming champion Ian Thorpe has revealed he is gay in an interview on Australian television.
The 31-year-old told British journalist Sir Michael Parkinson on Channel 10: "I've thought about this for a long time. I'm not straight."
Thorpe had previously denied he was gay and wrote in his 2012 autobiography 'This Is Me' that he was heterosexual.
Australia's most decorated swimmer has suffered from depression and was in rehab earlier in the year.
In an emotional interview, Thorpe said he had only become comfortable in the last fortnight about talking openly to close friends about his sexuality.
"I've wanted to [come out] for some time but I couldn't, I didn't feel as though I could," he said.
"What happened was I felt the lie had become so big that I didn't want people to question my integrity."
Thorpe's decision to come out was supported by fellow Olympic swimmer Stephanie Rice who tweeted: "Thorpie is, and always will be, a superstar in my eyes."
He has spoken in the past of "crippling depression", having suicidal thoughts, and drinking too much.
In February, he was found in a state of confusion by police near his parents' house in Sydney.
Thorpe had taken anti-depressants and medication for a shoulder injury - sustained in a fall at home - but was not under the influence of alcohol.
He made his Olympic Games debut in Sydney in 2000, winning three golds there and another two in Athens, but retired in 2006, before making an unsuccessful comeback bid for the London 2012 Olympics.
Good on him. :)
Though I do find it amusing that he tried to pass fellow swimmer Amanda Beard s his beard:
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/news/a328097/ian-thorpe-im-sick-of-denying-gay-rumours.html#~oJTRTx87kF7pND
QuoteThe multiple Olympic and world champion has previously alluded to a relationship with fellow swimmer Amanda Beard. In 2007, he was quoted as saying: "I did have a long-term, long-distance relationship [with Beard] and it was great while it lasted.
"It was sort of public knowledge we were seeing each other, and yet not. It went on for ages, years."
Former Olympic champion Beard, however, has previously insisted that she was never Thorpe's girlfriend, saying: "Take out the word relationship and put in the word friendship and that's exactly what it was."
The bigger news for me is "so that is what Parkinson is up to now".
Which is a good thing really, the position of gays is really advancing far faster than I would have predicted a decade ago , things like this are quickly becoming less and less of a big deal.
The joke that Amanda Beard was Thorpes Beard (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Beard) for years now. This has been known for a long time.
Quote from: Viking on July 13, 2014, 10:12:19 AM
The joke that Amanda Beard was Thorpes Beard (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Beard) for years now. This has been known for a long time.
But he hasn't said it which is the news.
Though frankly, I'd forgotten who he was till Marti posted about the interview on fb. :blush:
Quote from: garbon on July 13, 2014, 10:27:45 AM
Quote from: Viking on July 13, 2014, 10:12:19 AM
The joke that Amanda Beard was Thorpes Beard (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Beard) for years now. This has been known for a long time.
But he hasn't said it which is the news.
Though frankly, I'd forgotten who he was till Marti posted about the interview on fb. :blush:
Yes, the real story is that he felt the need to hide it until now and the reactions to this being "meh" or "it's about time".
Does this story have any connection to his "Thorpedo" nickname?
Quote from: alfred russel on July 13, 2014, 12:06:34 PM
Does this story have any connection to his "Thorpedo" nickname?
No, that just cause he swims really fast.
Quote from: Viking on July 13, 2014, 12:24:04 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on July 13, 2014, 12:06:34 PM
Does this story have any connection to his "Thorpedo" nickname?
No, that just cause he swims really fast.
Lulz, that would still an awesome nickname for the gaysphere.
The only swimmers whose sexuality was a pre-occupation of mine was Summer Sanders in 1992. :P
Good for him I guess. I feel bad he felt the need to lie about this as recently as 2012.
Quote from: Tyr on July 13, 2014, 08:31:17 AM
Which is a good thing really, the position of gays is really advancing far faster than I would have predicted a decade ago , things like this are quickly becoming less and less of a big deal.
Not so much in Australia which, as ever, is like Britain 30 years ago. No gay marriage, many states restrict or ban gay adoption and just tonight an AFL commentator called a player 'a big poofter'.
I think it's a big deal, especially for a country who has so much of their self-image tied into sport, that their greatest ever Olympian has come out. I doubt anything would change legally so long as the Liberals are in charge, but hopefully it'll help shift attitudes.
I am surprised that so many people are gay. I also don't quite get the hostility toward gays. Heterosexual men should welcome more gays, right? Because this will reduce the competition for females.
No, some heterosexual men are scared of the gays, because they're afraid they see them not as buddies but sexually, as potential fuck partners, and that all they want to do is stick their dicks in them.
In other words: they fear being seen by them as they see women.
Quote from: Syt on July 14, 2014, 12:29:43 AM
No, some heterosexual men are scared of the gays, because they're afraid they see them not as buddies but sexually, as potential fuck partners, and that all they want to do is stick their dicks in them.
