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 have never thought about her sexuality, it’s none of my business. And being a gay woman doesn’t make you super cute like it does if you a gay man and you do typical female things like knit.

However I do think it’s important that a gay women who has an opinion on T comes out as gay and says she doesn’t toe the line.

...and they have the audacity to say that FWR doesn't support black people.

The mind boggles.

That’s my thoughts entirely.

Someone has threatened to out her so she’s gone “f**k it” and got out in front of it.

Awful that her private life is front page news.

Kelly is proper badass

interview from 1993 when she was still in the army

I'm sure plenty of people, young and older, too scared to 'come out' for whatever reason, do care actually yes.

Compare and contrast responses to Dame Kelly coming out as gay to anyone who comes out as trans. Recent Tory MP for example.

So her views on trans issues is more important than anyone else's? If she thinks that then double the self important bit.

Why has a gay woman's opinion got any more significance than anyone else's?

Good for her in coming out. I wish her well. But I very much doubt this news will come as any surprise to anyone who knows anything about her.

Because the assumption is that if you are gay then you automatically support T. And those who don’t are just dried up old straight white women.

TRAs think that her views on trans athletes are more important than men's views. Why do you think that is? And how do you work out that other people thinking that what she thinks is important is 'self important'?

good for her. certainly a great athlete, though like many others I did find her running personal bests, becoming a first time (double) Olympic champion etc aged 34 a little suspicious in terms of possible doping.

the over representation of lesbians in top level adult sport says a lot about the barriers to participation that most women, especially working class women, face in terms time lost to childbirth, accusations of being 'unfeminine' (or gay etc), which in turn goes to a few of the many reasons why trans women elbowing their way in is so wrong.

I was sure she was already. I do hope she wasn't forced into making a statement, she always seems like sure a lovely and private person. Honestly it makes me mad that having to 'come out' is still a thing.

Kelly Holmes is an absolute inspiration for what women can achieve as women. Not just in athletics but in her military career as well.

Must admit, I thought I already knew she was gay as I had it in my head I'd seen her with a girlfriend but I just take her to be a private person.

Quite how we can want to pull apart someone who has only ever been a positive role model is beyond me. The world would be a much better place with more people who had the attitude and determination of dame Kelly.

As a female watching her succeed after difficulties was amazing. She was still in the army up to a pretty advanced stage in her career I think

Maybe work on reading what people actually write. I said, as you obviously missed it the first time, "So her views on trans issues is more important than anyone else's? If she thinks that then double the self important bit.*

Hope you got it this time, not what other people think but if she thinks that.

Her views are her views, no more no less.

But she's never said her views are more important has she?

I personally think her views are are more pertinent than most given that she performed in women's athletics for a long time.

I think her views are more important than most in the context of sport given that she is a double gold Olympic athlete and is still very active in woman’s sport, sadly I am neither.

@ancientgran Her views are her views, no more no less.

Yes, they are her personal views. They are probably a little more informed than many in one sense. Being a female athlete, KH probably knows that women's sports are/would be unfair for women if men are allowed to compete. Irrespective of the men's views on that. Irrespective of men's personal views that they are women.

Coming out? How very 2002.

Completely agree with this and everyone saying similar.

@NotBadConsidering you're totally right!

I see it's the usual suspects in the responses on that thread. They don't give a shit about anything but their own agenda. They're quick to respond because they realise that as someone who can legitimately talk about sport and is a lesbian who opposes males in female sport she is a threat to their narrative.

Worth saying that she stayed "in" a long time because she was in the army when it was illegal. It's been part of the media coverage.

Absoutely love Kelly Holmes - she's a class act.

I remember cheering her on as she won her gold medals at 2004 Olympics in Athens. What an achievement after so many setbacks due to injuries.

As for her announcement? Always thought she was, but fantastic that this is a talking point - she is an amazing role model for young lesbians.

I echo others' well wishes for Kelly. Bloody legend!

Happy for her, and good on her for making a stand. But like some PPs I already thought she was openly gay, for some reason.