Mark Spz says Ian Thorpe would have broken more rerds if he me out as gay earlier | Daily Mail Onle

Contents:

• IS MARK SPZ GAY? EARLY LIFE, RUMORS & NET WORTH
• BURT REYNOLDS LET ME KNOW IT WAS OKAY TO BE GAYTHE LATE ACTOR TGHT ME THAT THERE'S NOTHG WRONG WH GETTG EXCED BY A {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}CELEBRIBY DAVID TOSATSEPTEMBER 10, 2018/11:08 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:4187PX;WIDTH:4210PX;}EARL LEAF/MICHAEL OCHS ARCHIV/GETTYLOS ANGELES,CA - CIRCA 1960: ACTOR BURT REYNOLDS FLOATS THE POOL DURG A POOL PARTY HOSTED BY DICK CLARK LOS ANGEL,CA. (PHOTO BY EARL LEAF/MICHAEL OCHS ARCHIV/GETTY IMAG)BY DAVID TOSATSEPTEMBER 10, 2018 / 11:08 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"BURT REYNOLDS LET ME KNOW IT WAS OKAY TO BE GAY","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2018-09-10T15:08:11.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2018-09-10T15:08:11.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"DAVID TOSAT","ARTICLESECTN":"CELEBRI"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WH MUT OF HEARG OF BURT REYNOLDS’ ATH, I POSTED A PHOTO ON FACEBOOK OF THE MOVIE STAR’S COSMOPOLAN LAYOUT, WHICH THE SOCIAL MEDIA SE ALMOST JT AS QUICKLY FLAGGED AS A VLATN OF MUNY STANDARDS. AND THEN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WTF?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT WASN’T JT THAT FACEBOOK DIDN’T SEEM TO REALIZE THAT THE IMAGE—A NAKED REYNOLDS SPRAWLED OUT ON A BEARSK N, SMOKG AND SG, WH ONLY ONE HAND TO HI HIS PRIVATE PARTS—IS ONE OF THE MOST INIC IMAG OF THE 1970S, OR THAT WE LIVE A WORLD WHERE MALE NUDY—FULL-ONTAL, PORN, TUMBLR GUYS PLEASURG THEMSELV EVERY WAY POSSIBLE—IS AVAILABLE 24/7, WAS THAT FACEBOOK (WHICH HAS SCE ISSUED AN APOLOGY FOR THE LETN), AND PERHAPS A WHOLE GENERATN, MISSED THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BURT REYNOLDS’ BEEFKE SHOT WAS MEANT FOR TO LOOK AT—ALL OF . AND NOT PRIVATE. IT WAS A CELEBRATN OF THE MALE FORM AS OBJECTIVY, LIKE SO MANY WOMEN BEFORE AND AFTER HIM. FOR GAY KIDS LIKE ME, WAS THE TURNG POT ACCEPTG OUR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I’D LIKE TO SAY THAT BURT REYNOLDS MA ME GAY, BUT I ALREADY KNEW THAT. WHAT THAT PHOTO DID, AND A SIAR SHOT OF HIM OM BEHD AND NAKED OM THE WAIST DOWN, HOLDG A FOOTBALL, AND, Y, ALSO SG, IS MAKE ME KNOW WAS OKAY TO LT AFTER MEN, BEEFY MEN WHO ULD BE OUR NEIGHBOR’S DAD OR THE LOL SPORTS ACH OR THE TO-SHOP {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}DID I MENTN HE WAS SG?UNED ARTISTS/GETTYBURT REYNOLDS ONT OF LOCKER A SCENE OM THE FILM 'FUZZ', 1972. (PHOTO BY UNED ARTISTS/GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BURT REYNOLDS THE FILM FUZZ (1972).