"When I came out, it felt like I was getting out of prison."
The following quotes go to the heart of why gay athletes have trouble being honest with their teammates and why articles like this are necessary.…
"A sinister cabal of superior writers."
"When I came out, it felt like I was getting out of prison."
The following quotes go to the heart of why gay athletes have trouble being honest with their teammates and why articles like this are necessary.…
Article comments
26 - Jet Gardner
Robert, I don't know what Utopian part of the country you grew up in, but it sure's hell wan't here.
27 - Jet Gardner
...any you've obviously never tried to use the 14th to sue from "right" you thought it covered.
28 - Jet Gardner
"Your" generation must be well represented in the military, right Barga...
SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Sept. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was released today by The Palm Center:
Youth Radio reported today that former Petty Officer Third Class Joseph Rocha was brutalized for more than two years at his base in Bahrain after unit mates first suspected that he is gay. The Navy promoted the Chief most responsible for the violence, even though Naval officials were aware of his role in creating the climate of abuse.
Official Navy documents confirm that after Rocha's unit mates first suspected that he is gay, they engaged in a two-year pattern of abuse including hog-tying him to a chair and pushing him, still bound, into a dog kennel full of feces. Rocha says that they forced him to simulate oral sex with a man more than thirty times, on video tape, as part of a training exercise to teach sailors how to respond to a hypothetical complaint about homosexual sex. And they hit him as hard as they could repeatedly while forcing him to bend over a desk. The documents are available at www.youthradio.org.
Rocha was a military police officer with anti-terrorism training who graduated at the top of his military class, and who received favorable performance evaluations throughout his career. His unit mates first suspected that he is gay in 2004 when he refused to sleep with female prostitutes, a practice that was widespread at his base. Rocha did not report the abuse, which continued until 2006, because he feared retaliation as well as discharge under "don't ask, don't tell." According to Aaron Belkin, Director of the Palm Center, "It is very hard for an organization to get rid of abuse as long as discrimination remains official policy."
After a colleague complained, the Navy launched an investigation, which concluded in 2007. Official documents from the investigation were obtained recently via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by one of Rocha's unit mates.
While Rocha was singled out and forced to endure the longest period of abuse, others were victimized as well. An official military summary of the investigation lists 93 incidents and types of abuse including throwing hard rubber balls at the groin, allowing a dog to attack a sex worker, and handcuffing two female sailors to a bed and forcing them to simulate lesbian sex while being videotaped.
Since the launch of the investigation, the Navy has promoted Chief Michael Toussaint to the rank of Senior Chief. Toussaint was the petty officer in charge of Rocha's unit, and perpetrated or presided over most of the abuse.
Following his return from the Middle East, Rocha developed symptoms of PTSD. After acknowledging to his superiors that he is gay, he was discharged under "don't ask, don't tell"
Nah, gays don't need any "special" protection do they?
29 - Jet Gardner
I'm still trying to figure out what generation he's in that he's so proud of Jordan...
30 - Cindy
Robert is a college student.
31 - Jet Gardner
Oh... that explains it
32 - roger nowosielski
You guys are giving college education a bad name. You should say Robert is a sophomore.
33 - Jet Gardner
When I was a Senior, we used to "pants" sophomores and leave their garments hanging from the hall clock 30ft from the bathroom door where they were hiding.
...ah the good ol days
34 - roger nowosielski
I should think so. The days of The Animal House are over. But even you missed that era.
35 - doug m
When did you guys start settling law by the "informed" opinions of college kids?
36 - Jet Gardner
They're cheap Doug, and they're cute... well most of them anyway. What'd you think of the article?
37 - doug m
Good piece, jet. Hopefully more athletes can make enough FU money and come out and show people how normal gays are. I certainly think the trend is in favor of overall acceptance.
I hope you don't mind the criticism, but while you mention the media, I think a major component at issue is a large part of the sports-viewing audience is as much a problem as anything. The business and sponsors don't want to turn off the people who pay the bills. Is it a coincidence an article about the needed acceptance of gays in sports isn't in sports?
