The Thorpedo comes out

[Addison D.]

Posted: 7/12/14 at 10:13pm

I can't remember--did we already know this?

According to the 'Sunday Telegraph'--via the Daily News--Ian Thorpe will "bravely" reveal that he is Gay in a television interview with English talk show host Michael Parkinson, to be broadcast in Australia on Sunday.

"Bravely"? Like, while fighting a tiger???





NYDN Article

Updated On: 7/12/14 at 10:13 PM

[SweetLips]

Posted: 7/13/14 at 12:52am

Lost sponsership is probably why sportspeople always try to act 'normal'.
Are we still in an age where the majority cares what someone does with their private parts?
This is now front page news for Gods' sake-shock/horror-he hasn't just climbed Mt Everest.
If it makes him feel better and might help others that are closeted-then all for the good,but is this really front page news ? Sells papers on a Sunday I suppose.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/13/14 at 1:42am

That bulge though.

[SweetLips]

Posted: 7/13/14 at 3:02am

Does size 11 [feet] mean anything-or is that on the nose?
Edit--size 17 [feet]
Updated On: 7/13/14 at 03:02 AM

Posted: 7/13/14 at 9:52am

Why wouldn't people care about who he sleeps with? They care about what underwear David Beckham wears (if they didn't, H&M wouldn't spend millions of dollars to run ads showing him wearing theirs). People care about what cereal Shaun White eats (hence Wheaties best-selling box). Whole industries have boomed around reporting who is dating whom. To say a celebrities sexual orientation shouldn't or doesn't matter is disingenuous at best.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/13/14 at 9:57am

I think part of the hell he lived through is that he felt the need to strenuously deny being gay in his 2012 autobiography.

So, yes, I think it's brave of him to come forward and say to anyone and everyone, "Not only did I live a lie; I also lied about myself to you and to myself."

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/13/14 at 10:35am

Are we still in an age where the majority cares what someone does with their private parts?

It would seem so. Welcome to Earth.

[Addison D.]

Posted: 7/13/14 at 10:38am

I think there is no question of the interest people have in the sex lives of celebrities, nor in the value of someone like Ian Thorpe acknowledging his sexuality. The story of a young man of such prominence acknowledging the evolution of his struggle to self-knowledge and self-acceptance is a priceless piece of moral support for less-celebrated kids struggling with the issue.

I dislike the tinge of homophobia implied in the notion that there is something shameful in the acknowledgement and that it requires "bravery" to acknowledge this basic facet of identity. I would prefer that the storyline read that he was 'proudly' acknowledging his sexuality. Or 'confidently'. Or--unlikely in the NYDN--'fabulously'.

[madbrian]

Posted: 7/13/14 at 10:49am

It's difficult for us in the US to appreciate just how big a celeb Thorpe is in Australia. Much bigger than Michael Phelps here. It's not an exaggeration to say he's as popular as Beckham, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, etc are in their respective countries. This is a HUGE deal.

Posted: 7/13/14 at 4:18pm

I usually hate closeted gay celebs who finally "come out" but I felt totally different when I read he was first asked by a reporter about his sexuality when he was 15. When you get backed into a corner at that age, I am not at all surprised you cling to it well into adulthood.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/13/14 at 4:37pm

This American appreciates how big Thorpe is.

[SweetLips]

Posted: 7/13/14 at 5:42pm

This report comes as no surprise to anyone, it's just confirmation to 'everyone' saying-'we all knew-what took him so long'.
So now instead of always asking his sexual preferences there will be endless interviews about how he is coping and being accepted ad nauseaum.
As said previously I hope this helps those who are sexually confused/oppressed but please,can we stop wth all these celebrity sexual revelations-yes,the 'world' is curious but enough already.
Next it will be 'I desparately want a partner and have a family'.

PS Addison-Your mastery of the English language makes reading all your comments an absolute delight-thank you.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/13/14 at 6:03pm

When we know longer hear about heterosexual celebrity relationships, when heterosexuality is no longer presumed… THAT'S when gay people can stop sharing their stories.

[Addison D.]

Posted: 7/13/14 at 6:16pm

I'll second Namo on that.

As long as there is a market for the details of Brad & Angelina's most intimate details, I am glad to see equal column inches devoted to Neil & David's. I couldn't give a crap about either, but the subtext--treating same-gender relationships the same as mixed-gender relationships--is important and valuable, in my opinion.

If people are reading (seemingly endlessly) about Jennifer Anniston's desperate search for a partner and a family, I would be glad to see the media devote equal time to Ian Thorpe's search for the same very Human and relatable goals.

(Thanks for the kind words, SweetLips)