Ian Thorpe comes out!

[marylander1940]

I'M GAY: Australian Olympic champion Ian Thorpe finally reveals his sexuality during interview with British TV personality Michael Parkinson after years of denials.

 

http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2011/11/04/1226186/296930-ian-thorpe.jpg

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/12/ian-thorpe-gay_n_5580385.html

[Muscle Lover 2]

Way to go Ian. Glad to know you are on our team!

[+ deej]

I'll file this in the "knock me over with a feather" category, but I'm happy for him that he finally reached a point where he felt comfortable doing it. That point comes to all of us at different times and in different ways.

[+ poolboy48220]

I'm not surprised either, wish it'd happened a while ago but I grant that I can't conceive what a famous person's coming-out must be like. I was scared enough, without the possibility of having it on the front page of the National Enquirer.

[+ friendofsheila]

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ktpxbQsto34/TT2ujBfYmsI/AAAAAAAABpE/WeKwfX-FPaE/s640/absshades.jpg

[TruthBTold]

As has already been expressed, I am very happy that he found the fortitude and desire to do this. However, there is something sad in this being a news item.

[Guest]

Maybe I'm the only guy who isn't impressed by this lying scumbag. At least Anderson Cooper, although perhaps slightly gutless earlier in his career, had the decency to say that he simply would not discuss his sexual preferences before he came out. I can at least respect that. I have much less respect for someone who actively lies about it--repeatedly, both verbally and in writing: Thorpe has had to contend with speculation about his sexuality for years, even though he has dated women. The Sydney Morning Herald quotes a passage Thorpe wrote in his 2012 memoir "This Is Me": ''For the record, I am not gay and all my sexual experiences have been straight. I'm attracted to women, I love children and aspire to have a family one day … I know what it's like to grow up and be told what your sexuality is, then realising(sic) that it's not the full reality. I was accused of being gay before I knew who I was.''

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/11/17/1037490052340.html

Coming out only after your career is over and dead is hardly gutsy or courageous. If anything, it seems to perpetuate the myth that you have to be a liar and a closet-case to be successful. But I guess living a lie takes a toll on a guy?

In 2014, it was confirmed that Thorpe had been admitted to a rehabilitation clinic after neighbors found him dazed near his parents' Panania home. Thorpe was taken to Bankstown Hospital by police before being admitted to a rehabilitation clinic. In his 2012 autobiography This is me, Thorpe admitted that he had at times considered suicide and confessed to drinking huge quantities of alcohol to deal with his crippling depression. Well, maybe with support from the gay community, and without having to play stupid games, he may end up feeling less depressed? If it's really true that in 2012, when he was 29 or 30, this guy, who probably could have had his pick, really had never had sexual experiences with another man, then he really wasted away his 20s. What a waste. And guess what. You'll never get your 20s back.

You can still get some guys looking like you do now:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bbUGdWsee9o/SYFx__CTvjI/AAAAAAAAAP0/1ek1H1lrOGA/s1600/ian%2Bthorpe3.jpg

 

But not the same guys you could have gotten when you looked like this...

http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2011/11/04/1226185/738671-swimmer-ian-thorpe.jpg

 

http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2011/11/04/1226185/742162-swimmer-ian-thorpe.jpg

[jimboivyo]

Maybe I'm the only guy who isn't impressed by this lying scumbag

 

Took the words outta my keyboard

 

who the f is this guy and why should we care that he just now, a decade or more later, has the balls to come out. what about all of those years of his popularity when he could have really helped GLBT people and used his status for some good? selfish, afraid and a sad example of folks who shouldn't be idolized in our community.

[Frankly Rich]

I tend to agree with Unicorn. Coming out would have been helpful when he was swimming. That he couldn't do it, and, in fact, lied, is no credit to him. Right now he is just Joe Blow, and Joe Blows come out every day without making the news.

