Say hello to Rob Kearney, the world’s second strongest man, newly-out hero, and your new sports obsession.
Kearney has had a fairly incredible career so far: at just 25, he placed second in the World’s Strongest Man competition. His Twitter and Facebook is loaded with photos of him lifting up comically heavy objects. And now he’s a role model to incredibly muscular gay men everywhere.
Rob’s coming-out was pretty nonchalant. He just posted on Facebook that he has a crush on his boyfriend, Joey Aleixo. That was acknowledged by, so far, 1,457 likes from fans and friends and well-wishers all over the world. Response has been overwhelmingly positive, with at least one of his bodybuilding colleagues emailing him to say that Rob had changed his mind about disliking gays.
This is a big deal for gay men, who will be delighted to claim this good-looking individual for our team. But it’s also a big deal for the Strongman competition, which has never had an out pro-level international competitor before.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Strength training and coaching has generally been a little tough for gay men, with a traditionally hyper-masculine culture that looked down on queers. (You know, because there’s nothing at all gay about spending hours sculpting and admiring the glistening contours of a man’s body.)
With Michael Sam getting cut by both the Rams and the Cowboys, whatever those are, we’ve been looking for a new sporty sports man to root for. Kearney will do nicely.
But of course, the real winner here is Joey Aleixo, who gets to hook up with this gorgeous mountain of muscle. Congrats to the happy couple!
Kieran
Maybe he’ll be invited on the Queen Latifa show. But don’t hold your breath. A gay guy who could easily kick your ass? That goes against everything American audiences have been taught about gay men.
Tackle
Good for Rob for coming out. But while I’m not telling others in the LGBTQ community, how to lable people, and who we should accept as hero’s, this is one of the few aspects/thinking/acceptance, of gay culture that I do not care for.
As a whole, we don’t know a damn thing about this guy. He comes out on his FB page, and he’s held as some NEW gay hero. Can’t we just give him props for just coming out, and save the hero stuff for later: Until we find out more about him to see if he’s deserving of the title??.
And Micheal Sam I’m sure is feeling how fickle some in the gay community can be. One minute you’re in. The next, your out.
aliengod
@Kieran: I’m sure he’ll be shunned by the media. However, if he would raise his speaking voice to the highest register possible and flail his arms about when he speaks he’ll be a sensation.
PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
Refreshing to see someone highlighted who’s actually achieved something and not just yet another attention whoring gaylebrity manqué.
Cam
I’m sure Lindsey Grhamn will talk about how weak and unmasculine this guy is because he’s gay.
Not all butch and tough like Miss Lindsey.
Raphael
The best part of the articles is the comments section, better than Stand Up.
Saint Law
@aliengod: “However, if he would raise his speaking voice to the highest register possible and flail his arms about when he speaks he’ll be a sensation.”
O rly? Coz it clearly didn’t work for you.
Aromaeus
Yeah now that the white gays have a white masc guy to root for they can kick the negro to the curb right?
Ms Urethra Johnson
Note to Queerty… I’m quite “proud”, and certainly don’t need inspiration or approval from society to be a successful human being… especially from a meat-head steroid muscle knuckle-dragger… NOT my aspiration or goal in life… not even close. ENOUGH with this superficial “aesthetics” BS… You need to be pretty to be a good and “acceptable” gay CRAP. How about intelligent, creative, don’t do drugs and so forth… Imagine all those “less than perfect looking” queer teens you keep kicking in the face with these unattainable physical goals and “standards” of what an “acceptable gay” or “palatable to straight society” should be. ENOUGH. Celebrating our obvious fabulousness is one thing, making it the rule is another. And that idiot kid on the plane with the floater… sorry that’s NOT what I want to be associated with… Queerty “logic”: He’s cute so we must love him… VOMIT.
Alan down in Florida
This just shows that in addition to physical strength he has the strength of character to be honest and open to the world especially in an area of sport that is hetero dominated.
NoCagada
@Aromaeus: @Ms Urethra Johnson:
What planet did you get that from…URANUS?
DarkZephyr
@NoCagada: Im with you there. I’m tired of race baiting. The article nowhere mentions race anywhere. I believe Queerty’s bitchy snark aimed at Michael Sam would have read the same way had this new guy been black. Just as hateful and nasty. I don’t know why Queerty thinks we enjoy their jabs at Michael Sam, personally.
jasentylar
Why does Michael Sam need to be on a team to be supported? As a gay man that was drafted, that was monumental enough. Why should we not continue to support him? This community is fucked. Seriously fucked.
omacdonald
Go Rob! I hope he helps break some folks’ stereotype that people like us are only weak and emasculated.
Sebizzar
This is awesome! I will always link this article when a homophobe brings up the “gay = weak” crap.
Lvng1Tor
@Ms Urethra Johnson: I guess the fact that this guy is Currently in grad school obtaining a Masters Degree in advanced athletic training with a concentration in athletic rehabilitation. Just proves your whole “Meathead” claim too. Wow, for someone who’s all about looking past the package you don’t go very deep. You are obviously a very hurt person who needs help in feeling better about themselves. That’s not a slam, that’s an observation and real suggestion.
drivendervish
I don’t think it was necessary to diss Michael Sam and the NFL by pretending you don’t know the Rams and the Cowboys are teams. The fact that Michael isn’t currently on a team in no way detracts from his brave choice to come out to the world just a few months before the draft. He has probably been looking forward to being drafted as an NFL player his entire life and he was willing to sacrifice that dream to be honest about who he is knowing full well it could destroy his career. It’s not like there can be only one OUT professional athlete. The truth is that there are a lot of gay athletes playing in professional leagues around the world who are afraid to come out.
jason smeds
I don’t think Rob is gay. Having a crush on a man doesn’t make you gay. If the gay media likes to interpret man-crushes as being gay, then that is sad and ridiculous. Even if a man has a sexual experience with a man, it doesn’t make him gay. It might just be one rare experience.
The gay label is pathetic, anyway. It should only be used in extreme circumstances. It’s an example f identity politics gone mad.
RyanD
@jason smeds:
Actually, he did come out as gay.
http://joemygod.blogspot.com/search?q=rob+kearney.
So, it’s not the media interpreting his love for his BF, but rather a personal decision to come out as gay.
And as for the rest of your post…crazy as usual.
You’re on odd bird, you know that? Sometimes (very rarely) I end up agreeing with tiny bits and pieces of your comments, but comments like this makes me realize that you’re really a sad attention-seeking troll.
Oh well. Consider yourself fed.
jwtraveler
@jason smeds: “The gay label is pathetic, anyway. It should only be used in extreme circumstances.” What the hell does that mean?