tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post3018696441216536936..comments2024-03-23T12:05:23.537-05:00Comments on The Wild Reed: Openly Gay Diver Wins Olympic GoldMichael J. Baylyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03087458490602152648noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-29393889467983156592011-02-05T19:08:24.346-06:002011-02-05T19:08:24.346-06:00I believe a very relevant issue here, in this disc...I believe a very relevant issue here, in this discussion, is visibility. Sports, if not specifically diving, has been a world where those who are LGBT have been significantly invisible. I also believe it is fair to say that sports, in general, has been one of the most hostile places for LGBT people to be "out" in, especially professional sports. Young LGBT athletes all over the globe benefit in both seen and unseen ways by seeing LGBT people in every single sports activity imaginable, being out and open about their sexual orientation. This, in my opinion, does not make it an experience of everything being reduced to sexual orientation. Rather, stories like Mitcham's become, in their own small or perhaps very big way, beacons of hope for young LGBT athlete's everywhere and for them to find yet another way to gain empowerment and self esteem around something they often find little or no empowerment and self esteem around---their sexual orientation.Sagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13196755961428537223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-67639789953212963542008-08-29T01:25:00.000-05:002008-08-29T01:25:00.000-05:00We agree to disagree.Reducing people to narrow asp...We agree to disagree.<BR/><BR/>Reducing people to narrow aspects without relevance to their immediate tasks seems exploitative.<BR/><BR/>We don't want sexual orientation to deny us jobs, so why do we want it to intrude on them?<BR/><BR/>What does swimming in the Olympics have to do with sexual orientation. I'm not suggesting he has anything to hide, I only suggesting what he does in the intimacy of his privacy and how he competes in athletics is really "reducing" us to Types.<BR/><BR/>I'll accept the biological differences between male and female, since I don't think it requires "disclosure." Ditto racial differences. But sexual orientation at the Olympics is entirely irrelevant.<BR/><BR/>If he chose to disclose this information to land a date, their are more suitable means of doing so. I did not see any straight person reduce his/her competition to sexual orientation, or advertize for dates. I would not expect gays and lesbians have a need any greater or less than straights for disclosing sexual orientation at a swimming meet.<BR/><BR/>What next? Before Communion, "bless me father, I am gay?" So?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-2282025850659639952008-08-27T23:38:00.000-05:002008-08-27T23:38:00.000-05:00I have to disagree with you on this one, Gay Speci...I have to disagree with you on this one, Gay Species.<BR/><BR/>Was Mitcham reducing himself to his sexual orientation when he came out in the <EM>Sydney Morning Herald</EM> interview?<BR/><BR/>Would NBC commentators have been reducing Mitcham to his sexuality if they had acknowledged the (obvious) presence of his partner at the Olympics?<BR/><BR/>I don’t think it’s a matter of “reducing” but rather lifting up an aspect of reality that is generally discounted or suppressed by societal assumptions.<BR/><BR/>We don’t hear folks talking about “openly straight” people because we unfortunately still live in a society where, by and large, it’s assumed that people are straight. Unless one fits the stereotype of, for example, a gay man (i.e., a total flamer) or unless one comes out publicly, these assumptions remain unchallenged.<BR/><BR/>I for one think they need to be challenged, and not necessarily in an in-you-face kind of way, but in ways that, more often than not, can be low key and what I’ve come to call natural.<BR/><BR/>For example: Mitcham opened up and “came out” when he was asked in an interview about who he lived with. His response was low key, “natural” to the conversation, and truthful. And an assumption was shattered.<BR/><BR/>No one or nothing has been reduced, except ignorance. Isn't that a good thing?<BR/><BR/>Peace,<BR/><BR/>MichaelMichael J. Baylyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03087458490602152648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-5043034610350294452008-08-27T17:58:00.000-05:002008-08-27T17:58:00.000-05:00"Openly gay?" Were the others then "openly straigh..."Openly gay?" <BR/><BR/>Were the others then "openly straight?"<BR/><BR/>If so, what's the relevance? Greg Louganis not register bells?<BR/><BR/>Or, are the Speedo's too bikini to wear a flashing neon sign:<BR/><BR/><B>"Queer in Swimsuit?" Wade at Your Own Risk?</B><BR/><BR/>Does everything need to be reduced to our sexual orientation? If so, there is more to life that who pitches and receives. Not all sport is sexual.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-27030356451396268532008-08-26T00:03:00.000-05:002008-08-26T00:03:00.000-05:00south lyndale,I'm sorry you feel that way. But you...south lyndale,<BR/><BR/>I'm sorry you feel that way. But you are entitled to your decisions.<BR/><BR/>I have worked with Colleen Perfect in the past. I didn't experience her in the way you describe.CDEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01442791960391683444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-22636502513764558112008-08-25T12:19:00.000-05:002008-08-25T12:19:00.000-05:00Clayton, since you have worked with Colleen Perfec...Clayton, since you have worked with Colleen Perfect, one of the top 10 haters of gay people in America, I cannot take anything you say about sexuality seriously.Rick Notchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15387371077504086333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-55049296699427207812008-08-25T11:37:00.000-05:002008-08-25T11:37:00.000-05:00Clayton, I question if in this case (as in most - ...Clayton, I question if in this case (as in most - be they gay or straight) how the aspects of orientation and relationship can be separated/isolated.<BR/><BR/>Peace,<BR/><BR/>MichaelMichael J. Baylyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03087458490602152648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-89198614631661852522008-08-25T11:17:00.000-05:002008-08-25T11:17:00.000-05:00I guess I missed your point. It's the relationship...I guess I missed your point. It's the <EM>relationship</EM> that you wish had been acknowledged, not the <EM>orientation</EM>.CDEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01442791960391683444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-33575435524957206632008-08-25T10:11:00.000-05:002008-08-25T10:11:00.000-05:00Hi Clayton,As always, thanks for stopping by and s...Hi Clayton,<BR/><BR/>As always, thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.<BR/><BR/>In response to your question: A "non-issue" is one thing; a non-acknowledgment of a reality right in front of us is something else.<BR/><BR/>Would it have constituted an "issue" if NBC commentators had acknowledged that Mitcham, after his win, first embraced his partner?<BR/><BR/>Peace,<BR/><BR/>MichaelMichael J. Baylyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03087458490602152648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-2607310651511724452008-08-25T07:14:00.000-05:002008-08-25T07:14:00.000-05:00Michael, I have recently found your blog and find ...Michael, <BR/>I have recently found your blog and find it an amazing and inspiring site, that fills me with hope thank you for all of your sharings and your insights. Thank you. <BR/><BR/>http://quinacridone.wordpress.com/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-6323901705158008732008-08-25T03:56:00.000-05:002008-08-25T03:56:00.000-05:00If the goal is to have sexual orientation treated ...If the goal is to have sexual orientation treated as a non-issue, why not be grateful when the media doesn't make an issue of it?CDEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01442791960391683444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-61982587308934687052008-08-25T00:28:00.000-05:002008-08-25T00:28:00.000-05:00Why did NBC not acknowledge his orientation? Was ...Why did NBC not acknowledge his orientation? Was it a ratings situation? It would have helped ratings I believe.Frank Partisanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03536211653082893030noreply@blogger.com