[Newly]

Aren't we being a bit harsh? Sure, it would be great if everyone would come out immediately, I'm pretty sure there would be a lot of surprises, but everyone needs to do it when it's possible for them. Who knows, maybe mentally he just couldn't accept the fact that he is gay, or maybe he's from a highly religious family where coming out means you get disowned, or maybe he has siblings or friends who he thought would not accept him, who knows. As for lying when you feel threatened, no, it's not very becoming, but it's not like we all haven't acted in ways we're not proud of. If we turn on people who come out when we think it's too late what type of message are we sending to all of those who haven't come out because they're scared? That if you don't come out on our terms and not yours you will be scorned? Anyhow, maybe you're all right in what you say, but I feel sorry for him having to lie and lead a double life for so long, and I don't want to judge him without knowing why he waited.

[bostonman]

We live in a world where it is potentially easier to come out now than ever before. But that doesn't mean it's not a very personal struggle for any given individual. We can't force people to come out (it's been done, and it's a horrible thing), and we still have to respect that some people just can't face it - until they are truly ready to face it. (And even then, some men surely go to their graves having lived a "straight" lie all their lives - never able to get beyond the fear, shame, or simple self-recognition.) How do we know that Thorpe *didn't* think about his being able to make a helpful gesture to the gay community - but that he just wasn't able to get himself there for any number of reasons. And his statements about being straight - well, that's the price of celebrity - if you can't defend your honest stance on who you are, you possibly do what he did - get *defensive* about the rumors and lie to try to make them go away. I may not agree with what he did, but I do understand possibly why he did it.

 

Someday I do hope the world will be a more accepting place for all sexuality - so that gays don't even have to make such a big deal about coming out - it won't have to be such a "surprise" declaration for anyone, it will just be a simple decision to live openly. We're not there yet.

[instudiocity]

Aren't we being a bit harsh?

 

We live in a world where it is potentially easier to come out now than ever before. But that doesn't mean it's not a very personal struggle for any given individual. We can't force people to come out (it's been done, and it's a horrible thing), and we still have to respect that some people just can't face it - until they are truly ready to face it. (And even then, some men surely go to their graves having lived a "straight" lie all their lives - never able to get beyond the fear, shame, or simple self-recognition.) How do we know that Thorpe *didn't* think about his being able to make a helpful gesture to the gay community - but that he just wasn't able to get himself there for any number of reasons. And his statements about being straight - well, that's the price of celebrity - if you can't defend your honest stance on who you are, you possibly do what he did - get *defensive* about the rumors and lie to try to make them go away. I may not agree with what he did, but I do understand possibly why he did it.

 

Someday I do hope the world will be a more accepting place for all sexuality - so that gays don't even have to make such a big deal about coming out - it won't have to be such a "surprise" declaration for anyone, it will just be a simple decision to live openly. We're not there yet.

 

We aren't being harsh, some of us are being harsh.

 

I believe in personal freedom. I possess the right to live my life any way I choose until it is harmful to someone else. IF the greatest harm I do is live in the closet and pay men for our sexual encounters, I am OK. I enjoy the life I live. I wouldn't change a thing. And as I mentioned in another thread, paying $200/hour for a bit of intimacy in my life is CHEAP compared to the costs associated with maintaining the man-child I want in my bed occasionally.

[Frankly Rich]

Aren't we being a bit harsh? Sure, it would be great if everyone would come out immediately, I'm pretty sure there would be a lot of surprises, but everyone needs to do it when it's possible for them. Who knows, maybe mentally he just couldn't accept the fact that he is gay, or maybe he's from a highly religious family where coming out means you get disowned, or maybe he has siblings or friends who he thought would not accept him, who knows. As for lying when you feel threatened, no, it's not very becoming, but it's not like we all haven't acted in ways we're not proud of. If we turn on people who come out when we think it's too late what type of message are we sending to all of those who haven't come out because they're scared? That if you don't come out on our terms and not yours you will be scorned? Anyhow, maybe you're all right in what you say, but I feel sorry for him having to lie and lead a double life for so long, and I don't want to judge him without knowing why he waited.

 

I am not turning on him when he comes out, I am simply saying that the news of it is overblown. It is no longer important.

[Bargara Leatherboy]

Ok - there is more to this story than being discussed here.

 

Ian Thorpe came to the public eye at 15 when he won a bunch of swimming titles and broke a bunch of world records. At 16 he was being asked in the media if he way GAY - now at 16 that is just wrong.

