Former Olympic athlete Lauren Meece, who competed in Judo in 2000, is angry about some perceived push by gays to get Olympic athletes to come out, and she wants gays to shut up. She wrote a column for the Express Gay News:
The GLBT community should let gay athletes deal with gay issues off of the podium. In the name of the Olympic spirit and humanity… shut up and let gay athletes focus on the endeavors that they have worked so hard to reach.
I’ve talked with lots of gay people, read lots of comments about gay Olympians, and I have heard barely a whisper from gay people that gay Olympians “should” come out. I’ve heard hopes that they might, which is understandable. But I haven’t heard anyone demanding they come out or saying that it’s their responsibility to do so. Is Meece talking about Outsports and its readers? Should we stop talking about gay Olympians all together?
Maybe Meece is just lashing out about her one-and-done performance in the Olympics. Maybe she has some internal struggle she’s still dealing with for not saying more when she competed. I don’t know. But for whatever reason, she’s mad as hell, and she’s going to take it out on gay fans who would love to see more openly gay athletes. How dare they!!
Hat tip to Justin T.
By Cyd Zeigler jr.
15 responses so far ↓
1 dupontred // Aug 22, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Gays tell lesbian Olympian to shut up.
2 kipp // Aug 22, 2008 at 4:19 pm
The Olympics only exists because people put an inordinate amount of interest in world sporting events. Committed and accomplished Tai Chi lovers, backyard gardeners, doctors, teachers etc have no route to the global notoriety that accomplished athletes can aspire to. It’s because people pay so much attention to athletics and athletes that things like the Olympics exist - and that people like Meece get a chance to have their favorite activities appreciated on a world stage.
Meece only gets to have her opinion paid attention to because elite athletes have special consideration in our society - and sometimes that attention comes with expectations to set a positive example. Being honest about being gay is not that much to ask for people who get the chance to have the world take notice of them…
3 James // Aug 22, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Ms. Meece
As I understand the Olympics by no means is about sexuality. I strongly disagree however that Olympians do not have a duty to disclose their sexuality if they are in the GLBT community.
We live in trying times when such issues as gay marriage, not too mention human rights, are hot topics. The GLBT community does NOT share the same rights as the rest of the citizens in the U.S. Hate crimes against the GBLT community are rising sharply. The religious right has come after our community with a vengeance.
It’s not about whether an Olympian wants to be a role model or not, they ARE roll models. If more Olympians (who the world adores) would come out, then it would set the stage for a wonderful demonstration contradicting stereotypes and perpetuating acceptance.
No, this isn’t about one person’s sexuality, this is about changing the world, making it a better, safer place for all people.
The role model effect would carry so much further than to the GLBT community. Again I repeat, it would demonstrate to the world that GLBT persons are not all hair dressers, florist, wedding planners or bull-dykes. We are people, who come in all shapes and sizes, with various interest and talents, and we too need to be recognized as an important part of the world in which we live.
Think about this. If Jackie Robinson had decided not to play major league baseball, it may have been OK for him, but not to the rest of the African-American people.
Whether you realize it or not, we are fighting for our rights. We are fighting for acceptance. We are fighting for our safety. We are fighting to live as the rest of the citizens of this country. Now is NOT a time to dismiss this issue. It IS a time to stand up, and proudly state, I am GAY, and I AM a person, just like everyone else.
One day, if we do this, you won’t have to write about how bad you feel that people are athletes, not role models. Get over yourself….. athletes are role models whether they want to be or not. You are NOT helping, you are perpetuating hate.
One day, I hope we can all live without fear of harm due to who we love.
In the words on Gandhi - “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
4 boyznbeer // Aug 22, 2008 at 5:05 pm
I agree with Ms. Meece that as much as you want athletes to announce their gayness, it’s got no place in their performance. Unless, of course you’re talking about synchronized water polo or a stylized finesse that might have made Michael Phelps swim faster. I mean really, he did win one race by a fingernail but I suspect being a polished fingernail wouldn’t have made him swim any faster.Needing anyone, an athlete, a boss, a co-worker, a friend to announce as gay is nothing more than imposing a personal need on another person. To ‘out’ another person, with or against that persons intention is to change the dynamic with which that person relates to others based on their own free will. Or, in short, that imposition is a crime akin to fascism.Wishing a person were gay and lounging on my couch is very different from urging a suspected gay or even bi person to commit to your lifestyle which may or may not be the gay/bi lifestyle that person would choose.In the words on Gandhi - “Be the change you want to see in the world.”Live. And let live.
