World Pole Vault Champ Shawn Barber Announces He is Gay

tgirl wrote:

[quote]rojo wrote:

Maybe in your educated North American world but not in the sport's world and not in the rest of the world. Can someone name a more prominent gay athlete?

[quote]

I could name a few more prominent athletes who are probably gay, but haven't come out; one of the world's greatest soccer players and an NFL quarterback come to mind.

But I agree that coming out as gay (or trans) is still very important in today's sports world.

For one: if they haven't made a statement about their sexuality it's none of your business, so don't assume who "probably" is or isn't gay.

Secondly: The fact that there are gay people that haven't come out IS THE ENTIRE POINT. There are lots of elite gay people out there; we just don't know who they are. As a gay man myself, I think it's great to see people like Shawn Barber come out as he becomes a role model for myself.

Wondering why this is new for this man? Every time that workout video of Carl Lewis is posted, the thread is filled up with snarky comments about his sexuality. The Brojos don't care about respecting Lewis' sexuality but the world should stop for this dude.

RainbowPole wrote:

LetsRun.com wrote:

Reigning world champ in the pole vault Shawn Barber of Canada posted on facebook this morning he is gay.

https://www.facebook.com/shawn.barber.357/posts/1643458302335784?pnref=story

Shawn becomes one of the more prominent openly gay male athletes in the world. We wish Shawn the best.

Hey, Thanks for deleting my thread...which I started first... (and had more comments on), and then deleting my comments. I reported the news, same as you did. My post was unfairly deleted.

Rainbow

I have had several posts deleted with no explanation. This place does it all the time

A role model as in cruising Craigslist?

Proudly first wrote:

Um, Greg Louganis was out as gay and also HIV positive when he was winning gold medals 29 years ago.

Definitely not out - Didn't come out until the 90s. Didn't announce HIV status until 1995.

Craigcruisin' wrote:

is he single? wrote:

For one: if they haven't made a statement about their sexuality it's none of your business, so don't assume who "probably" is or isn't gay.

Secondly: The fact that there are gay people that haven't come out IS THE ENTIRE POINT. There are lots of elite gay people out there; we just don't know who they are. As a gay man myself, I think it's great to see people like Shawn Barber come out as he becomes a role model for myself.

A role model as in cruising Craigslist?

Whatever - craigslist is just old tinder. No one cares.

RainbowPole wrote:

LetsRun.com wrote:

Reigning world champ in the pole vault Shawn Barber of Canada posted on facebook this morning he is gay.

https://www.facebook.com/shawn.barber.357/posts/1643458302335784?pnref=story

Shawn becomes one of the more prominent openly gay male athletes in the world. We wish Shawn the best.

Hey, Thanks for deleting my thread...which I started first... (and had more comments on), and then deleting my comments. I reported the news, same as you did. My post was unfairly deleted.

That's what people like the Brojos do, plagiarize others. Whenever something is posted they don't agree with or they can plagiarize they delete it. That's why you can't take this site seriously.

these gays are annoying...no one cares dude

strongly religious group here wrote:

Accusing some one is not a sin being gay is a sin.

Glad the delegate from Chechnya has weighed in.

People still kill themselves for being gay. People are still beaten, marginalized and ostracized for being gay. People are still allowed to fire people because they're gay. People are still disowned and rejected by their families for being gay. So yeah, it's a big thing in 2017.As for coming out. That's a huge step to take. In fact, I wish there were a way to really illustrate to straight people what a big f'ing deal that is. It's an incredibly difficult step to take, for many many people. Even my most uber liberal straight friends don't really comprehend that.Every time any human moves toward living their life more honestly the rest of us should respect that. And try to do the same.

oneeyedwillie wrote:

Why is this a big deal? really not a big thing in 2017

I'm perfectly fine with him announcing that he's gay. But why does he have to add that he is proud of it?

This makes me raise a few questions. Is Barber really gay? If so, does that not discredit his hooker-cocaine story?

I wanna know more about this story now.

I have no problem with anyone that is gay or apart of the greater LGBTQ community. Like you do you everybody, be happy af. However, the fact we have to throw a party every time a member of that community becomes public about their sexuality is a little crazy to me. Are there any members of the LBGTQ community that can elaborate on this? If Brad Pitt made a Facebook status that he was straight would we need to start a thread? Not to be insensitive, just makes a fella wonder why.

I would assume Caitlyn Jenner would be the most prominent member of that community as she has never actually came out and said she liked men. Although she's never clarified post change.

Maybe that's why those societies didn't continue to flourish?

proud? wrote:

I'm perfectly fine with him announcing that he's gay. But why does he have to add that he is proud of it?

For the same reason I'm proud of who I am. Or my parents are proud of me. There's nothing untoward in being proud of oneself.

You'd rather he announce that he's ashamed of being gay?

This is not worthy of mentioning ,maybe in a backward state like Texas it is a big deal.

Wtfunny wrote:

proud? wrote:

I'm perfectly fine with him announcing that he's gay. But why does he have to add that he is proud of it?

For the same reason I'm proud of who I am. Or my parents are proud of me. There's nothing untoward in being proud of oneself.

You'd rather he announce that he's ashamed of being gay?

I think people are referring to the need for pride to play a part. It's just something that "is". It's not an accomplishment after years of hard work.

Wait One Second wrote:

This makes me raise a few questions. Is Barber really gay? If so, does that not discredit his hooker-cocaine story?

I would assume Caitlyn Jenner would be the most prominent member of that community as she has never actually came out and said she liked men. Although she's never clarified post change.

It doesn't completely discredit it, because there was another guy in the room. I would like to know who was on crack.

And Caitlyn is a ... lesbian? Not sure if that is the right term, but she did say she is only attracted to women.

Perhaps a big deal to Barber and to a decreasing percentage of the public. But not a big deal to most of us. That's progress.

Yawn wrote:

Perhaps a big deal to Barber and to a decreasing percentage of the public. But not a big deal to most of us. That's progress.

It's a big deal because there are 77 countries

Where homosexuallity is a crime. And Barber competes overseas.