The world needs more Branch Rickeys who are willing to put principle over profit.
38 - Jet Gardner
Doug, I want to sincerely explain why this article isn't in Sports, but I've been asked not to by the editors, so please let it rest.
Suffice to say it wasn't my idea.
39 - Silas Kain
Jet, great piece. We've come a long way in athletics but have so much further to go across the board. What an athlete accomplishes in his/her respective repertoire is the only thing that matters. What they accomplish in their personal life and in the privacy of their bedroom is just that - private.
40 - Jet Gardner
Well Silas.... sorta private. When the "secret" gets out, suddenly it's everyone's business.
Just because a man isn't "asked" or doesn't "tell" doesn't mean he's safe. Like the case when one of Brian Sims' ex lovers informed his team.
I also refer you back to comment #28
41 - Silas Kain
Problem is Jet that there remains a huge amount of self loathing within the LGBT community. What's past is passed. We can't do anything to make it up to those who have gone before us but learn. I've got no problem with a religion taking issue with one of their members for being gay. At that point it's up to the individual to accept or reject dogma. Many theologians and historians believe that St. Paul was a self loathing homersexool. I don't think that this particular term applies to his times. However, I do believe that Paul was fighting an inner battle which included his love for a particular slave. When one examines history and cultures it becomes quite clear that rampant abuse and oppression of gays really didn't come significantly into play until the advent of Judaism followed by Christianity.
But back to athletics. I'm certain you know the theories and whispers that up to 40% of professional footballers are fence hoppers. If they all came out at once it would make for great theatrics.
42 - Jet Gardner
Silas, if that were true, sports writers all over this great land would faint, and Fred Sanford would stagger out of a door somewhere clutching his chest screaming, "It's the big one 'lizbeth... I'm coming for ya honey!"
43 - Silas Kain
Jet have your read David Kopay's autobiography? It's an eye opener. There are so many people in sports, news media, politics, etc. who are gay. Yet they haven't the desire to come forward out of fear. That's immoral. A thousand years from now historians will look upon these times as the end of the "Christian era" and the beginning of the true Age of Enlightenment. So all you die hard Christiopaths, put on your cute little Austrian costumes and start singing "So Long, Farewell".
44 - Jet Gardner
By the way Doug & Silas, this is actually Vol. 2 of a series on my own blog entitled "How Many Famous Athletes are Gay" which can be found in the table of contents links on any page.
It's also the link to an article Doug, that is in the sports section here and there's a link to it on page 7 of this article.
Stay tuned for Vol 3 & 4 soon.
45 - Jet Gardner
Yes Silas I have the hardbound edition and his story is covered in Vol I of this series... see above links
46 - Jet Gardner
That and some of the pictures are a little racier than they are here...
47 - Jet Gardner
oops the link is in page 6
48 - Dave
Hi, Jet. I enjoyed reading this article. Very informative, without being sensational. I then moved on to reading your journal entries and felt great empathy for your plight and looked for an email address to use to get in touch to offer to help, but couldn't find one. You're welcome to get in touch with me through my website. Dave
49 - Jet Gardner
My sincere thanks Dave... Jet
50 - Monty O'Hair
I like this. I grew up not allowing anyone to know about me. I grew up a Cowboys son, in a town of less than 300 ppl. I graduated MR.CHS, Best citizen boy, Whos Who, Englis Student, Was a Teen Leader, Head Photographer for the yearbook and news paper, and participated in Perswasive Speaking events all thru H.S, I am out now however I remember all the names, jokes, beat downs another student in our school had to go through. I know that had I been honest with everyone my life would have been better. I wouldnt have thought about taking my own life every day driving to school "you know this road is really bad, it wouldnt take much to just go over the side." thats what I thought almost every day. I still face comments during sports. I just like to think of it as motivation. I am a gay man. I dont dress like a woman. I have beers with my brother and hang out with the family. My life is that of a 21 year old guy, however I look for a relationship with guy not a girl. I cant wait to read more about this.... Thank you
51 - Jet Gardner
You're not alone Monty, I hope you visit my site sometime and see just now not alone your are.