In other words: they fear being seen by them as they see women.
I haven't thought of that before. It has never occured to me that any gay man would be interested in me :lol:
Quote from: Monoriu on July 14, 2014, 12:32:54 AM
Quote from: Syt on July 14, 2014, 12:29:43 AM
No, some heterosexual men are scared of the gays, because they're afraid they see them not as buddies but sexually, as potential fuck partners, and that all they want to do is stick their dicks in them.
In other words: they fear being seen by them as they see women.
I haven't thought of that before. It has never occured to me that any gay man would be interested in me :lol:
Welcome to the wonderful world of homophobia then.
Quote from: Viking on July 14, 2014, 01:14:31 AM
Welcome to the wonderful world of homophobia then.
Homophobia is one of the things that puzzles me greatly. I think I now have a slightly better understanding about the reasons behind. I still think more gay men in the world is probably a good thing though.
I have read that the root of homophobia is that you yourself are a fag in denial. Or the fear that you might enjoy it too much and go full fag.
Idiocy plays a large part too. Smart homophobes are rare.
Quote from: Monoriu on July 13, 2014, 11:19:59 PM
I am surprised that so many people are gay. I also don't quite get the hostility toward gays. Heterosexual men should welcome more gays, right? Because this will reduce the competition for females.
I know I always did. The more gays the better. Lesbians on the other hand needed to be brutally culled! Except now that I am married I couldn't care less.
Quote from: Syt on July 14, 2014, 12:29:43 AM
No, some heterosexual men are scared of the gays, because they're afraid they see them not as buddies but sexually, as potential fuck partners, and that all they want to do is stick their dicks in them.
In other words: they fear being seen by them as they see women.
Dude if gay men were eager to bang me I would have gotten a T-Shirt or something announcing that to the world.
'Hey ladies...gay men want to do me'
Quote from: Valmy on July 14, 2014, 08:50:37 AM
'Hey ladies...gay men want to do me'
Is that a selling point? :unsure:
Quote from: garbon on July 14, 2014, 08:52:20 AM
Is that a selling point? :unsure:
Why wouldn't it be? :hmm:
Quote from: Valmy on July 14, 2014, 08:54:53 AM
Quote from: garbon on July 14, 2014, 08:52:20 AM
Is that a selling point? :unsure:
Why wouldn't it be? :hmm:
Well while on one hand there might be a stereotype of gays re: fashion and presentability, I think there is also a stereotype of gays being a bit more open (than women) with regards to whom they will have sex with.
It's still a better advertisement than "nobody of any sexual orientation wants to have sex with me".
Quote from: frunk on July 14, 2014, 09:06:22 AM
It's still a better advertisement than "nobody of any sexual orientation wants to have sex with me".
Well I don't think most people try to use that either. :D
Quote from: frunk on July 14, 2014, 09:06:22 AM
It's still a better advertisement than "nobody of any sexual orientation wants to have sex with me".
Yep :(
:P
Quote from: Admiral Yi on July 14, 2014, 02:09:59 AM
I have read that the root of homophobia is that you yourself are a fag in denial. Or the fear that you might enjoy it too much and go full fag.
Sounds like a typical convenient stupid theory.
:huh: How is it convenient, and how is it stupid? Your post makes no sense whatsoever.
While I don't agree with it while widely applied - we have had more than one anti-gay politician turn out to be gay.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on July 14, 2014, 04:09:13 PM
:huh: How is it convenient, and how is it stupid? Your post makes no sense whatsoever.
It's convenient in that it turns the tables on the bashers. If you are a homophobe, it's because ha, ha, you're gay yourself. And it's stupid because it implies that the vast majority of males in the vast majority of countries all turn out to be fags in denial.
Quote from: DGuller on July 14, 2014, 04:18:47 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on July 14, 2014, 04:09:13 PM
:huh: How is it convenient, and how is it stupid? Your post makes no sense whatsoever.
It's convenient in that it turns the tables on the bashers. If you are a homophobe, it's because ha, ha, you're gay yourself. And it's stupid because it implies that the vast majority of males in the vast majority of countries all turn out to be fags in denial.
To be honest, I would think that people who espouse that theory don't spend a lot of time thinking about conditions outside of the West.
Quote from: garbon on July 14, 2014, 04:26:18 PM
To be honest, I would think that people who espouse that theory don't spend a lot of time thinking about conditions outside of the West.
Conditions inside the West weren't that different from the conditions outside of the West until recently. What is wrong with the simplest and most obvious explanation: some people evolve slower than other people?
Quote from: DGuller on July 14, 2014, 04:18:47 PM
It's convenient in that it turns the tables on the bashers. If you are a homophobe, it's because ha, ha, you're gay yourself. And it's stupid because it implies that the vast majority of males in the vast majority of countries all turn out to be fags in denial.
As opposed to the other irrational fears out there, which of course tend to paint such a positive picture of their subjects.
