OK this to me is great news! Sports Illustrated, Queer Athletes (I say that with complete and utter affection) AND China!
Come on! It's Sports Illustrated! The male sport magazine that still produces the "Swim Suit" edition to it's subscribers. The Playboy version of women in sexually provocative "swim" attire.
The male-bonding magazine that covered football, basketball, baseball as if they were the ONLY sports being played and only played by "real" men.
That was before audience interests and profit making ads actually opened their minds and eyes to the new and potentially profitable markets of not only other sports, but women as well.
But today I learned that CHINA is now setting the pace for welcoming the LGBT market onto the front cover of their magazine.
A HUGE 3-part article introducing China to sports connection to the LGBT Athlete. The LGBT athlete has been around about as long as sports has really. I mean, come on, the original Olympic Greek athletes competed in the nude! In front of an all male audience...Paa-lease!
Kudos to China and the Editors of Sports Illustrated and the Sales & Marketing teams that realize that not only are there great LGBT athletes, but there is a HUGE audience who wants to read about them and see all the ads that come along side.
I know it is business that is leading the charge, but for once I am in total agreement.
One step forward to acceptance and appreciation. Maybe even one step closer to the realization that someone could be gay and still be a great athlete, person, friend, neighbor and role-model!
No comments:
Post a Comment