Dame Kelly Holmes

[NotBadConsidering]

Has come out as gay. I can’t decide which is more unsurprising: that she’s gay, or the news has been instantly derailed because she doesn’t toe the line on trans.

https://mobile.twitter.com/stonewalluk/status/1538409898798632961

Stonewall has some nerve. Where were they when Kelly’s relationship with Specialized bikes was targeted for being an apostate? And look at the names under that tweet. Former posters here and known monitors, just waiting to stick their oar in 😡.

Anyway, Dame Kelly, don’t let the bastards grind you down, I think you’re amazing.

I must admit that I thought she was already "out" as a lesbian. I hope that she hasn't been pushed to make a public statement by "journalists" in the way that Rebel Wilson was. Hi

Whoops, rogue "Hi" ...

If Dame Kelly Holmes becomes vegan, joins a political party, says she's religious, or makes a public announcement about any other personal aspect of her life, WTF has it got to do with her views on trans issues?

Or can people not accept that anything LGB is not actually about any other letter of the alphabet?

Wasn't she on twitter? She seems to have vanished?

Constant abuse from TRAs a likely significant contributor. Look at the thread I linked. People calling her a “danger” to trans people. They can’t even let her have this with abusing her.

Sad thing is, these days a young Kelly Holmes would just be told that she’s trans

Let’s hope she’s very happy.

She's an icon and role model for Women's sport. She knows more about Women's athletics than all those TRAs put together. A 'danger' to the Trans community? Yes because she knows there is no place in Women's athletics for trans people. This does not make her transphobic no matter what they spew at her. She's not saying trans people shouldn't exist or compete but rather they absolutely should but in separate categories.

Well done Kelly.

That made me realise I hadn't got Bespin (formally of this parish) blocked on Twitter.

I must admit that I thought she was already "out" as a lesbian.

So did I. I live near her and that was the general consensus, she was discussed as people were proud of her achievements

That thread really demonstrates that Stonewall really is just about the T

It seems very self important to make an announcement. Does anyone care?

Jesus, the vitriol. And hypocrisy - if you are LGB, you must fully support the TQ+++ at all times and in all ways or you are a danger to TQ people and are directly responsible for their suffering and deaths, but if you are TQ+++/allies you have zero responsibility to be supportive of someone who is LGB??

Was she ever in?

I long for the day when no announcement has to be made. I can’t believe ‘coming out’ is even still a thing.

It’s an anachronism, in a country with legal same-sex marriage, surely?

She's always maintained a private personal life and went about her public life in a professional manner. I do wonder if she felt pressured to publicly announce her sexuality now due to threats of some kind from certain quarters.

I didn’t think it needed ‘announcing’ any more 🤔

I understood her to be 'out' years ago. What her statement said showed how it was for lesbians and gay men in the forces not very long ago.

I care. This IS a big deal. Because she hasn’t just come out as a lesbian. She’s a lesbian who stands up for women’s rights in the face of abuse of entitled males. She’s not just gay, she’s the lowest part of the pecking order, a lesbian who doesn’t bow at the alter of trans. So “coming out” in this scenario is a huge deal, as evidenced by the vile abuse she is receiving from some of our regular visitors here 👋. The abuse in that thread shows what a big deal it is.

I don’t recall anyone questioning Jake Daniels’ position on trans athletes in women’s sport when he came out. Because he isn’t a woman.

Exactly @NotBadConsidering

She's also a Black woman. And as we see played out daily (and from all those nasty Stonewall followers), this white male dominated ideology takes a perverse pleasure in targeting Black women.

Kelly Holmes is a brilliant role model and advocate for health (eg Parkrun), women and women's sport. I hope she's very happy.

I was about to say the same thing @MrsOvertonsWindow It's not a coincidence they are targeting a black woman. See also Sonia Appleby, Allison Bailey, Raquel Rosario Sanchez...

Demonstrating again that the only use Stonewall et al see for homosexual people is as something to for the all important TQ+ on.

Nothing is worth anything unless it is in some way useful to the TQ+

For some reason I'd assumed that she was lesbian throughout her career, although she's always been private about her life outside sport. She's an amazing athlete and role model, and often involved in championing sport/fitness at grassroots level.

I think she is great and as pp has said I really hope she wanted to tell everyone and that she was not forced to as in Rebel Wilson