“I want to thank absolutely everyone who helped; my partner Lachlan and my mom [Vivienne] here to support me and watch me get gold, because it was so important to have those two people here with me,” Mitcham said in a post-dive interview. “I didn’t think I had a chance to get the gold and to actually get that was mind-blowing. I was crying thinking I had silver and to get gold, I was a blubbering mess.”There has been a fair amount of editorials in the gay news outlets criticizing NBC for not mentioning his sexual orientation. Personally, I'm glad they didn't bring it up. He is Australian, a gold medal winning 10m platform diver, and he happens to be gay. For me, the big deal is the fact that it wasn't a big deal.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Matthew Mitcham, final post
Just in case you missed it (like I did), here are Matthew Mitcham's dives from the final round of the 10m platform and the medal ceremony. Be sure to watch it to the end to see him jump up in the stands to hug his mother and his boyfriend.
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6 comments:
I think what made people upset was that NBC hid Mitcham's partner. For all the other athletes they showed the spouses or boyfriends or girlfriends.
What NBC should have done is just not edit out the part where Lachlan got thanked. There would be no need for further comment or discussion of sexual orientation.
It feels a lot like discrimination to me.
NBC might have talked about it indirectly. During his first dive, an NBC commentor said Matthew had quit the sport because of a family issue and had only began diving competitively again a year ago. My gaydar went off because the commentor hesistated when he said "family issue". I thought Matthew is pretty; doesn't carry himself like the other divers; is he gay? Was that the family issue?
Regards,
Philip
It feels a lot like discrimination to me.
Perhaps. But was it discrimination because he is gay? or discrimination because he isn't a US athlete?
Personally, I think the only reason we got as much coverage as we did was because it was a big upset from the expected Chinese sweep of the diving gold medals. Lack of any mention of significant others in his life may be simply due to NBC not being prepared since it was so totally unexpected.
I think this was a no-win situation for NBC. If they had made any mention then there might have been criticism for singling him out from other athletes simply because he is gay and/or NBC pushing the 'gay agenda'.
I will have to say, I was amused when he invited the silver and bronze medal winners up on the center podium with him. As they were standing there with his arms around them - they looked a tad bit ... uncomfortable ... with their forced smiles. I have to admit, the thought ran through my mind "get over it - we're here, we're queer, and we're everywhere."
I think NBC was nervous about telling the story. They may have decided to avoid telling Matthew's story because like you suggested they didn't want to upset their anti-gay viewers but if he had been a U.S. athlete then I think the story would have been too big not to tell.
Regards,
Philip
I didn't see any homophobic reaction to all his hugs and kisses, including the group hug at the medals stand. Maybe I need to watch it again and pay attention to the faces of others and not Matthew's smile.
Instead, I just saw me in him hugging everyone in sight at an emotional occasion... needless to say... been there / done that!
I didn't see any homophobic reaction to all his hugs and kisses, including the group hug at the medals stand.
To call it 'homophobic' is quite a bit stronger than I was intending. They just looked a little uncomfortable to me. It may have nothing to do with his sexual orientation and may have everything to do with their culture. After all, we have this bubbly smiling Australian dude jumping around and hugging everybody he sees - maybe that's just not how they do things in China and Russia, I don't know.
needless to say... been there / done that!
When the time comes that we actually meet in person, I just want to go on public record that I'm expecting one of your famous 'beck hugs' :) Actually, that goes for anybody and everybody that reads this blog (male & female, gay & straight, young & old) - if/when we ever meet in person then I want a hug!
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