Toronto Star: Rugby icon Gareth Thomas's outing a shocker

[marmar]

Rugby icon Gareth Thomas's outing a shocker
"I've stood on so many cliff edges. I used to go to the cliffs overlooking the beach near our cottage ... and just think about jumping off and ending it all"

By Robert Cribb
Reporter

Published On Tue Dec 22 2009


Even in this age of enlightenment, a professional athlete considering exiting the homosexuality closet must first exorcise demons.

For hulking British rugby star Gareth Thomas, outing himself last week came only after the disintegration of his marriage, thoughts of suicide and an emotional breakdown.

Calling his former secret "a tight knot in my stomach, always threatening to seep out," he told Britain's Daily Mail, "I was like a ticking bomb. I thought I could suppress it, keep it locked away in some dark corner of myself, but I couldn't."

Thomas, billed as the first top British sports figure to declare he is gay, has become the subject of intense media scrutiny following a candid and heartfelt description of his life as a homosexual in one of the world's most macho sports.

The 35-year-old Thomas is a legend in Welsh rugby, captain of the touring British & Irish Lions and the most capped Wales player with 100 appearances.

He said he agreed to his high-profile public outing in order to push the sporting world in the footsteps of other professions where openly gay people are accepted. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.thestar.com/sports/article/741700--rugby-icon-gareth-thomas-s-outing-a-shocker?bn=1

[xchrom]

1. Recommend

[Captain Hilts]

2. A top goalie for Gaelic football came out in Ireland. nt

[closeupready]

3. He's very attractive. That's the most important thing.

;)

[GodlessBiker]

5. Totally hot.

[HillWilliam]

9. In a heartbeat!

"Honey, look what I brought home for Christmas"

"Whoa."


I'm totally sending him this link by IM. :rofl:

[Renew Deal]

4. A very eligible bachelor

[closeupready]

6. That can be a plus.

:rofl:

[HillWilliam]

10. Never underestimate the value

of false teeth :rofl:

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

8. Wow.

I just might have to reconsider my own sexuality, on the basis of that picture. ;-)

[Stinky The Clown]

7. #5

[dickthegrouch]

11. While the original story is OK...

I despise any reporter/editor who has the temerity to use the phrase "Thomas admitted to the Mail that he knew he was gay by the age of 16".

One admits murder, being a politician and other heinous crimes. Homosexuality never was a crime, even though certain religions did their damnedest to make it so. Homosexuality is revealed, disclosed, acknowledged but NEVER admitted.

I have nothing but contempt for the writer and editor who allowed the use of that word.

/rant off

[Blue_In_AK]

12. My son-in-law, who also was an international rugby player,

knows this gentleman well. His comment to this link - "he is a hard and ugly man. Would not have thought him gay."

It must have been incredibly difficult for Mr. Thomas to keep this secret for so long from his teammates and opponents. I applaud him for stepping forward now.

[begin_within]

13. In an ideal world, it wouldn't even be news.

The fact that he is gay would be about as newsworthy as a report that he has blue eyes or listens to Enya or whatever. In an ideal world, it would be a non-issue. The fact that it's a "shocker" and that people can be shocked by it means to me that we're a long, long way from an ideal world.