{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN 1972, WHEN THE LAYOUT APPEARED, MOST GAY KIDS HAD NO ROURC TO EXPLORE OUR SEXUAL URG, SAVE SNEAKG A PEEK AT THE LIFEGUARD AT THE POOL OR PUTTG UP ROCK STARS POSTERS ON OUR BEDROOM WALL—NOT SO MUCH BEE WE LOVED THE BAND, BUT BEE THEY ALL TEND TO WEAR TIGHT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BURT CHANGED ALL OF THAT, BEE THERE HE WAS—HIS LAYOUT MA TO POSTERS AND DISPLAYED EVERYWHERE, A MAJOR MOVIE STAR SAYG ’S OKAY, AND WELE, TO GAWK AT MEN UNABASHEDLY. THERE’S NOTHG THREATENG HIS POSE, THERE ARE NO SECRETS HIS EY. THERE ARE NO CLU THAT SAY, “IF YOU’RE A GUY AND LOOKG AT THIS, FUCK OFF.” UNTENTNALLY OR NOT, HE’S GIVG MEN THE SAME EE PASS AS WOMEN TO ENJOY HIM. HE’S SUBMISSIVE. AND THAT’S ABOUT AS GAY AS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GRANTED, WASN’T LIKE I ULD E MY ALLOWANCE TO BUY A POSTER OF BURT’S RRIèRE AND SHARE AMONG IENDS, AND I DID THE SAME THG MOST GAY KIDS DID: I WENT TO THE STORE AND SUALLY STARED AT BURT’S POSTERS WHILE PRETENDG TO BE TERTED THE LATT BLACK-LIGHT IMAG THAT WERE ALL THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT THE ORIGAL LAYOUT WAS FOR COSMO, A WOMEN’S MAGAZE, AND NSIRED PART OF THEIR SEXUAL LIBERATN. BUT WASN’T LOST ON THE GAY LIBERATN TAKG PLACE AT THE SAME TIME.SILVER SCREEN COLLECTN/GETTYAMERIN ACTOR BURT REYNOLDS SS ON THE SHOULRS OF -STAR RONNY COX A SWIMMG POOL, DURG THE FILMG OF 'DELIVERANCE', CIR 1972. JON VOIGHT IS JT VISIBLE ON THE RIGHT. (PHOTO BY SILVER SCREEN COLLECTN/GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BURT REYNOLDS SS AND DELIVERANCE -STAR RONNY COX {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}POST-STONEWALL AND POST-THE ADVOTE, THE GAY LOOK WAS BURT’S LOOK—DARK, HAIRY, MTACHED—WELL, BUTCH—AND YOU ULD SEE OTHER GAY-CELEBRATED CELEBRI, TOO. SWIMMER MARK SPZ, WHOSE BATHG SU POSTER ALSO ME OUT 1972, LOOKED LIKE EVERY PORN STAR ROLLED TO ONE. A YEAR LATER WE’D BE H WH LEE MAJORS THE SIX MILLN DOLLAR MAN, SOON SAM ELLTT LIFEGUARD, LEADG UP TO A CELEBRATN OF THE FORM THE EXCSIVELY GAY VILLAGE PEOPLE TUNE “MACHO MAN” {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN 1973, PLAYGIRL FORMED, THE FIRST OPPORTUNY FOR KIDS OF MY GENERATN TO ACTUALLY SEE MEN FULLY NAKED. (Y, I HAD TO H THE DGSTORE AND HI THE PI BETWEEN OTHER MAGAZ AND PRAY NO ONE UGHT ON.) WHILE PLAYGIRL WAS TEND FOR WOMEN, THE MEN SI WERE, BY ALL ACUNTS, ADORED BY A LARGELY GAY DIENCE. IN A SENSE, THE MOLS WERE BURT’S PROTéGéS, ALLOWG TO SEE EVERYTHG—THE DIFFERENCE BEG THAT THEY WERE HIDN AN ADULT MAGAZE, SECRETIVE, WHILE BURT’S IMAG WERE PLASTERED SHOPPG MALLS ACROSS THE UNED STAT. EVERYONE WAS EE TO HAVE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BURT REYNOLDS WAS A MAJOR MOVIE STAR, WHO MA DOZENS OF H FILMS, SOME OF THEM GREAT, SOME OF THEM NOT. TO RCE HIS LEGACY TO TILLATG PHOTOS IS NOT MY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT EVERY TIME I SAW HIM A FLICK AFTER 1972, I HAD THOSE IMAG MY MD. I WAS WATCHG A MAN, A HEARTTHROB, WHO WAS LOOKG BACK AT MY CHILDHOOD SELF, SG, AND SAYG, “GO AHEAD, TAKE A PEEK. THERE’S NOTHG WRONG WH GETTG EXCED BY A MAN.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
• MARK SPZ SAYS IAN THORPE WOULD HAVE BROKEN MORE RERDS IF HE ME OUT AS GAY EARLIER
• IAN THORPE MIGHT HAVE BEEN GREATER STILL IF HE HAD E OUT AS GAY, SAYS MARK SPZ