 

He grew up in a close family with very strong Christian beliefs.

 

He has battled all his life with debilitating depression, and being a very strong person hid it from everyone.

 

I can remember him being interviewed years ago and being asked if he was gay, he said that he was not, and that he took that questions as a

 

"compliment as so many wonderfully creative people were gay and to be included in that group is flattering"

 

Ian Thorpe has never been negative about the gay community or being gay.

 

He had a housemate for a few years (he was living in a multi million dollar ocean front home in Sydney's south, the housemate was a brazilian swimmer who was at a Sydney University, as was Ian Thorpe, they were photographed on holiday with the Brazilians swimmers family in Brazil, the media made out they were lovers - which they were not.

 

Ian then went to Switzerland, tried to recreate his best times etc, to no avail, and ended up with issues around trying to solve his inner most issues (gay and depression) with grog, (secret drinker), and then a mix of anti depressants etc.

 

Had a broken shoulder and got infected with a infection which is still being healed.

 

Had a bit of a public breakdown - had some rehab and now come out.

 

Its all a journey - and until we live that journey we cannot be unkind about it.

 

Ian Thorpe is a deep thinking, beautiful person, he has a foundation to help indigenous communities in Australia - and does amazing charity work.

 

So he has finally in the last month told his family and friends that he is gay, he has never shared that with anyone until now, aged 31 that is a biggie.

 

He is so well known in Australia - that he could not go to a beat, or a bar, or a bathhouse, or even ring for a working gent, without running the risk of being outed.

 

He says he has not been intimate with a man yet.

 

I hope he finds his inner peace along with a great hunky husband who loves him unconditionally.

[tyro]

Thank you, westernsyd, for posting something thoughtful and compassionate.

T

[Lookin]

Thank you, westernsyd, for posting something thoughtful and compassionate.

T

 

 

Ditto. http://www.boytoy.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/thumbsup.png

[TruHart1]

Thank you, westernsyd, for posting something thoughtful and compassionate.

T

 

Yes westernsyd. This forum needs more informative, well thought-out, non-catty posts such as yours!!!

 

TruHart1

[instudiocity]

I am not turning on him when he comes out, I am simply saying that the news of it is overblown. It is no longer important.

You're a Congressritter. You reserve the right to revise and extend your harsh remarks.

[Guest]

Ian Thorpe came to the public eye at 15 when he won a bunch of swimming titles and broke a bunch of world records. At 16 he was being asked in the media if he way GAY - now at 16 that is just wrong.

 

He grew up in a close family with very strong Christian beliefs.

 

He has battled all his life with debilitating depression, and being a very strong person hid it from everyone.

He had a housemate for a few years (he was living in a multi million dollar ocean front home in Sydney's south, the housemate was a brazilian swimmer who was at a Sydney University, as was Ian Thorpe, they were photographed on holiday with the Brazilians swimmers family in Brazil, the media made out they were lovers - which they were not.

 

Its all a journey - and until we live that journey we cannot be unkind about it.

 

Ian Thorpe is a deep thinking, beautiful person, he has a foundation to help indigenous communities in Australia - and does amazing charity work.

 

So he has finally in the last month told his family and friends that he is gay, he has never shared that with anyone until now, aged 31 that is a biggie.

 

He is so well known in Australia - that he could not go to a beat, or a bar, or a bathhouse, or even ring for a working gent, without running the risk of being outed.

He says he has not been intimate with a man yet.

 

Well, there are certainly many aspects of his life that I can empathize with. And he may, in fact be quite generous with his money and/or time. I'm not sure what the evidence is that he's "deep thinking," and "beautiful" is certainly in the eye of the beholder. He certainly had to be very hard-working to accomplish what he did, in addition to being physically gifted. I fully "get it" that growing up in a strongly "Christian" probably resulted in a lot of challenges that I never personally had to face (although Christians supposedly aren't supposed to judge, so how Christian could they be if they really were that judgmental--though I'm not hearing of any negative reaction from the family so far). For all of his great qualities, honesty and life smarts aren't among them. One doesn't have to look further than his native Australia to find fellow Olympic gold medalist Matthew Mitcham to find someone with greater personal courage and integrity (in fact, Mitcham's native Brisbane is less liberal than Thorpe's native Sydney). And British Olympian Tom Daley is openly in a LTR with Dustin Lance Black (twice his age, good for him!).

