“I was petrified to go back” Michael Gunning states Commonwealth Games should do more for LGBT rights
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Michael Gunning
Michael Gunning, a former Team GB swimmer, called on the Commonwealth Games to do more to advance LGBTQ+ rights in participating nations as he described his “petrifying” the first trip back to Jamaica after coming out as homosexual. Gunning, a former swimmer who gave up swimming earlier this year to support the cause of equality in sports, claimed the occasion should have done more to advance the cause internationally.
“I definitely think there’s more to be done. Moving forward, the Commonwealth Games can hopefully reach out to some very big organizations and governing bodies around the world and push for change,” said Gunning, who is an ambassador for Pride House, a place of safety for LGBT athletes at international sporting events.
Gunning traveled to Jamaica as part of Tom Daley’s documentary, Tom Daley: Illegal to Be Me, exposing homophobia in Commonwealth nations, which will air on the BBC the following week. In Jamaica, same-sex partnerships are punished by imprisonment, and vigilante beatings are permitted.
“I was petrified to go back. I had to wear a bit of a disguise because I didn’t want anyone to see me as the Jamaican international swimmer who shouldn’t be representing his country because of his sexuality,” Gunning, a dual citizen who has represented Jamaica and Great Britain throughout his professional life, stated.
“I got so many comments from people saying I bring shame on the country and that I should have carried on representing Great Britain. That was so hard to hear, so to go back, I was really scared about what people would say. I just tried to keep my head down.”
Gunning wants to go back, so that he can bring a change
Gunning claimed that prior to coming out as gay in 2018, he would travel to his own country “two or three times a year” to visit family. However, since then, he has not done so. “I knew that returning with Tom, we could really make a difference and get to the root of what was happening out there,” he said. “I’m really happy I went and faced those battles. I’ll definitely go out more again to help try to create that change.”
Gunning competed in two World Championships and broke the freestyle and butterfly national records for Jamaica, but in May he made the decision to give up swimming in order to “make sport equitable for all”. Instead of competing at the Commonwealth Games this year, he is speaking internally at the Sandwell Aquatics Centre and working with Pride House to support athletes. 35 of the 56 Commonwealth member nations have anti-homosexual laws, and Gunning acknowledged that it was “absolutely terrifying” to represent a nation where being oneself was prohibited.
“I feel as if you’re always waiting for somebody to make a comment, or you’re anxious about making the team and wondering if you’ll still go as far in your career as you hope to,” he said. “You always have that fear in your mind”.
“Even now I’m hosting in front of 2,500 spectators from all different countries and I’m a bit anxious about how I might be perceived because I know not everyone will like me for who I am and my sexuality”. “I just really feel for the athletes and that’s why I’m pushing it so much. I really want to try to pave the way for future athletes so it isn’t an issue in the future.” Gunning said.
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