[The Penguin]

I'm not saying he had to come out, I can understand why in the world of rugby he might have felt pressured to stay in the closet but to go as far as marrying a woman is just wrong. You don't HAVE to marry a woman to prove you aren't gay. That's no excuse. He basically ruined someones life by faking a marriage. He could have simply not told people he is gay. Getting married isn't a necessary step to hide your sexuality. He is basically a selfish person. None of the other housemates apart from maybe Natasha had done anything that bad. People seem to forget that.

[Bluerang1]

I guess.

[daniel-lewis-1985]

Originally Posted by The Penguin

I'm not saying he had to come out, I can understand why in the world of rugby he might have felt pressured to stay in the closet but to go as far as marrying a woman is just wrong. You don't HAVE to marry a woman to prove you aren't gay. That's no excuse. He basically ruined someones life by faking a marriage. He could have simply not told people he is gay. Getting married isn't a necessary step to hide your sexuality. He is basically a selfish person. None of the other housemates apart from maybe Natasha had done anything that bad. People seem to forget that.

He got married because he thought he could "change" and wanted to be normal ie: get married to a woman and have kids.

It wasnt selfish it was desperation.

He did not ruin his wifes life and they are still best friends.

[Jords]

Maybe he didnt know? Thought he was bi? Couldnt seperate immense love of his friendship with her and romantic feelings? Thought he could change? Became gay?

[joeysteele]

Many gay men, particularly in Sport or the public eye marry as only a cover in the main.In the end it clearly cannot work and eventually they have to let their true leanings be known.

It is not wrong though to attempt to appear to have that heterosexual lifestyle but once they realise it is not for them then the trauma to set the record straight must be immense.
Understanding and support is what's needed and clearly Gareth rightly had both once he needed it.

[daniel-lewis-1985]

You have to be selfish sometimes aswell if it means being happy

[Locke.]

Don't know, watch his movie that's coming out staring Mickey Rourke and I guess we'll find out - http://www.mirror.co.uk/mobile/topsp...5875-23595962/

Filming or anything hasn't started yet, would be pretty good if his Big Brother experience was involved somehow, but I guess it will end just after he comes out

[The Penguin]

Originally Posted by Locke.

Don't know, watch his movie that's coming out staring Mickey Rourke and I guess we'll find out - http://www.mirror.co.uk/mobile/topsp...5875-23595962/

Filming or anything hasn't started yet, would be pretty good if his Big Brother experience was involved somehow, but I guess it will end just after he comes out

I think I'll pass

[aj2463]

I've been thinking the same. Yes it was hard for him and yes he was brave to come out but no one thinks about his ex-wife even if they are still friends, they went out since high school, its a long time to then turn around and say I'm gay.

[The Penguin]

and coming out at the end of his career isn't exactly as inspiring as coming out during his career
he didn't exactly play that many games as an openly gay player
if some young up and coming rugby player is gay, he isn't exactly going to be instilled with confidence by Gareth coming out when he was an established popular successful player at the end of his career
I think he's a fraud who is given too much credit simply because he's an openly gay rugby player

[daniel-lewis-1985]

Originally Posted by The Penguin

and coming out at the end of his career isn't exactly an inspiring as coming out during his career
he didn't exactly play that many games as an openly gay player
if some young up and coming rugby player is gay, he isn't exactly going to be instilled with confidence by Gareth coming out when he was an established popular successful player at the end of his career
I think he's a fraud who is given too much credit simply because he's an openly gay rugby player

You just answered your own question in relation to him not coming out sooner due to his career.

Hes not a fraud and his wife loves him as does everyone around him even the housemates who leave all say they want him to win.

I dont think he would really give a **** what you think, hes happy and can finally be himself.

[MTVN]

Gareth's wife was thankful he told her when he did:

When Gareth told me he was gay, it felt like a complete catastrophe, as if my whole world had caved in. But I will always be grateful to him for telling me the truth when he did. He could have waited until I was 50 or 60, when it would have been very hard for me to start over on my own again. But he loved me so much he wanted me to have a second chance, while I was still young enough to take it.

http://sports.rightpundits.com/?p=5881

[iRyan]

My dad is gay and came out to my mom while they were married. So I understand where Gareth is coming from.

[pinkpanther]

in this case I am a feminist and my only sympathy is for the wife who didnt seem to know about all this and his boyfriends until the book came out. is a bi man cheating on his wife then releasing it in a serialisation of a book any better than a hetrosexual eprson cheating on his wife? is he that much different to tiger woods?

[daniel-lewis-1985]

Originally Posted by pinkpanther

in this case I am a feminist and my only sympathy is for the wife who didnt seem to know about all this and his boyfriends until the book came out. is a bi man cheating on his wife then releasing it in a serialisation of a book any better than a hetrosexual eprson cheating on his wife? is he that much different to tiger woods?

He is not bi he is gay and yes it is totally different.

[Ithinkiloveyoutoo]

My understanding is that he did love that woman (still in his life I think) and he didn't want to be gay. He thought the power of the pussy would stop him craving penis but it didn't.

Freddie mercury also married a woman before being fully gay and she remained his best friend till the end.

[boomoo]

Originally Posted by pinkpanther

in this case I am a feminist and my only sympathy is for the wife who didnt seem to know about all this and his boyfriends until the book came out. is a bi man cheating on his wife then releasing it in a serialisation of a book any better than a hetrosexual eprson cheating on his wife? is he that much different to tiger woods?

