I maybe the only person on this forum that thinks this but good on Thorpie for coming out.

I am pretty sure the bulk of the Australian population was well aware of his sexuality from the day he first become a household name. I for one will never understand why it took him so long to announce it but good on him. He is an Australian legend.

We all knew it but good on Thorpie.

Haterz gonna hate.

His fate was sealed when he released a range of pearl jewellery for men.

But yeah good on him! Still an Aussie legend.

Edited by leftrightout: 14/7/2014 10:38:05 AM

Good on him.

Good on the man. I just hope he decided to broadcast this info because he wanted to, and he was ready, rather than because he felt the years of pressure to do so.

I hope he has a long and happy life. He was one of Australia's best ever athletes and I am proud to say that, irregardless of his sexuality.

Does he have a partner?

Not sure?

I hope the paparazzi don't start harassing the crap out of him in pursuit of photo's with his partner.

That was my concern. He knows wats coming though.

:lol: what do you mean START?

Sad that the biggest talking point out of his whole interview is him coming out when it was probably the least important thing he spoke about.

We aren't at that stage in society yet. Whilst we don't irrationally hate homosexuals, we aren't comfortable with them. It's all well and good for people to be gay, but most Australians haven't dealt with a kid or family member coming out. We like our homosexuality at a distance. (For now, that will change in the next 20 years or so).

I was genuinely surprised, and proud, of a few of my teammates on the weekend. There's a guy in our team in reserve grade who has been playing really well so stepped up to first grade. He was talking with us before our game, whilst reserves were playing, and then stopped mid-sentence and said "sorry, be right back, my boyfriend just arrived" and walked away. A few of us knew he was gay already, because we'd actually taken notice and interest in our fellow teammates outside of first grade, but a few didn't know. And when he walked away, one of the guys who didn't know said "he's gay?" and I said "yep, always has been" and all was said was "cool, good on him". I was just blown away, particularly because of the personalities that were in that group, were so cool with it.

That's awesome!

Wasn't called Thorpedo for nothing :lol:

-PB

See, its nobody's business what they choose to do

This aint no puritanistic society where its husband, wife 2 children
Family dinners all that structural nonsense

I don't see why he gets a pat on the back and congratulations for saying something he could have said years ago. In the grand scheme nobody cares. Anyone who is likely to be offended by it - they simply don't matter.

I'm far more bothered by him side-stepping the drug-cheat business rather than denying, then finally admitted, his sexual identity.

I said this before, and I'll say it again

Its part and parcel with the macho man that comes with playing sport in a culture like Australia

Although one thing has changed

Professionalism

In the old days the players worked, plumbers and electricians by day, rugby league player by night/ the weekend

These days these paid professionals are ultra vain, they eat a disgusting diet, and they spend 10 hours a day in the gym, to get that six pack, it surprises me that it was only thorpey that copped a bit of flak for refusing to out himself publicly

WARNING WARNING, controversial opinion ahead.

I don't see why he gets a pat on the back and congratulations for saying something he could have said years ago.

It's 20 years since Ian Roberts outed himself as well as countless others in the public eye with far more to lose. It's ceased to be an issue years ago.

For everyone to be fawning over how "brave" he was really sticks in my craw a bit because for years he's denied it in countless interviews and publications and even in his autobiography 2 years ago he lied through his teeth saying he was as straight as die.

What's the take home message of the this story for those struggling with their sexuality? Deny you're gay for 20 years and then finally out yourself after anyone in the know already knew?

How does that help any poor 15 or 17 year old who is struggling with their sexuality now? The read they get from this is lie your arse off about it and hide it until it can no longer do you any harm and/or you think your sponsor's won't care and/or the money has dried up.

Would have respected him far more if he said 10 years ago "yeah I fancy blokes, what's it to you".

Far more of a statement.

And no I don't have an issue with homosexuals. Good on them and good on him. My comment is more on the ridiculous coverage this has been getting.

Flame away.

Read all about it, read all about it.

Ian Thorpe is gay.

In other news scientists discover night follows day, the sky is blue and eggs don't bounce.

I agree with you in spirit, but don't care enough for it to make me angry.

Ian Roberts especially considering he was playing manly NRL at the time.

-PB

There are a handful of out MVFC fans that I know - they are bigger hools than I am.

The message IMO should be that everyone is different, everyone has their own case which applies to them, not everyone is ready just to come out and say it yet some are. But they should all be treated fairly, respectfully, etc.

Some people don't want to come out/be gay. Not because of how they think people will react, some people just can't come to terms with it within themselves. Thorpie's case shows it's OK to do what you need to do to cope with it.

It's not Thorpie's fault that for years this coverage has been on it, yet he wasn't ready to broadcast it, IMO. Blame the media.

I think he announced it about 10 years too late. Most people already know anyway.

I don't know why people think its a big deal anyway. I wouldn't remember him for being the guy that come as being gay, but more the swimmer.

Edited by SocaWho: 14/7/2014 01:35:41 PM

It must be a massive weight off his shoulder to say it but agree that I don't think it warrants the amount of media it has been getting.

I have seen bikies wear pants and boots that look similar to them. Maybe they are comfortable?

Can't quite make out Thorpie's bike in that picture though. Must be just out of frame.

I don't get why it's such a big deal that he does it now? He's doing it at a time that won't change his image too much and he's comfortable doing so.

Everything's more relevant when youre younger

Thorpe's lucky to not be part of that gen y, I gen generation where everyone documents every single part of their life! Food, cats, photos at parties with their 'friends'

That generation has nick darcy and all that malarkey instead

Come to think of it, I'd pick thorpey any day over macho gen y wannabe tough guy nick darshy

I would definitely prefer to have Thorpie as a mate opposed to any of those Stilnox guys.