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NBC Snubs More Than Mitcham’s Sexuality

Apology to openly gay gold medalist too little, too late.
An Advocate.com exclusive posted August 28, 2008
NBC Snubs More Than Mitcham’s Sexuality

It’s not just that NBC didn’t mention gold medalist Matthew Mitcham’s sexual orientation; it’s that they didn’t mention him at all.

The network's obvious, unmistakable and inexcusable snub of gay medalist Mitcham during its exhaustive coverage of the Beijing Olympics offers us insight into how black athlete Jesse Owens must have felt at the Nazi sponsored games in 1936. I’m not a sport enthusiast, but I was there in front of the set to watch the Australian 20-year-old compete for a place on the podium behind the unstoppable Chinese men’s platform divers. Then a miracle happened. The top Chinese diver turned in a mediocre dive and Mitcham performed the best and highest-scoring dive of the entire competition to win the gold. Alone in my own living room, I stood up and cheered.

NBC quickly left the water cube, never to return. And I waited. The network never showed the medal ceremony, where Matthew kissed his boyfriend, Lachlan. Its commentators never mentioned that that the brave young man had come out only a couple of months earlier and raised the money to bring his boyfriend along to the games. They never mentioned that Matthew was gay. They never showed Lachlan in the stands supporting him. In fact, other than to acknowledge that there had been men’s platform diving at the games, they never mentioned him again.  

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Keywords:  Matthew Mitcham 
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Reader Comments

These comments are reproduced as written by visitors to this Web site. They have not been edited for content, grammar, or spelling. The viewpoints appearing here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of advocate.com, The Advocate, or its affiliates.

  • Name: Jen King
    Date posted: 2008-10-30 6:55 PM
    Hometown: Pekin, IL.

    Comment:

    I found it odd that during the swimming competition that the only family shown was Phelps. As significant as Dara Torres' story was, they never once showed her mom, sisters, niece, nephew, step-dad, Tessa's dad David or Daras "best friend" Tommie in the stands. It was as if everyone else came to Beijing alone.


  • Name: JD Nichols
    Date posted: 2008-09-22 5:34 PM
    Hometown: Columbia, MO

    Comment:

    I admit it...I was glued to the Michael Phelps Channel (formerly known as NBC) for about three weeks and, quite frankly, getting burned out on seeing ALL PHELPS, ALL THE TIME! If the USA didn't win the gold, NBC rarely broadcasted the medal ceremony. That, in itself, is pathetic and shows just how poor a loser we can be. but it is sad, not only that NBC wouldn't show ALL the ceremonies, but that they'd completely cut away from one they had been harping on for 3wks. Few people came between the Chinese and their gold medals. Mitcham was one, and he should've had his day in the sun.


  • Name: Art M.
    Date posted: 2008-09-15 6:33 PM
    Hometown: SFCA

    Comment:

    My question is - why should a Gay person have to win a Gold medal to be recognized as a significant human being, worthy of attention or respect?


  • Name: David
    Date posted: 2008-09-05 6:37 PM
    Hometown: Wagga Wagga

    Comment:

    Matthew Mitcham is portrayed in an overwhelmingly positive light by Australian media outlets. Australians like their sporting heroes: gay or not simply doesn’t matter any more (Google or Wiki Ian Roberts (rugby league)). I greatly admire Mitcham (I'm straight, married), not so much for his sporting deeds, but rather for his human spirit. The vast majority of Australians couldn't care less about an individual’s sexual preference. My heart goes out to America's gay community; your right-wing garbage makes our right-wing garbage look like pinko-commie-hippies.


  • Name: Greg
    Date posted: 2008-08-31 2:25 PM
    Hometown: Arlington MA

    Comment:

    Mr. Mitcham deserves to be celebrated first for his athletic prowess but also as a whole person. He struggled with the difficulty of becoming public as a whole person and it's a shame that the media have rendered part of who he is invisible. But ex post facto complaints may not change anything. Before the next Olympics, is there a GLBT athletics organization that can identify out competitors and speak with media organizations ahead of time to help ensure that those Olympians' stories can be told more fully than in the censored past and pressent?


  • Name: Tamera
    Date posted: 2008-08-29 5:09 PM
    Hometown: Florida

    Comment:

    I must say I was glued to the 2008 Summer Olympics. NBC's coverage of the Olympians and their families there to support them were spectacular. I loved the fact that NBC humanized these World athletes by sharing personal triumphs and tragedies. I am troubled with the clear decisive decision NBC made in not spotlighting Matthew Mitcham, his family or his Life Partner. I saw time after time, the cameras glancing into the stands highlighting the families of athletes from all over the world and it seemed NBC couldn't get out of the water cube quick enough following this historic upset in men's diving. It saddens me to think in a time such as this in 2008 NBC is choosing to advocate slamming the closet door on America. Shame on NBC for assuming that We Americans can't handle common knowledge that a young Olympian is GAY.


