Gay Olympians

[infinitidrew]

I know this probably seems like the most cliched thread in this part of the forum, but I recently read an article on Gay sports fans and athletes, your place for discussion, stories, and photos - Outsports.com. about gay Olympians and being out.

I was just wondering what everyone thought about this. should we celebrate the fact that there are gay sportsmen, should we expect them to come out to raise the profile of gay people in sports etc?

And another issue, is it easier to be a gay sportswoman than a gay sportsman? According to outsports there is only 1 out gay man, and 9 out gay women. Why is this disproportional? (or indeed is it disproportional?!)

Anyway, just a few musings for other people to discuss.

x

[matty]

Umm valid point, its something that I'd ever actually thought about.

I'm guessing its because us gays don't sterotypically like sport why theres more lesbians then gays.

Also its a very manly sort of thing to do so if it was me I wouldn't come out. Just as if I was a Coal Miner or other sterotypical mans job.

I hope I made sence as it did in my head.

[infinitidrew]

Also its a very manly sort of thing to do so if it was me I wouldn't come out. Just as if I was a Coal Miner or other sterotypical mans job.

Surely that's the type of stereotypes we'd be trying to break? Though I do know what you mean about it being difficult if you're doing somthing 'manly'. It's why we have no out gay footballers etc. Well that and what happened to Justin Fashanu.

Apparently some gay people don't want to come out for fear of feminising their sport. Things like gymnastics and figure skating have already got a 'gay' reputation and they don't want to add to it.

I just think it's a shame, even though it does give gay rights activists somewhere to focus on.

[LukeSharpe]

well the horse world is full of gay's in fact its very normal and is almost expected, ifn your on a horse and a man most people think your gay of in the clost( not so much rasing and polo), i dont see why gay sports men wont come out but then im very prowed of who i am, and think its a bonus i sleep with men its just better! well in my job its often a quicker way to get a head if your gay!!!

[BiPenny]

was that get ahead or get head luke

[LukeSharpe]

Originally Posted by BiPenny

was that get ahead or get head luke

oh hell yes bit of both sometimes i love my job

[Northernfag]

There was a huge kerfuffle when rob Newton the british hurdler came out a few years ago, only to nose dive into obscurity shortly after- i suspect an active sex (or press) life does not a top athlete make!

mart
xx