Swoon-worthy gay Olympian Ian Thorpe not only looks great in a speedo, but he wants to use his platform to help younger guys struggling to come out.
In an interview with Star Magazine, he talks openly about his struggles with coming out, his desire to do more to help younger people, and the pressures that come with being an LGBT role model.
On helping young guys come out:
“I feel like I have something to offer and I like helping out young people. I feel as though there’s a role for me to help out.”
His own struggles with being closeted earlier in life:
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“If I had a little bit more time when I was younger, I would have come out. I would have been comfortable with that, but because I told that lie, I was trying to suppress that part of me.”
And about that whole LGBT role model thing:
“In some ways, there is an expectation that you will be the voice of this group, which none of us can do. It’s made up of many voices, and I’m very new to this. I don’t have the experience.”
We definitely think there’s a “hot gay uncle” role for younger guys looking for someone to look up to, and Thorpe can definitely fill it. He’s come a long way from denying all those gay rumors for years. We’re looking forward to seeing him progress with his advocacy and perhaps one day snagging a guy.
Greg Board
he is so cute 🙂
Aled Fletcher
Were ok thanks ð???
DCguy
If Thorpe really wants to be a role model, instead of trying to be the next Matt Mitchum, Lance Bass, Neil Patrick Harris or something like that, what he should do is talk about how he was kept in the closet by fear and bigotry, the struggle for him to come to grips with himself, the damage that fear and bigotry did to him. Even though he was rich, famous and nice looking, none of that mattered because of the self hatred that anti-gay bigotry caused him to live with. Also, how he regrets earlier comments because of that.
THAT would be a great way for him to really help gay youth, and would be excellent speaking points in front of legislatures. The last thing we need is one more person charging $10,000 a pop to show up and host a drag show and talk about how they are a gay icon.
Justin Westwood
Glücklich
@DCguy:
High five! Like that trans woman Queerty featured not long ago getting other trans people into the IT workforce, doing something useful, not self-aggrandizing, would be much more meaningful.
RIck Dean
Such a brave young man.
Brian
Thorpe should worry about his own life and not worry about others. He shouldn’t be responsible for people with problems. He has enough issues to deal with in his own life.
aussiewerebear
he is a massive douchebag, instead of coming out and being a role model, he held a press conference and said he isn’t gay. I know everyone has the right to privacy and the freedom to come out when they choose, we all knew he was gay and he lied and know he wants to be role model? FUCK OFF!!
Invert
@aussiewerebear: yeah I know, I hated him for that for a long time, too. I still don’t particularly care for him but some of the active disgust has worn off.
He was in a particularly difficult position, though- a national hero who at the time faced being made into a villain if he revealed his true sexuality.
Be nice if he could use his crappy experience to help other people, though.
JJinAus
Please, who is he going to help? Teach kids to be self-loathing and stay in the closet until all your money runs out and you accept a large fee for coming out in a tell-all interview? Really.
n900mixalot
Perfect, another pervy gay swimmer uncle. It’s 2016. We needed these role models in the 90s. Now it’s easy to grow up gay. Pffft.