What makes Ian Thorpe’s sexuality of national interest?

Flick on the TV or open your Facebook wall and you’d be befallen at the number of articles discussing Ian Thorpe’s sexuality today.  It seems everyone wants to talk about it in advance of the screening of Sunday Night tonight, in which Thorpe has apparently made the admission in a tell-all interview with Sir Michael Parkinson.  But I have to ask, “What is our fascination with outing the sexuality of those in the public eye?”  Is it so controversial to be gay and a national icon that we must make this much fuss? Can’t we let people have sex in the privacy of their home and do what they do best in the public eye? Is the media so desperate for controversy that this is what it has to do to our national icons in the name of 24 hour media and entertainment?

Thorpe is a national  sporting legend, the only Australian to ever win five Olympic gold and more recently has become the poster boy for depression, battling in the media, under great public scrutiny his own demons, being faced due to a crippling shoulder injury and the ending of a tier one sporting career.  And I am just like any other Australian I think when I say, he is a great man.  He served our country’s sporting prowess with all his heart and physical prowess.  He performed a role more important than the one most of our politicians do in this country… He led us to years and years of national pride.  Can’t we let the guy have some peace and respect in his private life?

The Channel 10 media machine must be desperate for a big win in the ratings because they sure are working overtime on cranking up the handle to drive everyone to watch Sunday Night for Thorpie’s “coming out”.  I wonder if Thorpie knew what he was signing on for when he said yes, and accepted a cheque for doing the interview.  I wonder if he realised what a ratings-puller they would try to use him as by bringing his sexuality out as the most important thing in the interview in advance of it’s screening.  Maybe he did… maybe he engineered it.  I don’t know if we’ll ever know the answer to that.

I understand the argument that most of these stars in the media are well aware of their “media tart” status and use it to their own benefit as much as anyone else.  But I simply can’t see Ian  Thorpe’s motive for a giant and nationally observed “coming out” parade on Channel Ten unless perhaps it is the first step in signing him to a massive commentating contract.  And then, even if that was the case, I think he is fully deserving of an awesome commentating career without his sexuality being nationally observed.

Personally, I think someone’s sexuality is just not in the public’s interest!  Even if that person led the hopes and dreams of a nation for several years.  I don’t expect in my life for someone to judge me on where or how I have sex, and I darned well hope we don’t judge anyone else on the subject.

But today is going to be Ian Thorpe’s day.  I sure hope the media look after him with dignity as they make his sexuality a national discussion piece.  Frankly, I think this is another example of the 24 hour media cycle being responsible for the destruction of good taste.  I sure hope Channel 10 enjoys those ratings.  And that Ian Thorpe gains something he really wants from it… whether that be peace in knowing people won’t bug him anymore with rumours, or comfort in his public and private personas being at one.  Or even that he makes a decent commercial win from Channel 10… Because having his sexuality turned into a national media circus better be worth it.

I for one won’t be watching though, because I believe that sporting heroes are just that, sporting heroes.  And we shouldn’t look for more from them.  Where and how they have sex is not something that interests me.  I just want them to be great at what they do, be awesome role models for my kids and awesome inspiration for our country.

Share your thoughts today.

See the preview of the interview