Olympics 2008

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by SzczerbiakManiac

NBC apologizes for not mentioning Mitcham is gay

I don't remember them mentioning the sexual orientation of all the straight athletes and I don't feel snubed. Why would you expect sexual orientation to be mentioned as part of the Olympics coverage?

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

I don't remember them mentioning the sexual orientation of all the straight athletes

That's not true. Every time the camera shows an athlete's opposite-sex spouse or boy/girlfriend, that is exactly what they are saying.

Originally Posted by Moonliner

Why would you expect sexual orientation to be mentioned as part of the Olympics coverage?

Because, in this case, it is relevant. Mitcham is the only out gay male at the Olympics this year. He is the only diver to break the Chinese stranglehold on diving gold. His struggle to even get to the Olympics with his partner was big news in his native Australia.

But more importantly, gay men are associated with being physically weak, poor at sports, and the antitheses of athletic. When an open gay male succeeds in an athletic endeavor, it is a big deal. Should it be a big deal? No, of course not. But reality, at least for now, makes that answer a resounding yes.

Even on this board, with its high population of left-wing/liberals (not saying that as a pejorative, just a statement of fact) has had non-conservative posters make comments about how hard it was to believe a gay man could enjoy sport for sport sake and not for the sole purpose of ogling the athletes.

That is why I would expect NBC to mention it.

For further examples, please see the following articles on OutSports:
NBC, media ignore Mitcham’s sexuality
NBC defends not saying Mitcham is gay
What Mitcham’s win means to gays everywhere