IS MARK SPZ GAY? EARLY LIFE, RUMORS & NET WORTH

Is Mark Spz Gay? In an terview wh People magaze, Spz stated that he was not gay, but admted that he had been attracted to men sce childhood. However, he nied beg bisexual or homosexual.

“I don’t thk I’m gay, ” he said. Although he is not openly gay, he has been romantilly lked wh numero women throughout his life. For gay kids like me, was the turng pot acceptg our homosexualy.

I’d like to say that Burt Reynolds ma me gay, but I already knew that. Burt Reynolds the film Fuzz (1972) 1972, when the layout appeared, most gay kids had no rourc to explore our sexual urg, save sneakg a peek at the lifeguard at the pool or puttg up rock stars posters on our bedroom wall—not so much bee we loved the band, but bee they all tend to wear tight changed all of that, bee there he was—his layout ma to posters and displayed everywhere, a major movie star sayg ’s okay, and wele, to gawk at men unabashedly.

BURT REYNOLDS LET ME KNOW IT WAS OKAY TO BE GAYTHE LATE ACTOR TGHT ME THAT THERE'S NOTHG WRONG WH GETTG EXCED BY A {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}CELEBRIBY DAVID TOSATSEPTEMBER 10, 2018/11:08 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:4187PX;WIDTH:4210PX;}EARL LEAF/MICHAEL OCHS ARCHIV/GETTYLOS ANGELES,CA - CIRCA 1960: ACTOR BURT REYNOLDS FLOATS THE POOL DURG A POOL PARTY HOSTED BY DICK CLARK LOS ANGEL,CA. (PHOTO BY EARL LEAF/MICHAEL OCHS ARCHIV/GETTY IMAG)BY DAVID TOSATSEPTEMBER 10, 2018 / 11:08 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"BURT REYNOLDS LET ME KNOW IT WAS OKAY TO BE GAY","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2018-09-10T15:08:11.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2018-09-10T15:08:11.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"DAVID TOSAT","ARTICLESECTN":"CELEBRI"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WH MUT OF HEARG OF BURT REYNOLDS’ ATH, I POSTED A PHOTO ON FACEBOOK OF THE MOVIE STAR’S COSMOPOLAN LAYOUT, WHICH THE SOCIAL MEDIA SE ALMOST JT AS QUICKLY FLAGGED AS A VLATN OF MUNY STANDARDS. AND THEN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WTF?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT WASN’T JT THAT FACEBOOK DIDN’T SEEM TO REALIZE THAT THE IMAGE—A NAKED REYNOLDS SPRAWLED OUT ON A BEARSK N, SMOKG AND SG, WH ONLY ONE HAND TO HI HIS PRIVATE PARTS—IS ONE OF THE MOST INIC IMAG OF THE 1970S, OR THAT WE LIVE A WORLD WHERE MALE NUDY—FULL-ONTAL, PORN, TUMBLR GUYS PLEASURG THEMSELV EVERY WAY POSSIBLE—IS AVAILABLE 24/7, WAS THAT FACEBOOK (WHICH HAS SCE ISSUED AN APOLOGY FOR THE LETN), AND PERHAPS A WHOLE GENERATN, MISSED THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BURT REYNOLDS’ BEEFKE SHOT WAS MEANT FOR TO LOOK AT—ALL OF . AND NOT PRIVATE. IT WAS A CELEBRATN OF THE MALE FORM AS OBJECTIVY, LIKE SO MANY WOMEN BEFORE AND AFTER HIM. FOR GAY KIDS LIKE ME, WAS THE TURNG POT ACCEPTG OUR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I’D LIKE TO SAY THAT BURT REYNOLDS MA ME GAY, BUT I ALREADY KNEW THAT. WHAT THAT PHOTO DID, AND A SIAR SHOT OF HIM OM BEHD AND NAKED OM THE WAIST DOWN, HOLDG A FOOTBALL, AND, Y, ALSO SG, IS MAKE ME KNOW WAS OKAY TO LT AFTER MEN, BEEFY MEN WHO ULD BE OUR NEIGHBOR’S DAD OR THE LOL SPORTS ACH OR THE TO-SHOP {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}DID I MENTN HE WAS SG?UNED ARTISTS/GETTYBURT REYNOLDS ONT OF LOCKER A SCENE OM THE FILM 'FUZZ', 1972. (PHOTO BY UNED ARTISTS/GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BURT REYNOLDS THE FILM FUZZ (1972).