Quote from: DGuller on July 14, 2014, 04:18:47 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on July 14, 2014, 04:09:13 PM
:huh: How is it convenient, and how is it stupid? Your post makes no sense whatsoever.
It's convenient in that it turns the tables on the bashers. If you are a homophobe, it's because ha, ha, you're gay yourself. And it's stupid because it implies that the vast majority of males in the vast majority of countries all turn out to be fags in denial.
How about if Yi modifies his argument to say that he heard that the root of homophobia is
the fear that you are a gay in denial? Then you don't have to be a fag to be the root of homophobia, you just have to be afraid that you might be.
Quote from: DGuller on July 14, 2014, 04:18:47 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on July 14, 2014, 04:09:13 PM
:huh: How is it convenient, and how is it stupid? Your post makes no sense whatsoever.
It's convenient in that it turns the tables on the bashers. If you are a homophobe, it's because ha, ha, you're gay yourself. And it's stupid because it implies that the vast majority of males in the vast majority of countries all turn out to be fags in denial.
Jeez, for once I'm puzzled by Yi and in agreement with DG (Sorry DG).
Quote from: grumbler on July 14, 2014, 04:36:58 PM
Quote from: DGuller on July 14, 2014, 04:18:47 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on July 14, 2014, 04:09:13 PM
:huh: How is it convenient, and how is it stupid? Your post makes no sense whatsoever.
It's convenient in that it turns the tables on the bashers. If you are a homophobe, it's because ha, ha, you're gay yourself. And it's stupid because it implies that the vast majority of males in the vast majority of countries all turn out to be fags in denial.
How about if Yi modifies his argument to say that he heard that the root of homophobia is the fear that you are a gay in denial? Then you don't have to be a fag to be the root of homophobia, you just have to be afraid that you might be.
That's less patently stupid, but I still think is far too needlessly elaborate.
I come from a culture that has been, and still is, virulently homophobic. The explanation for Russian homophobia is very simple: every Russian grows up with the idea that homophobia is a deviant behavior that is to be openly mocked, derided, and disdained. There isn't any deeper fear behind it, kindergartners used "pidaras" as the worst kind of insult long before they know what being a pidaras means, and for that matter what not being a pidaras means. Parents, without any sense of shame, teach their children what a bad thing homosexuality is. During Soviet times, homosexual acts were even a crime punishable by long prison sentences.
I don't see why the explanation for the homophobia in the West has to be much more elaborate. Even the liberal Western culture does not tolerate all deviations from the typical behavior, and until recently it wasn't that much more advanced than Russia when it came to enlightened attitude towards homosexuality. I can understand that if the West had tolerated homosexuality flawlessly for centuries, then those that are still homophobic must be a special breed, but we're not there yet.
The source of your confusion is we are using different meanings of homophobia. You're using it to mean "dislike of gays," whereas I'm using it in the original meaning of an irrational fear, in response to Syt, who was also talking about irrational fear.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on July 14, 2014, 05:40:08 PM
The source of your confusion is we are using different meanings of homophobia. You're using it to mean "dislike of gays," whereas I'm using it in the original meaning of an irrational fear, in response to Syt, who was also talking about irrational fear.
You weren't responding to Syt, you were concurring with Syt as he responded to Mono.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on July 14, 2014, 05:40:08 PM
The source of your confusion is we are using different meanings of homophobia. You're using it to mean "dislike of gays," whereas I'm using it in the original meaning of an irrational fear, in response to Syt, who was also talking about irrational fear.
I think it is more than that. I think he just equated Russian culture with North American culture.
Quote from: DGuller on July 14, 2014, 06:04:51 PM
You weren't responding to Syt, you were concurring with Syt as he responded to Mono.
:mellow:
I suspect that a great deal of Homophobia isn't a fear of being gay or fear of enjoying it, but a need to assert masculinity and through that establish a social hierarchy.
I think there's something to everyone's theory.
I wouldn't totally dismiss Yi though, many gay people I know have the story of the most rampantly, aggressively homophobic kid at school later coming out. In my case we always got on anyway due to other shared interests, but he was pretty awful. Until, aged 20, he upped sticks and moved to Brighton with a local 35 year old roofer. I like to assume they're both still very happy together.
I can't think of any rampantly homophobic people from high school. Just a couple guys everyone knew was gay but they apparently didn't know it themselves until way later.
Quote from: Valmy on July 14, 2014, 08:54:53 AM
Quote from: garbon on July 14, 2014, 08:52:20 AM
Is that a selling point? :unsure:
Why wouldn't it be? :hmm:
Different broad aesthetic values over the general population of gay men vs straight women.
Kinda like how the biggest player on the L Word looked like this:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.citypages.com%2Fpscholtes%2FShane%2520The%2520L%2520Word%2520Scholtes.jpg&hash=400abe11e2ddc2b472bf8ac1cb645edb821a65a6)