All images on this site and associated platforms (Flickr, Tumblr, Facebook) are the property of This is Oz and cannot be used for commercial purposes.
Everyone who has submitted an image to This is Oz has given us permission to use it on this site and associated platforms.
Please respect those giving us permission to use their image by always acknowledging the source i.e. referencing This is Oz and the website www.thisisoz.com.au.
If you have an older browser (like Internet Explorer 6) or you're on a slower internet connection check us out on flickr instead.
| An International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) initiative in partnership with: |
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 7:11PM
Reader Comments (19)
This is a great, positive, fantastic project. Great work guys! The photos are fab! x
matt mitcham is definately an idol of mine. what a legend.
Go MM!
Chris, London UK
Thanks Matt, you are def someone to be proud of and proud!!
Thats so sweet babe.... and I wouldnt have it any other way. Love you xx
Matthew, you're a legend. Keep up the good work! What a fantastic role model for young people.
Matt you are awesome (and cute as)!! good on you!!
aww @ your mum's comment :) I wish my mum was that proud!
Matthew, I've admired you for quite a while now but I have to say I think I'm now in love with Vivienne your mum :-)
Keep up the good work x
I recently had the pleasure of meeting both Matthew and his mother. Matthew's mother is just as sweet as Matthew and is so supportive of him. They make a great pair.
thanks! :)
lets write them until the admit it, or stop doing it! i am writing them now!
:)
HOT! come visit Dubbo
Matthew, you have also been one of my amazing role models. You show me to be comfortable with the skin I'm in, and to not be brought down by other people's opinions.
Matty you make me proud to be gay and proud to be australian thx sooooooooo much
Hey there Matt. I am extremely proud of you because you are honest. Not only that, you came out & your mother is there to support you no matter what. You are a role model for young gay people & also you are a beautiful human being. Keep up the good work.
If you ever read this, your honesty & courage, as well as your athletic achievements, have been such a source of inspiration to me. :) You are incredible. Thank you so much for everything you have done for this cause.
Matt, more than any other Australian athlete, you've made me so proud to be Australian. You're a fantastic role model for all Australians to be true to yourself and out and proud. And snaps to Vivienne - you rock!
Aw, so cute! :D
Congratulations Matthew you are a true champion and not only in your chosen sport. Your triumph over personal issues and your determination to be who you really are is an inspiration to all. Young Australians are fortunate to have such a fine example of humanity as you. In admiration Bill S
That statement could not be any closer to the truth - IT IS - Matt's parent who are responsible for the way he turned out - not his genes! Like me, Matt is gay because of what his parents did - and didn't do. I know my attraction to the same sex has much of its roots in my total lack of emotional connection to my mum as a very small child. When I am attracted to another woman it is always someone who is very much like my mum was - I am trying to get what I did not get as that small child - and they are always someone who has attributes that I feel I am lacking in - that's why I feel "complete" when I am with them and only half a person when I am not - as a little girl I was never affirmed as being worthy or good enough in what and who I was - a little girl - not from what my parents said but rather what they didnt say - so I grew up always looking to make up for the "femaleness" that I fel I was lacking in - throw in there being sexually abused by a male between the ages of 6 and 12 and multiple other bad experiences with males - and you can start to see the reasons why normal heterosexual development did not take place in me but rather the development of same sex attraction - it hardly had the right circumstances to develop. Don't you agree? A cake wont turn out how it is supposed to if you don't put in the right ingredients.