Today, I was actually going to publish a totally different post, but this is a continuation of my last post really so here goes! Tonite, on Channel 10, Michael Parkinson interviews Ian Thorpe and asks him the big question about his sexuality. I know there have been questions about Ian Thorpe's sexuality since day dot, but hey, is this really any body's business but his own? Why is there this need for anyone to know? Since, the previews of this interview have hit the airways, it is all over the news - Ian Thorpe is gay! I wonder if he came out in the interview and said he was going to be a Dad and getting married would the news headlines have said - Ian Thorpe is straight. I do not think so!!!
I have nothing but admiration for Ian Thorpe and his coming out. He has battled with mental health issues in the last few years and hopefully he will now find peace. What is a sad reflection on our society, is that there is any need at all for him to even feel the need to publicly declare his sexuality. Why can't he simply be seen in public with his partner and everyone just accept that is his choice. Does this make him a different person to the one previous to the interview? Absolutely not! The fact that there is even this need to come out publicly simply reinforces my previous article where there seems to be this need to put us in a box. Hello, boxes do not interest us at all :)
We just want to be seen as people, cos after all, that is simply what we are. When they asked people on the street what they thought of Ian Thorpe's coming out, the answers were quite heartwarming. They ranged from -'This is 2014, why is this even an issue?' to 'Good on him, he is an amazing athlete!' There are messages of encouragement from our own Magda, and Rodney Croombe from Marriage Equality Australia commended him saying it would make life easier for others coming out and even prevent some from taking their own life.
How sad is it that there is still such angst in expressing our sexuality, that there is such a need to hide behind the facade of heterosexuality. This is what the gay movement is all about. It is about being ourselves without shame or favour. It is about being ourselves, being free to hold hands in public, to steal that little kiss or secret look without someone screaming that we are rubbing our sexuality in their face. At this point in time, we tend to hang out with our gay brothers and sisters in gay clubs and bars. But, we also risking gay apartheid, where we totally segregate ourselves from the straight community. This would be a shame as our fight to be equal really fails. The only way we are really equal is if we mix freely and equally on all levels of society,and that includes our feeling comfortable socializing with everyone and them feeling comfortable socializing with us. One day there will be no them and us.
Ian Thorpe is/was an amazing athlete. He has every right to be proud of his achievements because he has achieved at a level that only few can aspire to. Australia should be proud of Ian Thorpe because we basked in his glory and took credit when he stood on that podium and collected gold. Now we should be doubly proud. We wish him well in his future life! May he find true happiness with the man of his dreams. May society leave him to enjoy his peaceful existence and Australia should remember him for the truly amazing athlete that he was. His sexuality, while defining who he is on a personal level, should not and does not define who he is on a public level. We do not judge those who heal us who are gay, we do not judge those that teach who are gay, we do not judge those who entertain us who are gay and the list goes on.
So, Ian Thorpe, Australia does not judge you. We applaud you!
Cheers!
Bitchescoz!
Contact: luke65mcbride@gmail.com
Today I
am asking, 'Are some of the ridiculously dumb things we do inherent
because we are gay, because we are male, or are they not particularly
gender related and just plain silly?'
In
the advent of friends and relations dropping in this week due to a
family gathering for a celebration of a life well lived, my dear partner decided to
get out of the kitchen for a while. And, assume my position as vacuum
maid.
He was doing really well for
someone without the experience I possess. Despite the subtle hints of
'Did you move the couch?' 'Did you dust before you did the floor?'
'Don't bump our treasures on the stairs!' He had seemed to have
acquired my skills simply through observation, and I was impressed!
Especially impressed that he did not back chat me with my questions. Having
seen his mastering of such a riveting and very prestigious position in
the House of Lords, I was contemplating upping his rank to Domestic Welfare Minister.
This all took a very
sour turn for the worse! Again, I was so impressed that he passed me with the
dust canister to dispose of the sins of a few days grime to the
refuse. That he cleaned the filter - I had not even known he had
observed that skill ever! This is when I walked to the garden to see
my beloved, hosing the life out of my trusted steed named Hoover. Before
I could say 'What the?' he had immersed motor and all in a bucket, and was
cleaning madly to make it look brand spanking new. You see, I have
learned that yelling is of no consequence to a deaf man, and worse, when
he removes his cochlear when playing in water. However he has learned
the facial expressions of the Ice Queen, and immediately looked me in
the eye for a compliment of how great of a job he had done. He knows
that if he plays the innocent hand, he may win the trick.
So
after a few 'How could you? 'Why did you?' 'Whenever did you see me do?'
You figure as you throw trusted hoover in the bin, and you explain the
consequences of water and electricity, that sometimes
explanations and job descriptions should be initiated before you hand
the reins over.
Are these things avoidable? Are they a gay thing? Are they merely a male thing where we assume we know everything?
In
my venting to my best friend of today's occurrences, she reminded me of
my romantic night where I lit candles too close to an electrical cable.
She reminded me of the time when a cyclone was approaching with huge
force. She had said, 'Immerse some of your outside stuff that could
take flight into the pool.' I did of course, do what she had advised! But
did she explain to me what stuff? No!!!! She assumed I knew what went in
and what did not! Not once did she believe I would submerge the BBQ and my potted
plants. Of which, the BBQ and the plants died a death owing to it being a
salt water pool. Rust and a salt bath do not bring joy to foliage nor
wrought iron, nor I may add to my pool man's face when he rocks up on
his weekly visit to clean the pool.
No, I
don't believe it is just a gay or male thing. Come on fess up! We all
do silly things from time to time. It is not a male nor gay thing. It
is not a female thing. It is not a thing of children.
It
is that, we often take others for granted, that they have followed our lead.
It is that, often we don't ask the experienced of what to do next. It is
often that children do what their parents have done in the past and not
realized the times, nor the situation, that they were in at the time. For
example the child grows up, sets up house, invites the parents over for
dinner. The mother sees the child prepare the lamb roast. Having
watched the mother for years the new adult cuts the hock from the lamb
throws it out to the dog. The mother onlooking, says to the child, 'Why
did you cut off the hock and throw to the dog? It is the best meat.' The
child turns to the mother and says, 'I have watched you do that all my
life, so I did what you did.' The mother replied. 'I only did that because
my baking dish was to small to fit it all in!'
This
is where, none of us, do silly things because of a gender nor age. We
simply do it, because we lack the knowledge. We don't ask questions. We
assume too much. We don't open ourselves, to show others, that we need
support. We don't take time to explain fully to others that are
learning. Put simply, we need to communicate!
Therefore
we all must learn to communicate, offer help, accept constructive
advice, and return it with a thank-you, you saved my life.
Now we are off to the electrical store to purchase a water-proof vacuum cleaner.
Cheers!
Bitchescoz
Contact: luke65mcbride@gmail.com
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