There is no real difference. The laws have all been changed so I dont see why people 'have to come out'. I dont want to know what other people are doing in their sexual life. Why do newspapers write as if it is some kind of scandal?

[daniel-lewis-1985]

Originally Posted by boomoo

There is no real difference. The laws have all been changed so I dont see why people 'have to come out'. I dont want to know what other people are doing in their sexual life. Why do newspapers write as if it is some kind of scandal?

People do have to come out to be able to live their lives normally. Its not just about sex, its about being honest with everyone about who you are.

[pinkpanther]

despite this I think alfie has overall been excellent and hes my second favourite to win behind the superstar michael madsen

[rSlavenx]

Don't think thats a fair argument. There could be many factors, he could have been confused, he could have been straight and started to think differently.

[Livia]

This thread says more about the immaturity of the original poster than it does about Gareth's sexuality and marriage. If you have to ask the question, you're not capable of understanding the answer.

[The Penguin]

Originally Posted by Livia

This thread says more about the immaturity of the original poster than it does about Gareth's sexuality and marriage. If you have to ask the question, you're not capable of understanding the answer.

What are you talking about? My comments are exactly what any reasonable person would say about this situation if it was an unknown person. Just because everyone like him and thinks he's a nice person, they aren't being objective.

If one of your friends told you about a gay person they work with doing the same thing as Gareth did - marrying a woman for 8 years, cheating on her and then making a hollywood film about it, what would your reaction be? I think it's fair to say that most people would see that as completely unacceptable behaviour. So why is there a different reaction for Gareth for doing the exact same thing? Just because you think he's lovely in the BB house? Someones behaviour over two weeks in a televised house is not a true reflection of their personality. Their major life decisions are a true indicator of their character. And on that basis, Gareth is a selfish image obsessed opportunist.

[HBB1508]

Originally Posted by The Penguin

What are you talking about? My comments are exactly what any reasonable person would say about this situation if it was an unknown person. Just because everyone like him and thinks he's a nice person, they aren't being objective.

If one of your friends told you about a gay person they work with doing the same thing as Gareth did - marrying a woman for 8 years, cheating on her and then making a hollywood film about it, what would your reaction be? I think it's fair to say that most people would see that as completely unacceptable behaviour. So why is there a different reaction for Gareth for doing the exact same thing? Just because you think he's lovely in the BB house? Someones behaviour over two weeks in a televised house is not a true reflection of their personality. Their major life decisions are a true indicator of their character. And on that basis, Gareth is a selfish image obsessed opportunist.

I actually work with a gay man who was married for over ten years and has three lovely children we have spoken in depth about what he went through trying to conform and being trapped living a lie just to please other people - I feel sorry that you think everything should be black and white in life. I have a lot of respect for what Gareth has done it takes guts to end a marriage and announce to the world you are gay (and worse if you are in the public eye and in a very "male" dominated profession). I don't find it unacceptable behaviour nor selfish - I just hope you never have to face a similar situation or if you do people aren't so judgemental about your actions.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by The Penguin

What are you talking about? My comments are exactly what any reasonable person would say about this situation if it was an unknown person. Just because everyone like him and thinks he's a nice person, they aren't being objective.

If one of your friends told you about a gay person they work with doing the same thing as Gareth did - marrying a woman for 8 years, cheating on her and then making a hollywood film about it, what would your reaction be? I think it's fair to say that most people would see that as completely unacceptable behaviour. So why is there a different reaction for Gareth for doing the exact same thing? Just because you think he's lovely in the BB house? Someones behaviour over two weeks in a televised house is not a true reflection of their personality. Their major life decisions are a true indicator of their character. And on that basis, Gareth is a selfish image obsessed opportunist.

No, it's what someone too young to understand the complexities of relationships and the acceptance of your own sexuality, whatever it may be, would say.

I have lots of gay friends. A couple of them were married, many of them had relationships with the opposite sex before they came out. I don't particularly think Gareth is lovely, I have no strong feelings about him either way. I do, however, think your wild summing up of his past garnered from the little bit you know about him shows you up to be very young, or very immature, or both. That's not a criticism, we were all naive once.

[daniel-lewis-1985]

Originally Posted by The Penguin

What are you talking about? My comments are exactly what any reasonable person would say about this situation if it was an unknown person. Just because everyone like him and thinks he's a nice person, they aren't being objective.

If one of your friends told you about a gay person they work with doing the same thing as Gareth did - marrying a woman for 8 years, cheating on her and then making a hollywood film about it, what would your reaction be? I think it's fair to say that most people would see that as completely unacceptable behaviour. So why is there a different reaction for Gareth for doing the exact same thing? Just because you think he's lovely in the BB house? Someones behaviour over two weeks in a televised house is not a true reflection of their personality. Their major life decisions are a true indicator of their character. And on that basis, Gareth is a selfish image obsessed opportunist.

Yes people do judge when they dont know all the facts...On this occasion though we are fully aware of the facts and his mwife has spoken out stating she is thankful he told her and they are still best friends so that should stop your irrational name calling in its tracks.

Unfortunatly some people (ahem you) will still judge the situation as if its black and white which is just wrong.