5 Patricia Nell Warren // Aug 22, 2008 at 6:02 pm
It’s disappointing that Meece brings up the gender testing issue. It has nothing to do with sexual orientation and whether athletes could or should come out. In fact, when all women are gender-tested, there is no “closet” for anybody who isn’t a standard XX, because the test will out you.
6 TooBoot // Aug 22, 2008 at 6:03 pm
Someone sure is defensive. Maybe if more people like Matthew Mitchum would talk about it as casualy and matter of factly as he did it wouldn’t be such an issue.
7 Chas // Aug 22, 2008 at 9:08 pm
This is for James. A persons sexuality is theirs for them to deal with when, where, and how ever the individual pleases and not the “gay community”. GLBT Nazies who somewho believe they have some right to invade the privacy of anyone regardless of their motivation are totally wrong in that assumption! How dare they decide for the individual that they have been anointed by God to force people to deal with anything on their terms.Many of us do not share the belief that it being “out” is the proper state of all gay people. Personally I prefer to be far more conservative in who know my sexuality. Many of my friends know about me, however, many, many others do not and I prefer it that way.I am amazed that there are those who are willing to step all over the rights of others, so that they may push forward their own agendas.
8 Cg // Aug 23, 2008 at 10:36 am
Nobody has the right to force someone out of the closet. This issue borderlines on harassment at times. While we would all love to have every celeb, athlete and politician that is gay to be open about their sexuality it is, in the end, their decision and theirs alone to come out. They should not be chastised for deciding not to do so. We all know how difficult this decision can be.
9 Hanford Searl Jr. // Aug 23, 2008 at 1:47 pm
… Maybe SHE needs to go BACK in-the-CLOSET!?! WHAT makes HER-so-SPECIAL?!?
10 random acts of kindness // Aug 23, 2008 at 7:29 pm
hahahhaa oh lawdthe angry raging lesbian and the clean cut sanitized gay pretty boy (matthew mitcham) pulling the gay card to prostitute his gay relationship and get a corporate or otherwise sponsor to foot the bill for his boyfriends plane tickets to china….GEEE, ARE THESE OUTSPORTS POSTER BOYS/GIRLS DEFYING STEREOTYPES OR REIFYING THEM??????? LOL
11 Mark // Aug 23, 2008 at 8:46 pm
I couldn’t agree more with Meece. Gay Olympic athletes have no obligation to reveal their sexuality. If they want to, fine, but if not, that’s their right. They are there to compete at sports, not to bring gay rights into the spotlight. Their talent is rare, and they sacrifice a lot to maximize their performance. What does sexuality have to do with it? Nothing. For all of those who think that athletes should come out to benefit the rest of us, what are we doing to benefit the athletes? Nothing, I imagine. We all have an opportunity to fight for gay rights, but it’s not an obligation simply because we have worked hard at an unrelated endeavor that happens to provide a platform.
12 Randy // Aug 24, 2008 at 11:40 am
James is right on target. If you’re going to ask the world to applaud your efforts, and seek potentially lucrative deals and worldwide fame, you have an obligation to be honest about who you are. It’s really not too much to expect, if you’re from a Western country with all of the human rights advantages we enjoy. It’s not about marching the rainbow flag about the stadium, but it is about integrity. Meece has none, and should be shamed not for the Olympic failure that still haunts her, but for her current failure as a human being. Matthew has my total respect. For the only out gay man in the Olympics to win a gold medal, the only diving gold that the Chinese didn’t win, he has accomplished more than most of us ever will. That’s a hero.
13 Mike // Aug 25, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Is Meece lesbian or gay? Anyways, it should be her choice and not anybody elses if she comes out or not. I think it would be unhealthy to come out if you are one of the best ahtletes in the world. But it might be healthy. I think she would have to decide for her self if she wants to come out or not and look at the pros and cons of coming out if that is possible. Even if you do come out you still get put down by ignorants like Randy who will put you down for whatever they can.
14 John // Aug 27, 2008 at 2:10 pm
She is right. Unbelieveable to me the people who are off the radar screen & it should be that way if that is what they want. Way to gay is what people seem to be pushing-more political correctness gone wild.
15 Joy // Sep 11, 2008 at 10:41 am
Leave the bitch alone. She’s got a right to her own views!
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