Why gay athletes don't announce it

[operafan]

This was an interesting post supposedly written by an ex-Olympian on what athletes don't come out before the games:

Being an athlete who is gay may not elicit outright harassment as likely occurred in the past, but it may be perceived by the athlete as a distraction from results. Athletes who are gay have nothing material to gain by coming out publicly. And as an athlete, you must think about things in terms of their utility, especially because sport is now both financially and athletically competitive. No longer is it just, “What else can I do to get that extra edge?” The mantra now becomes, “What else can I do to appease and win over sponsors?”


While it may seem from the outside that coming out would generate a lot of publicity, I feel that that kind of media attention would be falsely earned, that it wouldn’t be garnered for my athletic success, but for my sexuality. There is a strong dislike held by many elite athletes for the “human interest” stories that come around every Olympics. I think that this sentiment within my Olympic team made me focus completely on my training and results, so that I could earn that media coverage as an athlete, not as a gay man

http://outsports.com/olympicsblog/2010/02/15/olympian-why-gay-jocks-dont-come-out/

 

[Paws]

I read another coming-out story about a German manager and how that business is similar to professional sports regarding homophobia.

Being gay still causes problems in whatever profession.

 

[G-Lexington]

I think there's more to it than that.

If you end up working in a restaurant or shop where you encounter homophobia, you can quit and get a job at another restaurant or shop - either down the street or in another city. If the law firm you join ends up being homophobic, it'll probably be somewhat tougher to find a new position in a law firm, although not impossible. But if the sports team you play for is homophobic...then what? You can't just quit and join another team - you're under contract. And there's a VERY limited number of positions to fill in that sport, with a TON of people trying to get those positions. Unless you're at the absolute top of your game, it'll be very easy for other teams to simply choose another player that "doesn't have that baggage attached".

Lex

 

[slickery]

Matthew Mitchell, Australian Diver, openly gay won some medals at Beijing, then headlined the mardi gras parade.

 

[Shepherd 2]

A gay man is not totally defined by being gay. It is one of many aspects of his identity and his personhood. Why complicate the business by making a big issue about it?

Experiences of gay phobia should be reported and rooted out. Does every parade need to be a gay pride parade, and does every atheletic event need to be an occasion of homophobia?

Shep+

 

[operafan]

Matthew Mitchell, Australian Diver, openly gay won some medals at Beijing, then headlined the mardi gras parade.

But he is a good example of the problems of being out -- he wasn't able to get a sponsor for a long time -- and as far as I know he still only has one.

If he was straight with the slim body and blonde hair they would be lining up at the door.

 

[CorporalAris]

Coming out is overrated. No one needs to know my sexuality, unless I am currently fucking them.

 

[G-Lexington]

^ Fine, so long as the guy you're fucking doesn't want to be anything more than "that guy you're fucking".

Lex

 

[Red Storm]

Sad but true operafan. With his looks and gorgeous body he would have sponsorship deals out the wazoo if he was able to be marketed as a "straight" guy.

I wonder what if Ian Thorpe had come out , would still had all the sponsors he got after the Olympics and throughout his career?

PS Just using Thorpe as an example. Don't know if he is straight/gay etc.

 

[CorporalAris]

^ Fine, so long as the guy you're fucking doesn't want to be anything more than "that guy you're fucking".

Lex

I was joking. My point was that there is too much attention placed on coming out.

 

[JasunStrikesBack]

Coming out is overrated. No one needs to know my sexuality, unless I am currently fucking them.

Well, unless you have balls.

But you know...

 

[CorporalAris]

Well, unless you have balls.

But you know...

:/

I already said it was an exaggeration.

 

[JasunStrikesBack]

:/

I already said it was an exaggeration.

And even exaggerating it is bullocks.

Straight people all come out to everyone every fucking day of their lives. They come out to every person they meet. They flaunt their sexual orientation ever minute of ever day.

why should we be the only ones who say "it's none of anyone's business?"

 

[NVRMOR]

Is it necessary for a gay man to declare his sexuality? I don't remember any athelete declaring themselves a heterosexual.

 

[JasunStrikesBack]

Is it necessary for a gay man to declare his sexuality? I don't remember any athelete declaring themselves a heterosexual.

Really?

then you're not paying attention. They parade their wives and girlfriends around for the cameras, they release pictures of their kids and weddings to People magazine... they openly party at straight clubs with Jennifer Lopez.

Tell me... You think Tiger Woods might be straight?

 

[CorporalAris]

Really?

then you're not paying attention. They parade their wives and girlfriends around for the cameras, they release pictures of their kids and weddings to People magazine... they openly party at straight clubs with Jennifer Lopez.

Tell me... You think Tiger Woods might be straight?

Oh god, no no no, not what I meant. I mean, if I were to walk around with my boyfriend and maybe kiss or what ever, fine. But I mean the media attention that people get when they do come out is annoying.

 

[JasunStrikesBack]

Oh god, no no no, not what I meant. I mean, if I were to walk around with my boyfriend and maybe kiss or what ever, fine. But I mean the media attention that people get when they do come out is annoying.

Erg.

Ok.

Whatever.

If the media's reaction to us coming out is annoying, maybe it's best if we all hide away. Dont' want to annoy anyone, now, do we?

 

[jackry]

Oh god, no no no, not what I meant. I mean, if I were to walk around with my boyfriend and maybe kiss or what ever, fine. But I mean the media attention that people get when they do come out is annoying.

good point.

I really don't care if an athlete announce his/her sexuality or there view on politics. Damn they are athletes and should not be roll models or beacons of social/political change.

As long as they don't hide there sexuality, then I have know issues about the lack of press conferences on being gay.