If, when Thorpe says he's "not been intimate with a man yet," he really means he's never had sex with a man, then, wow, the lack of cojones just leaves me speechless. I can certainly admire certain many of Thorpe's qualities, but am less thrilled about some of the choices he's made. And IMHO coming out years after your career is washed out doesn't make me want to put you on a pedestal. Now, Mitcham and Daley, I really want to cheer. To each his own, but it's men like Mitcham and Daley I really look up to. Men like Thorpe--not so much. I just feel bad for him.

I came out when it was not a popular time to do so. I remember another guy living in my college dorm calling me out as "an over-sexed homo". It may have been a bit embarrassing at the time, but, looking back I'm sooooooooo happy I spent my college years being an over-sexed homo, and not some closet case. When I was in college, Gay and Lesbian Associations were just starting. There were just a few of us in this huge college. Now there are huge offices, libraries, and so on. And I can feel just a little pride at being one of the pioneers (and having donated to the gay library at my college). It will be interesting to see what Thorpe does with his life at this point. I, too, hope he's truly waken up, and that he finds happiness.

[bigvalboy]

Yes westernsyd. This forum needs more informative, well thought-out, non-catty posts such as yours!!!

 

TruHart1

 

Indeed....I couldn't agree with you more. And yes, thanks to westernsyd for the additional information, although without it, my opinion of him would not have been any different. Young Mr. Thorpe may or may not regret the choices he made in his life. I am one of those who believes that revealing ones sexuality to friends, family, or the world for that matter, is and should be a personal choice. It is Mr. Thorpe's life to live, and unless convinced otherwise, I don't see how he owes anyone an explanation.

[+ newatthis]

Aren't we being a bit harsh? Sure, it would be great if everyone would come out immediately, I'm pretty sure there would be a lot of surprises, but everyone needs to do it when it's possible for them. Who knows, maybe mentally he just couldn't accept the fact that he is gay, or maybe he's from a highly religious family where coming out means you get disowned, or maybe he has siblings or friends who he thought would not accept him, who knows. As for lying when you feel threatened, no, it's not very becoming, but it's not like we all haven't acted in ways we're not proud of. If we turn on people who come out when we think it's too late what type of message are we sending to all of those who haven't come out because they're scared? That if you don't come out on our terms and not yours you will be scorned? Anyhow, maybe you're all right in what you say, but I feel sorry for him having to lie and lead a double life for so long, and I don't want to judge him without knowing why he waited.

+1

[Steven_Draker]

Ian McKellen: 'I've never met a gay person who came out and who regretted it'

 

'I often thought my gravestone would say, 'Here lies Gandalf. He came out,"' says the 75-year-old actor who came out publicly 25 years ago

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RmsJfxj1Vq4/T2Q5--HTjII/AAAAAAAAABs/vhhwKKkgPsM/s1600/Ian+McKellen+as+Gandalf.jpg

 

Speaking with BuzzFeed Brews interview on Friday, gay British actor Ian McKellen commended his X-Men co-star Ellen Page for coming out last week, and encouraged LGBTs who are in the closet to consider doing the same.

 

The 75-year-old, who publicly came out more than 25 years ago, is best known for playing Magneto in the X-Men films and Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.

 

Although McKellen was open about his sexual orientation, he said it wasn't until 1988 that he came out to the general public and he did so in response to a law passed by the UK government.

 

'I was always openly gay… I had a series of partners and we went everywhere together and we were accepted, living in London in the '60s and '70s, but never making a fuss, never dreaming that we might get married, never dreaming we could have a civil partnership, never dreaming that, should we want to, we could serve in the military. There we certain things we weren't allowed to do and I'm afraid I rather went along with that because I was having a rather good time being an actor.'

 

In 1988, the government passed Section 28 to prohibit local authorities in England and Wales from 'promoting' homosexuality – a law which McKellen compared to Russia’s current 'gay propaganda' law.

 

'Anyone in public life who comes out, comes out primarily for themselves, and their life is immediately improved. That’s what happened to me,' he said. 'The world [became] a slightly better place.'

