NBC ingores Mitcham's sexuality

[Albin]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 1:18pm

Just curious as to what you all think of this. My opinion is that we demand that people see us for more than our sexuality until we're blue in the face, then we have a hissy fit because it's NOT mentioned
NBC ignores Mitcham's sexuality

[JustAGuy]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 1:23pm

I agree...what's important in this story is that he won the gold and was a spoiler to China's gold medal diving run. The fact that he's gay is great for the gay community...but it doesn't necessarily mean that NBC should comment on it. Damned if you do...damned if you don't.

[HamiltonHeightsHero]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 1:25pm

The fact that hes practically the only openly gay olympic athlete is important and its important for people to know.

[JustAGuy]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 1:28pm

Why? Is it important that we know the sexuality of all the participants in the Olympics...or only the Gay ones?

[scott68]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 1:32pm

I did find it interesting that they mentioned how he'd quit diving for two years to deal with "personal and family issues" and then never mentioned what those issues actually were.

[CyCoSpAz2]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 1:39pm

alcoholism?

[CapnHook]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 1:42pm

"Why? Is it important that we know the sexuality of all the participants in the Olympics...or only the Gay ones?"

I agree 100%. BUT -- at this time in history when gays are not viewed as equals, it's important to get all the "positive" "publicity" we can get. When/if we get an openly gay person running for president, do you think that is not going to get attention?

Here is a person who is an international hero with international attention...and is openly gay. But NBC is not treating him as an equal. If they would have simply just shown his partner/family in the stands, as they have with just about every other athlete, that would have shown a sign of respect to his sexuality. Instead, they are intentionally hiding it as if his sexuality is wrong. It is damaging to hide it. They don't need to make it a topic of attention, either. Just simply treat him the same as the other athletes. No special attention.

(And by "no special attention" I hope it's understood that "special attention" might arise by treating him as an equal, but in my opinion, that's good.)

Updated On: 8/24/08 at 01:42 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 1:43pm

It should be up to Mitcham. He seems to have no problem discussing his life. Why should anyone else?

They seem comfortable talking about Phelps and that girl, no?

[The Boy From Ohio]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 1:47pm

I knew he was gay...glad to know my gaydar is still in working order. His dives were great, he deserved the Gold gay or straight.

[scott68]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 2:47pm

I think it's cute that he was able to raise money to get his boyfriend to come with him to the Games, but does anyone else find it a liiiittle odd that he refers to him as his "partner"? I mean, I'm sure you're very much in love and all that, but... baby, you're TWENTY.

[JustAGuy]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 2:48pm

"Here is a person who is an international hero with international attention...and is openly gay. But NBC is not treating him as an equal."

MMMMM...I'm not sure I agree with that...there have been dozens of medal winners that weren't shown on NBC at all...because they weren't AMERICAN. And even some of the Americans who were shown were not always given feel good family/lover shots. This was after all a huge upset, I don't think it's unreasonable to think that NBC was much more interested in reporting Mitcham winning the gold as a news story more than a human interest story.

I'd be much more interested in how the Australian media covered this story. I think we're lucky that we got to see Mitcham at all considering NBC's penchant for basically only covering the OLYMPICS as how it pertains to the US athletes.

Updated On: 8/24/08 at 02:48 PM

[SNAFU]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 2:59pm

Why is it strange Scott? If they are in a committed loving relationship why not refer to him as "my partner"? doesn't matter what age you are. Some relationships are started young and last a lifetime.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 3:03pm

Valid point, JustAGuy.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 3:20pm

"Why? Is it important that we know the sexuality of all the participants in the Olympics...or only the Gay ones? "

This comment almost sounds like the general argument made by some people about coming out, etc. And to that I say--people of color and women don't have to "come out" or have their status as a minority announced. It's right there as clear as crystal. And the impact a person of color or a woman can have as role models, inspiration, defying prejudices, etc. is not one I consider light.

The same is true for gay people. But it's not always obvious--even when it might be obvious to us--to most people in this country and around the world. It has to be said or shown. There are people who still think Liberace was straight--just flamboyant and refined.

In any case, I agree with those who say it should be the athlete's choice how much personal is shown. Seeing how he was on the cover of The Advocate, I'd say he's prob a-ok with his partner being shown just like any other athlete's partner.

The particular issue here is definitely qualified by JAG's comment that NBC wouldn't likely spend much time on a nonAmerican.

But do we think they would have if he had been American? It's a general issue in our country, so the greater questions are def valid.

[Raspberry]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 3:22pm

I thought this thread was going to be a poorly spelled discussion of Robert Mitchum. But I see it's just more Olympic talk. ::yawn:: I guess I'll leave now...

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 4:53pm

Seeing how he was on the cover of The Advocate, I'd say he's prob a-ok with his partner being shown just like any other athlete's partner

I was thinking that, too.

And scott68, for what it's worth, I've never liked the word partner. Props to people who use it, but there's something clinical about it me. And life partner just sounds gay.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 5:13pm

i hear partner and think adam-12, dragnet, l&o, nypd blue, hill street blues and every cop show ever.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 5:17pm

Especially Cagney and Lacey!

[tazber]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 5:23pm

I agree with jag. He's not American so why should American media outlets cover his backstory?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 5:27pm

Does anyone remember the early 80s series Partners in Crime starring Loni Anderson and Lynda Carter?

[JustAGuy]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 5:29pm

"I agree with jag. He's not American so why should American media outlets cover his backstory?"

It's not that I think his backstory shouldn't be covered because he's not American. It's just that the big story was that he upset the Chinese for a Gold Medal. That was the story of the night...not that he was gay.

Updated On: 8/24/08 at 05:29 PM

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 5:33pm

c'mon, jag, it's not like it would have been too tough to have the headline read peter puffer punks zhou for gold(en shower). sheesh.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 5:37pm

But one could argue that in addition to the win, he was also just on the cover of The Advocate, a national American magazine. I can really see it either way.

[JustAGuy]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 5:45pm

"But one could argue that in addition to the win, he was also just on the cover of The Advocate, a national American magazine. I can really see it either way."

True, but that was before the win. I'm guessing that had he been hyped as the spoiler for a Chinese sweep of the diving medals, then NBC would have given us a feel good story about him, maybe with a reference to his sexuality, or maybe not. But his win was a total surprise. I just don't think NBC can be accused of some sort of anti-gay bias because they reported his win as news, without commenting on his sexuality.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 5:55pm

You make a convincing point. This didn't even strike the fuse of my gay outrage.