MTV is looking for LGBT athletes who want to tell their coming out stories for its “True Life” show. Here is the pitch we received:
TRUE LIFE: I’M COMING OUT TO MY TEAM
Are you planning to come out to your teammates? Have you been afraid or hesitant to come out to your sports team as gay, bisexual, or transsexual but are now planning to reveal yourself? Perhaps you’ve already come out to your friends and now have to face the upcoming season with teammates who still think you’re straight? Or maybe you’re unsure of how your fellow athletes would react if they knew, and thus have not come out to anyone?Whatever your situation may be, if you are planning to come out to your teammates and appear to be between the ages of 15 and 28, MTV wants to hear from you. Please email us at comingout@mtvn.com and be sure to include your name, location and phone number.
The age range is a bit odd since there are no 28-year-old athletes still playing in high school or college and I doubt that any pro jock would come out on MTV. I will be curious as to whether anyone will take them up on the offer.
Thanks to the indispensable Pat Griffin for the heads-up on this.
on Oct 29th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
“if you are planning to come out to your teammates and APPEAR to be between the ages of 15 and 28, MTV wants to hear from you. ” [emphasis mine]
That is a very strange way to phrase that. Does the mean if I am an 11 year old middle schooler who looks older I count? Or a young looking 35 year old on the local softball team?
on Oct 30th, 2009 at 8:40 am
Was there a specific mention of “high school” or “college” in the pitch?
on Oct 30th, 2009 at 9:38 am
In other words, MTV does not want “our old butts” on their program. They have to appeal to their viewing demographics.
on Oct 30th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
They may also be interested in people who are playing on club teams or local teams in smaller towns. Maybe they are just casting a really wide net because they don’t think they will get a ton of responses.
on Oct 30th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
It is, indeed an odd way to phrase it. If I’m, for example, a 23 year-old rookie on the Oakland Raiders and my hairline and muscular build makes most people take me for 29, I shouldn’t bother applying?
In any case, i do hope that this gives someone (preferably several candidates) the motivation to come out and to prove to the thousands who are too afraid that in this era it can be done.
Corey Johnson did it, so surely others can, too.
on Oct 31st, 2009 at 10:13 am
It’s MTV people!!!! No one over the age of 28 watches this crappy channel. So they need to adhere to their audience! I know I do not. And if they had a story about 35 or 40 yr olds coming out to their teams, I am sure the kiddies are not that interested! Maybe its betetr for VH1 or VH1Classic…
on Nov 1st, 2009 at 5:32 am
MTV = Batshit crazy.
on Nov 3rd, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Why do they still call themselves MTV? There hasn’t been any M on that channel in years!