About 12 years ago a famous and renowned New Zealand equestrian Olympian was defamed by the media for being gay. The sensationalist press caused him and his family a lot of hurt and suffering.
I was particularly upset by this because I believe sexuality is a private matter and that no-one should be exposed, ridiculed and judged because of their personal preference. With 2 gay brothers and having formed several gay friendships over the years I found all this public slander of someone who we should be celebrating their achievements hard to understand, accept and extremely disappointing.
Here is a poem I wrote inspired by what happened at the time.
Galloped
In Heavens
Chorus
They're on your
case...what shame and disgrace
Interference...intrusion
and trust misplaced
Achievements were
yours...the world adored
Marvelling the
exploits...the fans applaud
The style and the
poise carried you high
You galloped in
heavens while mortals admired
Chorus
The privately
sought...rightly or wrong
Exposed to the
public wrecks family and home
Who has the right to
disclose and play God
The casting of
stones and beating with rods?
Chorus
Bridge
Can pieces be
gathered and put back into place
When stripped to the
bone and blood not a trace?
Have lives become
empty...our vision grown dim
While tabloids now
flourish with truth so thin?
Conscience deserts
us replaced by judgement
Sordidly entering
deceit and dissent
Chorus
We have two tabloid newspapers in this country that still do the "so and so is GAY!", thinking this is still scandalous news. Hey, we all know Rosie O'Donnell is gay so "news"of her latest girlfriend isn't "news" at all. One step at a time.
ReplyDeleteBeing gay in Canada is no big deal...why should it be?
ReplyDeleteJane x
Good to hear Jane and Chris!
Deleteit is sad that this is the way the world is...whether public or private...the forcing of ones morals onto another is beastly...sadly it happens all too often...
ReplyDeleteI like to think that things have improved in Australia in recent years...like you I think sexuality is no one else's business. We have laws here now that recognise property rights of gay couples if one should die.
ReplyDeleteMy sweet niece moved clear across the country so she and her partner could come out and live freely. So sad - I miss her.
ReplyDelete