[Marxism] Coming out

[Louis Proyect <lnp3@xxxxxxxxx>]

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9823452/
WNBA star Swoopes says she's lesbian
3-time MVP, 3-time Olympic gold medalist 'tired of having to pretend'
The Associated Press
Updated: 10:11 p.m. ET Oct. 27, 2005

NEW YORK - The only thing that outshines the exquisite diamond on Sheryl
Swoopes' left ring finger is the glow on her face as she discusses the love
of her life.

It's a love that the WNBA superstar has kept hidden for more than seven
years. On Wednesday she "quit pretending," disclosing that she is gay and
in a committed relationship.

"I feel like I've been living a lie," the Houston Comets star said in an
interview with The Associated Press. "I'm at a place in my life right now
where I'm very happy, very content. I'm finally OK with the idea of who I
love, who I want to be with."

Swoopes said she currently lives with her partner, former Comets assistant
coach Alisa Scott.

The story was first reported in ESPN the Magazine, which hit newsstands
Wednesday. She also announced an endorsement deal with Olivia, a lesbian
cruise line.

Swoopes, the only WNBA player to win three MVP trophies, said she never had
feelings for a woman before Scott and didn't understand them when they
began. But in the seven years since, she said she's been "hurting" while
hiding her relationship.

Now, Swoopes said, she finally feels free.

Swoopes is a five-time All-Star, three-time Olympic gold medalist and WNBA
champion as a member of the Comets, whose run of four straight titles began
when she was a rookie in 1997.

While piling up accolades and accomplishments, the 34-year-old Swoopes said
she dreamed about the day when she could attend an awards banquet with
Scott on her arm.

"We have had to celebrate behind closed doors," she said. "I don't want to
have to hide from the world anymore."

But that's not to say that she isn't concerned about repercussions from her
admission. She worries about her mother Louise, who has known for five
years, but "doesn't think it's right."

"She'll probably never accept it," Swoopes said. "But she's dealing with it."

And she is nervous about the response from her hometown of Brownfield,
Texas, about 600 miles northwest of Houston, where cotton is king and
Swoopes reigns as queen.

Not to mention what people will think right down the road in Lubbock, where
she brought Texas Tech it's only national championship in basketball by
scoring 47 points in the final game in 1993.

"I worry about the reaction throughout the country, but I really worry
about Brownfield and Lubbock," she said. "Because they're both small towns
and Sheryl Swoopes is a local hero. Now what? I hope it doesn't change.
It's important to me."

Swoopes is perhaps the highest profile team-sport athlete to come out and
follows two other WNBA players. Shortly before she retired in 2002, New
York Liberty player Sue Wicks became the first active WNBA player to open
up about her sexuality.

"I'm happy for Sheryl," Wicks said. "I think all people deserve to be able
to live their lives openly and honestly, and I applaud Sheryl for her courage."

Former Minnesota Lynx player Michele Van Gorp, who no longer plays in the
WNBA, also came out while an active player in July 2004.

No man has ever come out while still active in the major leagues of
football, baseball, basketball or hockey. If an NBA ever player did,
commissioner David Stern said, there'd only be one question:

"How many points? How many rebounds? I think that it's a non-issue."

Swoopes said her news had been well received so far.

"What she does in her personal life is her own decision," Comets coach Van
Chancellor said in a release. "I respect everything about Sheryl, how she's
handled herself on and off the court. To me, she will always be one of the
greatest ambassadors for the game of women's basketball."

She has long reveled in her position as a role model and hopes that parents
won't discourage their children from looking up to her because she is gay.
Her wish is that her coming out could help someone dealing with the same issue.

"If a kid out there who is struggling with their identity can read this
article and say, 'If she did it I can deal with this,' then this is worth
it," she said.

Swoopes said her decision had nothing to do with the proposed Texas
constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, which is already illegal in
Texas. In fact, she didn't know about it until Wednesday morning.

But she said would like to one day marry Scott.

"At some point I would love for that to happen," she said. "Right now I
think we're very happy with the relationship we have. This is the person I
plan on being with for the rest of my life."

Swoopes was married to her high school sweetheart and the two have an
8-year-old son, Jordan. Their divorce in 1999 had nothing to do with her
being gay, Swoopes said.

When contemplating whether to come out, Swoopes said thoughts of Jordan
were foremost in her mind.

"He goes to bed every night and he's peaceful and when I see that I never
question that what I'm doing is right," she said.

Jackson released a statement Wednesday night through his lawyer.

"I respectfully request for everyone to remember that behind this story
there is an 8-year-old child who will undoubtedly receive attention because
of his mother's pronouncement regarding her lifestyle," Jackson said.

"Our son's well-being is my sole focus. I am completely committed to doing
what is in the best interest of our child. My wish is to partner with
Sheryl to support our son in light of this announcement, I want our son to
know that he has two parents who love him and support him and above all
else are dedicated to ensuring his mental and emotional security."

===

http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/TV/10/28/people.georgetakei.ap/index.html
George Takei, 'Trek's' Sulu: I'm gay

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- George Takei, who as "Star Trek's" Sulu was
part of the Starship Enterprise crew through three television seasons and
six movies, has come out as a homosexual in the current issue of Frontiers,
a biweekly Los Angeles magazine covering the gay and lesbian community.

Takei told The Associated Press on Thursday that his new onstage role as
psychologist Martin Dysart in "Equus," helped inspire him to publicly
discuss his sexuality.

Takei described the character as a "very contained but turbulently
frustrated man." The play opened Wednesday at the David Henry Hwang Theater
in Los Angeles, the same day that Frontiers magazine featured a story on
Takei's coming out.

The current social and political climate also motivated Takei's disclosure,
he said.

"The world has changed from when I was a young teen feeling ashamed for
being gay," he said. "The issue of gay marriage is now a political issue.
That would have been unthinkable when I was young."

The 68-year-old actor said he and his partner, Brad Altman, have been
together for 18 years.

Takei, a Japanese-American who lived in a U.S. internment camp from age 4
to 8, said he grew up feeling ashamed of his ethnicity and sexuality. He
likened prejudice against gays to racial segregation.

"It's against basic decency and what American values stand for," he said.

Takei joined the "Star Trek" cast in 1966 as Hikaru Sulu, a character he
played for three seasons on television and in six subsequent films. He
received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1986.

A community activist, Takei ran for the Los Angeles City Council in 1973.
He serves on the advisory committee of the California Civil Liberties
Public Education Program and is chairman of East West Players, the theater
company producing "Equus."

--

www.marxmail.org


________________________________________________
YOU MUST clip all extraneous text before replying to a message.
Send list submissions to: Marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Set your options at: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism