More Redheads

[commonpeople1]

Lets add these two to our Gingerganza.




Gareth Thomas, the only current professional male athlete in a team sport who is openly gay.



Michael Fassbender, brilliant actor from films like Fish Tank, Hunger, 300 and the upcoming X-Men (he plays a young Magneto).

Comments

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Wikipedia fail! I wouldn't be surprised now if there are more than Cusack and Thomas out there.

Young kids seem to have no problem (in general) with gay people - unlike the kids of my generation - so it's hopefully all changing for the better. Countries like Brasil desperately need them to come out and continue to play and be role models - it might help end the violence against gay people that runs deep.

[steer.livejournal.com]

The wikipedia article on Thomas says "According to Sports Illustrated, Thomas is notable as the world's only current professional male athlete in a team sport who is openly gay." which is true (Sports Illustrated does say that) albeit misleading (in that there is one more -- but only one that I can find).

it's hopefully all changing for the better

I share your hope but still out of the hundreds of thousands of athletes, you'd have thought more than two gay men would step forward as role models in this day and age.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Coming out is already tough when involving just your friends and family. I can't imagine the fear and pressure when it involves your job, fans, the press, etc.

[petercampbell.livejournal.com]

In Gareth Thomas' case, he only felt able to come out when the pressure of hiding his sexuality from his family and friends was making him feel suicidal. He's coming to the end of his sporting career as well, which probably made it easier on a professional level. And it's worked remarkably well for him - contrast that with Justin Fashnu's treatment just a decade earlier.

As for redheads, has anyone mentioned Rufus Hound yet??

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Don't think so - had to Google him to see who he was!