Did we really need to know

[Anonymous]

that Ian Thorpe is gay?

It was front page news on one paper I saw at the shop this morning.

why do we need to know? what did it matter? we don't have headlines saying people are het?

Poor guy has been hounded for years over his soxuality, I hope he finds some peace and happiness now.

[punch*drunk]

Only when homosexuals are no longer expected to 'come out of the closet' and declare themselves can they say they are accepted - and who is the arrogant entity that decided they needed to be accepted anyway, they are human beings just as much as heterosexuals who are never expected to make any declarations!

Absolutely agree, expecting anyone to "come out" just reinforces the view that they are different, they arent. The media making a big deal of this stuff is what makes young people struggling with their sexuality insecure.

[lloydslights]

In reply to no post in particular.  Noted:

The Parkinson/Thorpe interview was televised on Channel 10

The Commonwealth Games will be televised on Channel 10

Ian Thorpe will be commentating for Channel 10 at the Games

The promotion by the media for their own product, namely the Games in this instance..

******************************************************************************************************************************************

The whole "Ian Thorpe product" is being handled very masterfully by his management team.

 Ian wanted to "come out".  I believe his mental anguish has been partially due to the public denial of his sexuality.  

He is reliant on income from the sporting industries, sponsorships, etc.  Perhaps the brands he promotes have become more aware of the spending dollar of gay consumers. They must cater to that market and why not re-sign with a former champion swimmer  who brings even more clients.  WIN-WIN

It has been a brave action.  But appears to have been successful.

DEB

[i-need-a-martini]

And as yet no-one has pointed out that he had planned to come out before the 2000 (?) Olympics but he admitted himself that he was worried about how that would affect his sponsorship deals.

Whilst I have great admiration for Thorpe and I feel for the mental anguish he has faced he could have addressed the issue of his homosexualtiy differently - instead he has denied it in the past (by outright lies) whilst at the same time partying in circumstances that made it clear to those that saw him that he was gay (and knew it) and now he gets paid for an interview to 'come out' on the eve of the Comm Games commencing.

[*pepe]

WIN-WIN ?

i think not - if what you describe is actually the case that is not aceptance by the brands, its exploitation.

[**snakes_alive**]

I am disgusted it's even up for discussion. You make me wonder at your parenting when you feel it's public figures responsibility to make kids feel better about who they are.
Due to public speculation he was forced to confront and and discuss something that is no ones business but his own.
I expect all my questions to be answered there may be kids reading this that need to know it's ok and seeing as you are an advocate for others explaining these issues so publicly for the good of the kids you should lead by example. Wear a billboard, ring a bell and educate our youth.

[i-need-a-martini]

Even now that you have reworded your post I am still having trouble following you. However I will try and respond.

What is disgusting to be up for discussion? His homosexuality? What?

Public speculation has been going on for decades. Thorpe chose to go public (for a fee). No one forced him. Much in the same way that no one forced him to lie in his own autobiography.

If it was no-one business but his own then he should have not taken that $400,000 for that interview. As it is, he did. Therfore the topic is up for public discussion.

My expectations for public figures is that they have a lot of good to offer. The late Belinda Emmett did enormous good by being open about her breast cancer. Hazel Hawke did wonders for Alzeimers by speaking so candidly. Jessica Rowe suddenly made it Ok to accept that you or your partner has PND and that we could talk about it. Kate Langbroek shocked the country when she breastfed her baby on national TV and created a revolution for breastfeeding mothers.

Whether they like it or not, people in the public eye do have a responsibility. 

And I'm not sure why you keep bringing up my own children or my parenting in this discussion. It is irelevent and inappropriate. Plus your comments related to my kids don't make sense - I should lead by example? In what way in relation to this topic?

[*pepe]

you are placing unrealistic and unfair burdens on those in the 'public eye' - he was a swimmer, not an educator on sexuality.

good on all those celebrities who have made their issues public, it was their choice to do so - after the media 'outted' them first that is. *rolls eyes*

I believe the fee he was paid was partly for the interview and partly for commentary on the commonwealth games.

And as he has denied it for so long - which he should not have had to do because nobody had the right to ask or publicly speculate about his sexual orientation, I seriously doubt he would have discussed it even now if not for the onging pressure from a gossip hungry media fuelled by a gossip hungry public.

[i-need-a-martini]

pepe - it is only a small minority in this country that would give a toss if a celebrity is gay or not. Magda Z. is a good example - she came out of the closet and everyone said "Good on her.", shugged their shoulders and it was all forgotten.

The reason people kept querying Thorpe was his own social behaviour didn't marry up to statements he was making about being straight. It was all very bizarre. 

[imastawka]

IMO the public is much more forgiving for gay women.

Another celebrity to prove that was Deborah Hutton

Also Ajay Rochester from the Biggest Loser.

No backlash from the public, or very little

[*pepe]

had nobody asked the question he never would have made any statements - this is not his fault in any way.