{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN 1972, WHEN THE LAYOUT APPEARED, MOST GAY KIDS HAD NO ROURC TO EXPLORE OUR SEXUAL URG, SAVE SNEAKG A PEEK AT THE LIFEGUARD AT THE POOL OR PUTTG UP ROCK STARS POSTERS ON OUR BEDROOM WALL—NOT SO MUCH BEE WE LOVED THE BAND, BUT BEE THEY ALL TEND TO WEAR TIGHT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BURT CHANGED ALL OF THAT, BEE THERE HE WAS—HIS LAYOUT MA TO POSTERS AND DISPLAYED EVERYWHERE, A MAJOR MOVIE STAR SAYG ’S OKAY, AND WELE, TO GAWK AT MEN UNABASHEDLY. THERE’S NOTHG THREATENG HIS POSE, THERE ARE NO SECRETS HIS EY. THERE ARE NO CLU THAT SAY, “IF YOU’RE A GUY AND LOOKG AT THIS, FUCK OFF.” UNTENTNALLY OR NOT, HE’S GIVG MEN THE SAME EE PASS AS WOMEN TO ENJOY HIM. HE’S SUBMISSIVE. AND THAT’S ABOUT AS GAY AS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GRANTED, WASN’T LIKE I ULD E MY ALLOWANCE TO BUY A POSTER OF BURT’S RRIèRE AND SHARE AMONG IENDS, AND I DID THE SAME THG MOST GAY KIDS DID: I WENT TO THE STORE AND SUALLY STARED AT BURT’S POSTERS WHILE PRETENDG TO BE TERTED THE LATT BLACK-LIGHT IMAG THAT WERE ALL THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT THE ORIGAL LAYOUT WAS FOR COSMO, A WOMEN’S MAGAZE, AND NSIRED PART OF THEIR SEXUAL LIBERATN. BUT WASN’T LOST ON THE GAY LIBERATN TAKG PLACE AT THE SAME TIME.SILVER SCREEN COLLECTN/GETTYAMERIN ACTOR BURT REYNOLDS SS ON THE SHOULRS OF -STAR RONNY COX A SWIMMG POOL, DURG THE FILMG OF 'DELIVERANCE', CIR 1972. JON VOIGHT IS JT VISIBLE ON THE RIGHT. (PHOTO BY SILVER SCREEN COLLECTN/GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BURT REYNOLDS SS AND DELIVERANCE -STAR RONNY COX {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}POST-STONEWALL AND POST-THE ADVOTE, THE GAY LOOK WAS BURT’S LOOK—DARK, HAIRY, MTACHED—WELL, BUTCH—AND YOU ULD SEE OTHER GAY-CELEBRATED CELEBRI, TOO. SWIMMER MARK SPZ, WHOSE BATHG SU POSTER ALSO ME OUT 1972, LOOKED LIKE EVERY PORN STAR ROLLED TO ONE. A YEAR LATER WE’D BE H WH LEE MAJORS THE SIX MILLN DOLLAR MAN, SOON SAM ELLTT LIFEGUARD, LEADG UP TO A CELEBRATN OF THE FORM THE EXCSIVELY GAY VILLAGE PEOPLE TUNE “MACHO MAN” {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN 1973, PLAYGIRL FORMED, THE FIRST OPPORTUNY FOR KIDS OF MY GENERATN TO ACTUALLY SEE MEN FULLY NAKED. (Y, I HAD TO H THE DGSTORE AND HI THE PI BETWEEN OTHER MAGAZ AND PRAY NO ONE UGHT ON.) WHILE PLAYGIRL WAS TEND FOR WOMEN, THE MEN SI WERE, BY ALL ACUNTS, ADORED BY A LARGELY GAY DIENCE. IN A SENSE, THE MOLS WERE BURT’S PROTéGéS, ALLOWG TO SEE EVERYTHG—THE DIFFERENCE BEG THAT THEY WERE HIDN AN ADULT MAGAZE, SECRETIVE, WHILE BURT’S IMAG WERE PLASTERED SHOPPG MALLS ACROSS THE UNED STAT. EVERYONE WAS EE TO HAVE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BURT REYNOLDS WAS A MAJOR MOVIE STAR, WHO MA DOZENS OF H FILMS, SOME OF THEM GREAT, SOME OF THEM NOT. TO RCE HIS LEGACY TO TILLATG PHOTOS IS NOT MY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT EVERY TIME I SAW HIM A FLICK AFTER 1972, I HAD THOSE IMAG MY MD. I WAS WATCHG A MAN, A HEARTTHROB, WHO WAS LOOKG BACK AT MY CHILDHOOD SELF, SG, AND SAYG, “GO AHEAD, TAKE A PEEK. THERE’S NOTHG WRONG WH GETTG EXCED BY A MAN.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