 

He commended Page on coming out and has some advice for those who are living in the closet: 'I feel sorry for anyone who feels the need to lie about themselves. That's not good for you. It doesn’t lead to a happy life. And I’ve never met a gay person who came out and who regretted it. Never. So, my advice to anyone in the closet – it doesn’t matter whether they're a teacher, or a politician, or a priest, or an actor – come out. Join the human race.'

 

McKellen added that he hopes his reputation as an openly gay actor to be his lasting legacy.

 

'I often thought my gravestone would say, "Here lies Gandalf. He came out,"' he said. 'Those are two of the proudest achievements that I've got. I think I've been a part of the rapid sensible movement towards an understanding that gay people are the same as the rest of you and should be treated equally by the law, by society.'

 

 

[video=youtube;_H8pc5ZB524]

 

source: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/ian-mckellen-ive-never-met-gay-person-who-came-out-and-who-regretted-it220214

[tyro]

Well said, Sir Ian.

T

[+ Gar1eth]

Ian McKellen: 'I've never met a gay person who came out and who regretted it'

 

'I often thought my gravestone would say, 'Here lies Gandalf. He came out,"' says the 75-year-old actor who came out publicly 25 years ago

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RmsJfxj1Vq4/T2Q5--HTjII/AAAAAAAAABs/vhhwKKkgPsM/s1600/Ian+McKellen+as+Gandalf.jpg

 

Speaking with BuzzFeed Brews interview on Friday, gay British actor Ian McKellen commended his X-Men co-star Ellen Page for coming out last week, and encouraged LGBTs who are in the closet to consider doing the same.

 

The 75-year-old, who publicly came out more than 25 years ago, is best known for playing Magneto in the X-Men films and Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.

 

Although McKellen was open about his sexual orientation, he said it wasn't until 1988 that he came out to the general public and he did so in response to a law passed by the UK government.

 

'I was always openly gay… I had a series of partners and we went everywhere together and we were accepted, living in London in the '60s and '70s, but never making a fuss, never dreaming that we might get married, never dreaming we could have a civil partnership, never dreaming that, should we want to, we could serve in the military. There we certain things we weren't allowed to do and I'm afraid I rather went along with that because I was having a rather good time being an actor.'

 

In 1988, the government passed Section 28 to prohibit local authorities in England and Wales from 'promoting' homosexuality – a law which McKellen compared to Russia’s current 'gay propaganda' law.

 

'Anyone in public life who comes out, comes out primarily for themselves, and their life is immediately improved. That’s what happened to me,' he said. 'The world [became] a slightly better place.'

 

He commended Page on coming out and has some advice for those who are living in the closet: 'I feel sorry for anyone who feels the need to lie about themselves. That's not good for you. It doesn’t lead to a happy life. And I’ve never met a gay person who came out and who regretted it. Never. So, my advice to anyone in the closet – it doesn’t matter whether they're a teacher, or a politician, or a priest, or an actor – come out. Join the human race.'

 

McKellen added that he hopes his reputation as an openly gay actor to be his lasting legacy.

 

'I often thought my gravestone would say, "Here lies Gandalf. He came out,"' he said. 'Those are two of the proudest achievements that I've got. I think I've been a part of the rapid sensible movement towards an understanding that gay people are the same as the rest of you and should be treated equally by the law, by society.'

 

 

[video=youtube;_H8pc5ZB524]

 

source: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/ian-mckellen-ive-never-met-gay-person-who-came-out-and-who-regretted-it220214

 

With all due respect to Ian, he doesn't know everyone's life. Coming out may be a good thing- or for some depending on their situation a hell, and I am sure there are many gradations between. Coming out is not a panacea. It probably has both good and bad ripples. Who is to say that in some cases the bad outnumber the good.

 

Gman

[bigvalboy]

With all due respect to Ian, he doesn't know everyone's life. Coming out may be a good thing- or for some depending on their situation a hell, and I am sure there are many gradations between. Coming out is not a panacea. It probably has both good and bad ripples. Who is to say that in some cases the bad outnumber the good.

 

Gman

 

Well said Sir Gman...I concur.