Sunday, August 24, 2008
Some People Have Issues
Maggie Hendricks at Yahoo's Fourth Place Medal sports blog makes a big issue that Australian 10 meter gold medal winner, Matthew Mitcham, is openly gay. Curiously, the main quote from Mitcham is:
Hendricks appears to be on of those people who have issues. She goes on to write:
I'm not sure what it is that makes some members of the LBGT community want to flout their sexual orientation. To a large degree their assumed goal of gaining widespread acceptance or tolerance of gays has been reached. Indeed, being gay is now as blasé as being straight. Hence, not enough of a story for NBC to pick up. Isn't that how it should be?
But, some people have issues.
Being gay and diving are completely separate parts of my life. Of course there’s going to be crossover because some people have issues, but everyone I dive with has been so supportive.Emphasis added.
Hendricks appears to be on of those people who have issues. She goes on to write:
Though he wants to be known as more than a gay man, the LGBT community is proud of their star. At OutSports, a sports Web site that focuses on the gay community, his win is front-page news. The Web site brings up a good question -- will NBC mention Mitcham's orientation during tonight's broadcast?Later, Hendricks posts an update to point out that NBC did not mention Mitcham's sexual orientation.
UPDATE: NBC did not mention Mitcham's orientation, nor did they show his family and partner who were in the stands. NBC has made athletes' significant others a part of the coverage in the past, choosing to spotlight track athlete Sanya Richards' fiancee, a love triangle between French and Italian swimmers and Kerri Walsh's wedding ring debacle.Sanya Richard's fiancee is a professional athlete, cornerback for the Super Bowl champion New York Giants. I find that somewhat more interesting than someone's sexual orientation. The story about French and Italian swimmers appears to be quite interesting, involving the female moving to Italy for love, a break-up, nude pictures and video. Something worthy of Paris Hilton or Pamela Anderson. Of course, "Kerri Walsh's wedding ring debacle" occurred during Olympic competition. She lost her wedding ring during a game, not while washing her hands after dinner or such.
I'm not sure what it is that makes some members of the LBGT community want to flout their sexual orientation. To a large degree their assumed goal of gaining widespread acceptance or tolerance of gays has been reached. Indeed, being gay is now as blasé as being straight. Hence, not enough of a story for NBC to pick up. Isn't that how it should be?
But, some people have issues.
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