Russell Mark furious he can’t room with his wife when “tons” of gay couples can room together at the upcoming Olympics in London
“The stupid part of this, which I have argued to them, is that there are tons of gay couples on the Olympic team who will be rooming together, so we are being discriminated against because we are heterosexual… I am very frustrated because in sport there are a lot of same sex couples and its OK to be partners with someone of the same sex but if you are heterosexual you are penalised.”
Australian Olympic shooter Russell Mark, upset that he can’t room with his wife and fellow shooter Lauryn at the London Olympic Village, leaving the world wondering where those “tons” of gay Olympian couples might be. He later noted to Australia’s Herald Sun, after calming down,
“The decision has been made and we have got to move on…. We have done a deal. I can’t say I will stay in my room but did they really expect that. Seriously, [AOC chef de mission] Nick Green has been to enough Olympics. He knows what happens.”
Of his comment about gay Olympian couples, he noted,
“It wasn’t an anti-gay comment by any means. I was using the comment that if you were gay and Michael Diamond [his scheduled Olympic roomate] and myself were gay then no one would have cared less…. That was the analogy, but if people take it the wrong way there is nothing I can do about that. I apologise if it went the wrong way. I heard [openly gay Australian diver] Matty Mitcham took it the wrong way, but it was not a crack at him by any means.“
Photo: Michael Dodge/Herald Sun
Support Metro Weekly’s Journalism
These are challenging times for news organizations. And yet it’s crucial we stay active and provide vital resources and information to both our local readers and the world. So won’t you please take a moment and consider supporting Metro Weekly with a membership? For as little as $5 a month, you can help ensure Metro Weekly magazine and MetroWeekly.com remain free, viable resources as we provide the best, most diverse, culturally-resonant LGBTQ coverage in both the D.C. region and around the world. Memberships come with exclusive perks and discounts, your own personal digital delivery of each week’s magazine (and an archive), access to our Member's Lounge when it launches this fall, and exclusive members-only items like Metro Weekly Membership Mugs and Tote Bags! Check out all our membership levels here and please join us today!