  • Name: Dan
    Date posted: 2008-08-29 4:13 PM
    Hometown: Washington DC

    Comment:

    As I recall, NBC commentators actually did make an oblique comment about "overcoming personal issues" during their coverage of the finals. It was a typical, coded reference meant only for those in the know. His coming out was front page news in Australia and it is clear that NBC knew about it and decided that it was not appropriate for their prime time audience. They deserve to be called out on this one.


  • Name: Noel
    Date posted: 2008-08-29 4:12 PM
    Hometown: Bloomfield Hills, MI

    Comment:

    NBC didn't cover anything where the winning team wasn't American. The started to get all hot & bothered with men's water polo until the Hungarian team won the gold, which was a foregone conclusion anyway.


  • Name: Michael
    Date posted: 2008-08-29 3:42 PM
    Hometown: Dallas

    Comment:

    He was Australian. NBC hardly covered ANYONE who wasn't American. While this sometimes made for less than interesting Olympic coverage, which by its very definition is global, it is hardly proof there is some nefarious plot at work. God, we so love being the victim in EVERYTHING, don't we? I think the kid who hands that one athlete a towel was gay, WHY DIDN'T WE HEAR HIS VERY SPECIAL COMING OUT TALE!?!?!?! Christ, get a life and quit whining.


  • Name: Tom Kidd
    Date posted: 2008-08-29 1:07 AM
    Hometown: Decatur, Illinois

    Comment:

    Sorry. . . I stopped watching anything on NBC when they started running that tacky and creepy "To Catch A Predator" series. They suck, pure and simple.


  • Name: Scott Harvey
    Date posted: 2008-08-29 12:26 AM
    Hometown: Tallahassee

    Comment:

    I can honestly say that I don't think that this was about his sexuality. Diving has never received great coverage and in our current love affair with Michael Phelps and a select few other athletes I don't see that changing anytime soon. Yes, he did an amazing job. Yes, it is a shame that more wasn't shown. But that doesn't mean that this was a systematic and purposeful erasure of a gay man from tv.


  • Name: Eamon
    Date posted: 2008-08-28 11:10 PM
    Hometown: Los Angeles

    Comment:

    NBC's diving coverage was bizarre and insulting long before Matthew Mitcham's under-reported win. Hours of primetime were spent on pointless preliminary and semifinal rounds - and floundering American divers - with final competitions then ridiculously edited down to nothing, and many top divers never shown at all (Does anyone even know that there were two hispanic divers just behind Mitcham in the final standings? Never shown). I waited in vain to see Mitcham's medal ceremony too, but as with many other non-American winners, NBC wasn't interested. And he certainly wasn't the only one whose personal life wasn't profiled - NBC was too devoted to making Michael Phelps' mother a media star to spend any time on anyone else's family. I cried with joy when Matthew Mitcham won gold, but if he deserved an apology from NBC for any coverage slights, then so did dozens of other overlooked Olympic champions.


  • Name: Lily
    Date posted: 2008-08-28 8:24 PM
    Hometown: Akron, Oh

    Comment:

    I find it an absolute shame that the media of this nation, a nation built on dreams realized, would shunt an athlete who accomplishes something so amazing simply because of his sexuality. It would have been one thing not to mention he was gay - indeed, I would have been surprised if they had - but to completely ignore him after such an astounding performance is inexcusable.


  • Name: V. Romeriez
    Date posted: 2008-08-28 8:21 PM
    Hometown: Minneapolis

    Comment:

    I do think that anyone who believes that NBC did not intentionally minimalize their coverage of Matthew Mitcham's accomplishments in order to avoid being accused of "promoting the homosexual agenda" has no idea of how homophobia is dispensed in the USA. Being treated as invisible is the greatest violation of a human being possible. It strips a person of their very humanity. Shame on NBC. Those amazing images of Matthew's athletic accomplishments and the raw emotion of the following events (no commentary would be required) would do more to humanize Matthew -- and so many other GLBT folks that are seen as worthy to hate everyday-- that it just MIGHT save a gay or lesbian kid from suicide. A belated apology seems so unable to do that...


  • Name: Gay & Sexy Author of MERGING WITH MONSTERS
    Date posted: 2008-08-28 8:21 PM
    Hometown: Denver, CO

    Comment:

    I think we are not going to see SIGNIFICANT change in this area until GAY MEN in posiitons of power (and there are many) QUIT HIDING in their closets. I mean, you have GAY WOMEN people like Ellen, Melissa, Rosie, etc., stepping out and stepping up - where are the men?! Hmmmm... something to think about. We need more MEN like Matthew to step up - and to step out. And as a GAY Black man, I find it interesting (i.e., worthy of careful consideration) and somewhat true that OUR community does not do enough to support its gay brothers and sisters of color.


  • Name: John
    Date posted: 2008-08-28 8:21 PM
    Hometown: Seneca

    Comment:

    The difference between Jesse Owens and Matt Mitcham is Jesse Owens' accomplishment was recognized at the time. What NBC did was clear bigotry. Disgusting.