And that’s about as gay as gets. Granted, wasn’t like I uld e my allowance to buy a poster of Burt’s rrière and share among iends, and I did the same thg most gay kids did: I went to the store and sually stared at Burt’s posters while pretendg to be terted the latt black-light imag that were all the should also be noted that the origal layout was for Cosmo, a women’s magaze, and nsired part of their sexual liberatn. But wasn’t lost on the gay liberatn takg place at the same Reynolds ss and Deliverance -star Ronny Cox and post-The Advote, the gay look was Burt’s look—dark, hairy, mtached—well, butch—and you uld see other gay-celebrated celebri, too.

A year later we’d be h wh Lee Majors The Six Milln Dollar Man, soon Sam Elltt Lifeguard, leadg up to a celebratn of the form the excsively gay Village People tune “Macho Man” 1973, Playgirl formed, the first opportuny for kids of my generatn to actually see men fully naked. ) While Playgirl was tend for women, the men si were, by all acunts, adored by a largely gay dience.

Is Mark Spz Gay? Earlier the week Ian Thorpe's father revealed he had no ia his son was gay and was shocked he cid to e out on natnal Thorpe said the Olympic swimmg champn had the love and support of his fay after Ian opened up to them two weeks before the terview wh Sir Michael Parkson was rerd.

MARK SPZ SAYS IAN THORPE WOULD HAVE BROKEN MORE RERDS IF HE ME OUT AS GAY EARLIER

' 'Are you gay? His father Ken Thorpe revealed he had no ia his son was gay before Ian told fay and iends two weeks before he me out on televisn The 31-year-old revealed that he 'is a gay man' durg his pellg terview wh Sir Michael Parkson on Sunday night, puttg an end to years of speculatn about his sexual said his son had been good spirs sce the terview aired and that even his iends had revealed 'he has been really good to be around'.

Known as the the Thorpedo durg his stellar reer, Thorpe smashed 22 world rerds and along the way won five gold, three silver and one bronze Olympic medalsIt has sce emerged that Thorpe nsired g out before the Sydney 2000 Olympics but cid to put off the announcement bee uld affect his sponsorship 2000 Thorpe had an anonymo phone nference ll wh Canadian swimmer Mark Tewksbury, who had e out 1998 and warned Thorpe of the fancial nsequenc, The Sydney Morng Herald nversatn was set up after the head of Swimmg Atralia, the late Terry Gatherle, anised for Thorpe to talk to openly gay solicor John Marsn, who then set up the phone ll wh Tewksbury.

'You've always said that you're not gay.

IAN THORPE MIGHT HAVE BEEN GREATER STILL IF HE HAD E OUT AS GAY, SAYS MARK SPZ

I didn't want to be gay.

I was still gay at the end of the day. I'm fortable sayg I'm a gay man. 'Part of me didn't know if Atralia wanted s champn to be gay.