I have just recently decided that I am going to start an area of my website that delves into the issues that are important to me. Some my not agree with my viewpoints, and that's alright. This is My Forum to rant :-) Ok. I have just recently been scowering the internet looking to see if there are many openly gay gymnasts, and to my dismay, there are not. I know that in our sport, be it Trampoline, or Gymnastics there are openly gay people, however some are afraid to , "out" themselves due to persecution from their peers. I know this for a fact, as I have had to deal with it as well.
I have been openly gay since i was thirteen years old, I believe that coming out was the smartest decision I've ever made. I knew that there were other people involved in my sport that were gay, but they just didn't want to come out. So, in BC at least, I had to go it alone. A lot of people were really supportive when I made the decision, and some were not. I totally support peoples different idea's of what is moral and what is not, however, if those people choose to persecute someone on the grounds of their sexual orientation, than that jumps into an entirely different arena. Unfortunately, i've had these experiances in Trampolining.
While at the 2002 Canadian Championships, I was called a, "faggot" by a twelve year old boy, just as I was about to compete. I was literally standing on the runway for the double-mini, and he was taunting me. I didn't say anything to anyone because the particular provincial federation that governed the actions of that person were very leniant. So I didn't tell anyone. Although, he did make me so mad that I NAILED my first pass just to spite him and scored my first 9.9! :-) My point is that never should have happened. Just as a senior athlete alone deserves a certain amout of respect, and that fact that there was a person that close to the competition area to distract me showed the inadequecy of that particular facility. Anyways. My point is, is that before he knew I was gay, he showed me some admiration. As soon as he found out, he decided that I was no longer the kind of person that should be admired. This is very disturbing to me, how the perceptions of one individual can be swayed by somthing so trivial.
What I I would like everyone to know is that gay people are not, "GAY" people. The fact that we are gay is a mere facet into the jewel that comprises who we are as individuals. I would like people to remember me as just , Adam. I don't want to be remembered as Gay Adam. It would be an amazing thing if, one day, people broke down the stereotypes that they have placed on homosexuals. We are not all sparkle loving, limp wristed, lisping, shopaholics! If I use the gay people that I know, most people would not even know that they are gay. So the next time that you see someone being called a faggot, or if someone says, "this is SO gay" defend the person. Becuase you're not just defending the rights of a homosexual, you're defending the rights of a person.
Thanks for reading my rant. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to e-mail me at triffus_2000_2000@yahoo.com
