The 14 Openly Gay Athletes Of The 2012 Olympics

[ismnotwasm]

Some gorgeous pictures at this link




http://www.buzzfeed.com/jpmoore/the-14-openly-gay-athletes-of-the-2012-olympics



"Out of more than 12,000 athletes, 14 are openly gay"

Since I believe that are rather more than 14 gay Olympic Atheletes, I wanted to post this in honor of those brave souls who are out. And as a heterosexual woman, that first pic? <sigh>

On edit, I meant to say it's interesting that most of those who are out are women.

[applegrove]

1. Canada's Chef de Mission, Mark Tewksbury, is gay. He also a former medal winning olympian.

[msongs]

2. good old sexism in the history of feminism forum. gotta love it lol nt

[ismnotwasm]

3. Whatever do you mean, dear?

[mzteris]

4. I think it's still "more acceptable"

to be lesbian than a gay male - especially in the macho world of "sports".

As I tell people who assume all male ballet dancers are gay - there are more gay men in locker rooms than dressing rooms! (For lurkers who require clarification: more sports and teams than dance/theater companies...)

[seabeyond]

5. any good woman athlete was assumed to be gay. that had to be the answer, being less than "feminine"

doing sports.

[mzteris]

6. True, that.

Just like male dancers are all considered gay because dancing is "feminine". Except hiphop, of course.

[seabeyond]

7. yup. remember the russian dancer that was sure to prove otherwise. and then the movie

that came our with gregory haines, possibly. this was a time trying to turn that perception around.

[cwydro]

8. I'm a gay woman

and I don't care what any particular athlete's sexual orientation is.

[ismnotwasm]

9. No it shouldn't matter, should it?

Olympic Athletes are the best of the best in their fields. Their physical strengths, disciplines and abilities are incredibly impressive. They bring joy and no little wonder to the world.

Their sexual orientation is a private matter, and given the small sampling of "out" athletes, it would seem that is the way most prefer it. I found this on a popular gay- friendly News feed. I doubt any one of these athletes wishes to be singled out because of their orientation, or worse, in spite of it.

I'm hopeful these days for a more tolerant world.