  • Name: Paul
    Date posted: 2008-08-28 8:15 PM
    Hometown: New York

    Comment:

    NBC Sports is run by a heterosexual straight male mind set that is freaked out by anything different than they are. I've given up on commercial television also. I always get my news from the BBC (and Olbermann, even though he's with NBC). We still live in a homophobic country; hopefully with Obama this is going to change. Vote, people!


  • Name: Ed
    Date posted: 2008-08-28 8:14 PM
    Hometown: Winston-Salem NC

    Comment:

    I was watching the clips of the events at the end of the closing ceremony. I kept watching for Matthew. I watched his performance and was truly blown away when he won the gold. Why wasn't he included in the final clips and why was his receiving the gold not shown? He deserved to have his moment under the bright lights just like everyone else. Is it because he cried, or kissed his partner? Obviously it didn't bother the Austalians. Why was he not allowed to be seen with his partner celebrating Matthews victory? I am totally disappointed with NBC and they should apologize to Matthew publicly for not sharing with the world his great victory. Gay or straight. One should always be shown receiving his or her award. As someone said. Apology now is a little too late. Matthew, I am a gay US citizen and I am ashamed we ignored you. Matthew, From me to you. Congradulations!!!


  • Name: mick
    Date posted: 2008-08-28 7:29 PM
    Hometown: los angeles

    Comment:

    NBC mentioned many personal aspects of the straight players. Many, many, many. But when it came to the one gay man who won gold, NBC had a case of laryngitis, and probably conjunctivitis too. NBC had the information on Matthew being gay on its website, so they certainly can't claim a lack of knowledge. One can't help but feel that NBC is deliberately homophobic in its telecast. I hope the Olympics TV rights are taken away from them.


  • Name: Erik H
    Date posted: 2008-08-28 7:17 PM
    Hometown: San Francisco

    Comment:

    My first response to this article is: You go Mathew Mitcham! You will be both a gay role model and icon for years. And you certainly deserve to be a wonderful representative of the international gay community! Also, I agree with some of the other comments made regarding this article. Does Olympic media coverage necessarily need to reveal any athlete’s personal life and intimate relationships? However, I do—to some degree--understand the author’s race/sexual orientation reference/comparison. Although as gay men (and also lesbian, bisexual, and transgender folks) many of us manage to pass as an invisible minority—unlike people of color in this country, we still struggle with similar issues related to bias and hate. These struggles affect many of us in an intense personal way on a daily basis. Hence, the need for positive role models in the media and our local communities to inspire all LGBT persons. The first step to acceptance of differences is exposure to diversity….


  • Name: Ian
    Date posted: 2008-08-28 6:22 PM
    Hometown: Brooklyn

    Comment:

    Comparing race politics and sex politics is not unfair. Both issues refer to genetic and social identities that are not decided by intention. Fate decides. Secondly "gays ignore blacks"? That's just silly. That's not an exagerration, that's just fiction.


  • Name: Chris
    Date posted: 2008-08-28 5:45 PM
    Hometown: St. Louis

    Comment:

    This article is informative and thought-provoking. I just wish the author hadn't included the Jesse Owens reference. While I don't believe the intention is to equate race with sexuality, that's the effect. I'll underscore that the author is writing about a snub, not whether race trumps sexuality. That notwithstanding, we do not and will never know what Owens felt. Invoking his feelings is an irrelevant ploy. This type of ploy always makes me uncomfortable with its insinuation that "black people went through this so why should gays?" But any other time, gays ignore blacks, generally speaking.


  • Name: r martin
    Date posted: 2008-08-28 5:42 PM
    Hometown: seattle

    Comment:

    I watched olympic coverage in CBC Vancover, live. I didnt see coverage of this diver so I cant comment on their approach. Telemundo(spanish) also covered the olympics. US coverage of sports usually has a certain attitude overlay.


  • Name: John W Beck
    Date posted: 2008-08-28 5:24 PM
    Hometown: Cambridge, MA

    Comment:

    This is one of the reasons I don't bother to get myself hooked into "traditional" media anymore. I get my news from a number of websites I frequent (MSNBC is not one of them) as well as my random web browsing. I have come to despise commercial TV, and I only watch it when my husband has FOX on for Family Guy or whatever. I have not watched any FOX "news" in many years though. They just have a few fun shows. Thank goodness for Netflix, eh?


  • Name: Kai
    Date posted: 2008-08-28 5:23 PM
    Hometown: Livermore, CA

    Comment:

    I think the fact that NBC apologized at all was unneccessary. NBC didn't talk about the vast majority of the athletes relationships. Had they discussed the sexuality of all of the other athletes or shown the partners of all of the other athletes and left out Lachlan, then it would be a slap in the face. However, since the relationships mentioned during broadcasts were in the EXTREME minority. Consider how many athletes competed. How many had mentions of husbands, wives, lovers?


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