Why are the capital's LGBT community members falling over other to bag tickets to CWG today?
Why are the capital's LGBT community members falling over other to bag tickets to CWG today?
He puts diversity into his dive, quite literally. Australian Olympic gold medallist (2008) diver Matthew Mitcham is an out gay athlete who might be pleasantly surprised today.
Delhi's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community is planning to drop by in rainbow-hued force to cheer for the diver as he competes at the Commonwealth Games today.
When the paper spoke to Delhi's Mohnish Kabir Malhtora, one of the catalysts for the Support Matthew campaign that used Facebook and SMS to garner support, he said, "We have been trying to buy tickets for the Sunday event but have had no luck so far. I'm going to cheer for him, and with luck, at least 10 LGBT activists will bag tickets to join me. If not, then we will try and be there on Wednesday when Mitcham competes next."
Malhotra is bewildered at news reports stating that CWG venues are going empty.
"Then, where are the tickets?" he asks. It is a conundrum that took up reams of newspaper print this weekend, with reports focusing on the paradox: empty stadiums but no tickets.
Malhotra, a publicist and queer rights activist, says the LGBT support group may sport T-shirts in rainbow colours to demonstrate their support for Mitcham. The capital's gay community has been making efforts to bring Mitcham out of the Games village and into the city "for an interaction with us." Malhotra said, "I had
spoken to the Commonwealth Games Association of Australia, but they said athletes weren't allowed outside the
village, for security reasons. We are now going to try and meet him inside the village."
"He is a confident young man (I think he is barely 22) and for a professional athlete to come out of the closet is a brave move. We want to acknowledge that. In the end, you need to prioritise -- stay in the closet and, maybe, make lots of money, or be true to yourself and live life the way you want to, with supportive friends."
Matthewu00a0 Mitcham was born in Brisbane but lives and trains in Sydney. He publicly came out as gay in 2008 to the Sydney Morning Herald, when they were profiling Olympic hopefuls. His boyfriend, Lachlan Fletcher, attended the 2008 Summer Olympic Games as a spectator.
When you can catch Matthew
Sunday, October 10
Matthew to compete in the 1m springboard diving event for men
Qualifying: 9.30 am
Final: 4.30 pm
Wednesday, October 13
Matthew to compete in the 10m platform diving event for men
Qualifying: 9.30 am
Final: 4 pmu00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
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