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| Thorpe those gay rumours |
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| message from Mike in Cairns on 18 Nov 2002 |
Thorpe speaks out on those gay rumours
November 18 2002
By Jacquelin Magnay
Ian Thorpe had steadfastly refused to respond to rumours about his
sexuality - but now he has changed his mind.
Last night the world record swimmer, jewellery designer and fashion guru
told a national ABC radio audience that he is not gay.
Thorpe told Monica Attard on Sunday Profile that he recognised he was not
the typical Australian macho bloke.
"I think people are very quick to judge," he said. "You know I'm a little
bit different to what most people would consider being an Australian male.
That doesn't make me gay.
"I mean I'm straight, so people want to claim me as part of a minority group
and put labels on you and that's not what I'm about, and I don't understand
why people are like that.
"I think it's because when I speak at engagements I try to speak as well as
I possibly can. I try to be articulate, I don't put on a slang, I don't try
and sound macho, with an Australian accent just for the sake of having it.
"I have an interest in fashion, I have interests in things most people don't
label as being part of the macho male thing."
Why did Thorpe decide to open up?
His manager, Dave Flaskas, said it had not be pre-arranged that Thorpe would
use the ABC program to deny rumours that have been circulating since before
the Sydney Olympic Games.
But Mr Flaskas said now that Thorpe had made a public statement he would not
talk further on the matter, and would not care what the response would be.
"There was no agenda, this was no public relations stroke of genius or
public relations stroke of lunacy, it was just a chat between two people,"
he said.
FROM http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/11/17/1037490052515.html
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| Heatherette replied to Mike in Cairns on 18 Nov 2002 |
Amazingly, a lot of people seem interested in this.
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| Hugh Young replied to Mike in Cairns on 19 Nov 2002 |
Well, it seems to me that he's protesting a LITTLE too much, but I
don't know if it's ENOUGH too much.
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| Mike in Cairns replied to Hugh Young on 19 Nov 2002 |
Gay fans may flock to Thorpe
By Jonathon Moran
November 18, 2002
OLYMPIC swimmer Ian Thorpe could become even more of a gay icon after
dispelling rumours he was homosexual, according to reports.
Thorpe shrugged off persistent rumours regarding his sexuality yesterday but
said he was flattered by the gay tag.
Thorpe said he believed people had labelled him homosexual because he was
articulate, had an interest in fashion and did not resemble the
stereotypical macho Aussie bloke.
"You know I'm a little bit different to what most people would consider
being an Australian male," Thorpe told ABC radio.
"That doesn't make me gay.
"It's the most flattering thing that anyone can ever say because if someone
wants to label you or claim you as part of a minority group, it means you
must have some strength in your character, or in what you do."
Sydney Star Observer editor Marcus O'Donnell said Thorpe's straightforward
response to the rumours would win him even more gay fans.
"There have been a lot of rumours and a lot of speculation about Thorpie and
really he has hit the nail on the head - it's because he doesn't measure up
to the typical macho Aussie sporting hero," Mr O'Donnell told AAP.
He said speculation about sporting personalities' sexuality was common
because there was a lack of gay sporting role models.
"Apart from (rugby league player) Ian Roberts there are no big-name 'out'
sports stars," Mr O'Donnell said.
"So when someone new comes along and he has some of what we read as the
tell-tale signs - and he doesn't have a girlfriend - then it's natural to
start speculating."
Mr O'Donnell said the "Ian Thorpe phenomenon" was a telling sign that old
stereotypes were breaking down.
"It's perfectly cool now to be straight and have an interest in Armani
fashion or pearl jewellery or Kylie Minogue - and why shouldn't it be?" he
said.
"It's great that Thorpe is now confident enough to address these rumours
head on, and to do it in such a straightforward way.
"It could make him even more of a gay icon than he already is."
AAP
FROM
http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,5509467%255E13780,00.html
"Hugh Young" <h...@buGARzz.neBAGEt.nz> wrote in message
news:3dd9dba7.3786571@news.buzz.net.nz...
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| Ian Sachs replied to Mike in Cairns on 19 Nov 2002 |
So Ian Thorpe was rumoured to be gay, because, in his own words,
he is articulate, doesn't put on a slang, doesn't try to sound macho
with a purposely exaggerated Australian accent, and has an interest in
other things besides sports.
But I would have thought that any intelligent person should be like
that.
What a pity that the Australian public apparently believes that only
gays can be people of substance and culture.
Good news for gays, bad news for straights. Perhaps if we
heterosexuals try to "gay up" a bit, Australia would be a better place
to live.
On Mon, 18 Nov 2002 08:40:59 +1000, "Mike in Cairns"
<spee...@clothesbigpond.com> wrote:
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| Calum Bennachie replied to Ian Sachs on 20 Nov 2002 |
Would there be enough sequins to go round? I mean, one of my str8 friends in Melbourne would take
up half the supply just by herself. And besides, who would we have to laugh at then? ;-)
Calum
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