My pride banner has over a thousand names of gay actors celebrities, athletes, actors etc. just click my name above.
Glad you posted here. BC has a large population of gay writers too.
52 - Jet Gardner
Alfie comes out! (CNN) -- A former international rugby star has shocked the sports world by revealing that he is gay.
Gareth Thomas, Wales' most-capped player after appearing in 100 Tests, made the surprise announcement in an interview with British newspaper The Daily Mail.
The 35-year-old retired from internationals after the 2007 World Cup, but still plays for Welsh provincial side Cardiff Blues.
He is the first openly gay top-level rugby player, although top referee Nigel Owens came out in 2007.
53 - Dr Dreadful
'Alfie comes out'?
I don't get it.
54 - Jet Gardner
Isn't Garreth Thomas' nick-name Alfie?
55 - Dr Dreadful
No idea. Stan would know, probably.
56 - Jet Gardner
Wales News: Headline-Players rally around Alfie following gay revelation
Dec 20 2009 by Kathryn Williams, Wales On Sunday
WALES and British Lions legend Gareth Thomas has praised the “amazing response” he received from friends and fans after revealing he is gay.
Thomas had said that his secret sexuality was like a “ticking bomb” which he had tried to suppress. He finally confessed all to wife Jemma and close friends in November 2006 after breaking down in the changing rooms of the Millennium Stadium.
His admission last night prompted calls for other professional sportsmen to be open about their sexuality.
Fellow Wales and Blues team-mate Martyn Williams was one of the first people to learn of Alfie’s sexuality when the Lions star confided in him.
“It does not make any difference to me or the other boys,” he said. “We have known about Alfie for a long time and he is a legend of the game.
“The boys have had a good chuckle about it over the last couple of years. But it changes nothing.
“Gareth is a great bloke who has achieved so much in the game. He is a rugby player and a really good mate and I think he looked really good in pink yesterday!”
In an interview with the Daily Mail yesterday Thomas said the first person who he told of his true sexuality was coach Scott Johnson. He said he made the admission after he broke down in the Wales team room.
The Aussie yesterday praised Thomas for his bravery in making his sexuality public.
57 - STM
I guess it is Alfie, but I've always known him as "that bloody Welsh bastard Gareth Thomas".
Can play a bit though.
58 - Jet Gardner
Oh... Well, that explains it. Thanks Stan
59 - Jet Gardner
Anna Paquin, the star of HBO vampire series "True Blood," announced that she is bisexual as part of a videotaped public service announcement.
"I'm bisexual, and I give a damn," the actress says during the PSA, which she taped on January 30 as part of the True Colors Fund's Give a Damn campaign that features celebrities encouraging people to work for the advancement of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality.
According to RadarOnline.com, organizers were apparently unaware that Paquin was going to make the bisexuality declaration.
The Give a Damn campaign is set to kick off on Thursday (April 1) and a series of videos featuring other celebrities, including Kim Kardashian, Elton John, Cynthia Nixon, Clay Aiken, Whoopi Goldberg, Wanda Sykes, Jason Mraz, Mya, Sharon and Kelly Osbourne and True Colors Fund co-founder Cyndi Lauper.
"One hate crime is committed approximately every hour of every day in this country," Paquin says in the spot, as other celebs chime in with facts and calls to action.
"Imagine walking down the street and wondering if this is the day you'll get beaten up or even killed, simply because of who you are," Elton John says.
Adds Mraz, "It is time for things to change!"
Paquin, 27, got engaged to her "True Blood" co-star Stephen Moyer last August. On the small screen, Paquin plays telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse, who falls for Moyer's brooding vampire, Bill Compton. The third season of the sexually charged drama is set to debut on June 13.
To see the ad click here
60 - Dr Dreadful
Here's another one for your list, Jet.
Thought you might not have seen this story yet, as cricket doesn't exactly get blanket coverage over here!
61 - Jet Gardner
Thanks Doc, I'm working on my comeback with Vol. III as we speak.
Nice of you to give me the link, my friend
Jet