Sports: Coming Out of The Closet as an Olympian, Not Easy!
Image source: Simon Dunn Instagram @thesimondun
Simon Dunn, rugby player and member of the Australian Olympic bobsledding team, recently talked to the Evening Standard about homophobia in sport, where he came out against athletes being pressured to come out of the closet when they’re not yet ready.
Dunn told the newspaper that professional players shouldn’t feel pressured to come out and that they should do it on their own time.
“It is selfish for our community to expect someone to do it because of their public profile. Given the sporting culture, coming out could seriously affect their career,” he explained. “I myself was already out when I joined the Australian team, but from my own experiences I can understand why someone wouldn’t come out, let alone someone earning and risking millions of pounds.“
As a young man in Australia, Dunn grew up playing Rugby League but found himself leaving the sport because of the stigma attached to being a gay man playing sport.
““I wasn’t exactly welcome within my team growing up. Its not the easiest road to take. And also growing up I’d learnt to believe gay men have no place in the sporting world and it took me a very long time to dispel those beliefs,” he recalls.
Dunn was the first openly gay male to represent Australia in the sport of bobsledding. He’s been featured on Buzzfeed and Attitude Magazine’s Naked Issue. He was also voted #1 in Attitude’s Hot 100 List.
He also maintains a social media presence via his Instagram, thesimondunn and was a former columnist on the blog Guys Like U. Dunn also had his dick pics leaked, which should not have been a surprise as he had previously talked about having dick pics out in the wild.
“I think it’s a case that one will eventually resurface. I guess my only fear is that it’s a bad one and not one of the better ones I’ve sent!” he said of his dick pics.
What do you guys think about Dunn’s comments on closeted athletes? Is it something you agree with? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
Dumb jocks!!
Why do they think the world cares about what makes their dick hard.
“Sports: Coming Out of The Closet as an Olympian, Not Easy.”
Bull shit.
This guy has shown how easy it is. Be yourself. Be respectful of others.
It’s 2017. Most people will not give a shit if you suck cock or take it up the ass. Just prove yourself as a decent person and it’s not an issue.
Pretty sure not one person honestly could give any F*cks that he came out really ….
*shrugs* Its the same way I feel about any other closeted person. Indifferent. Coming out is difficult for everyone. All I’m just interested in is your attitude while in your closet. Do you bad-talk openly gay ppl when straight folks are gathered to pass for straight? THEN I might not be so indifferent.
I believe it takes guts to come out of the closet, when the rest of the society is still at odds with homosexuality, so it should be a personal decision when to come out. Once you come out, get ready to come out for the rest of your life.
“Coming out” is such a cliche. Then once you’re out, you’re not allowed freedom of thought by the gay community which has a vested political interest in every man being a minion suck boy for the Left that wants gays to vote Democrat, but does NOTHING for gays.
Gay marriage was a Supreme Court “thing”, children. I’d rather stand with Milo that be a part of any rainbow bullshit.
As an “out” man who staunchly thinks for himself, I’d say be openly gay, but you don’t need to come out.