I've been getting a huge number of hits on my blog from people trying to find out if Mary Carillo, the CBS tennis commentator, is lesbian, married or divorced, or transgender. I see nothing to indicate she is lesbian (and I spend a fair amount of time with lesbians. My sister (and sister-in-law) is lesbian.). Carillo is certainly not transgender. As far as I can tell, she is just a divorced mother of two, who is an assertive, excellent television commentator. She won't play the meek, deferential to men, role with her colleagues. That does not make her, or any woman, a lesbian.
25 comments:
I was wondering the same thing last night as I watched real sports. She certainly comes across as a lesbian with limited make-up, low style haircut and you always see her in a pants suit. If she is not a les then she certainly can be mistaken for one. It doesn't change my opinion of her either way I think she is great at what she does and may God bless her. Lesbian or not!!!
There are far more straight women who dress that way than lesbians. And I know plenty of lesbians who are quite comfortable in skirts, heels, and significant make-up.
Carillo's mode of dress indicates nothing as to her sexual orientation.
Caprice,
That's just not quite true. Naturally, there are more straight women who dress in pantsuits than there are lesbians who do so. But this should come as no surprise, given that straight women outnumber lesbian women by a large percentage. Logically, therefore, many more straight women (in terms of raw numbers) would be expected to wear pantsuits.
The question really has to do with percentages. What percentage of straight women wear pantsuits vs. the percentage of lesbians who generally do? Compounded with what percentage of women sports commentators are lesbians, are assertive, etc. (and any of the other qualities Ms. Carillo possesses).
By the way, I'm a huge fan of Mary, and find her both insightful and intelligent. And there's nothing wrong with women in pantsuits, obviously. But choice in clothing attire can often be influenced by many things, including sexual preference.
It seems what you're getting at is that if she were straight she wouldn't dress in such a stereotypically lesbian fashion, because she wouldn't want people to think she's gay. Maybe she just doesn't care what people think.
Does her sexuality change her accomplishments?
Does who she may have an intimate relationship with cloud your opinion of her as a sport's commentator?
Well actually it may unfortunately in this homophobic country of ours were jobs and careers are hurt some permanently harmed by such a personal question!!
What business is it of any adult who another adult may share a loving relationship with?
Who cares about her sexuality. What I would like to do is eliminate her from the airwaves for being a disrespectful (of tennis) motormouth who cannot be made to SHUT UP--even during points. It's crazy-making! I have to turn the sound off! Shut up, Mary!
freedom of speech, baby, allows her to say what she wants to say and you to say what you want to say. frankly, i'd rather hear what mary has to say.
she rox!
I just assumed she was a lesbian and haven't given another thought to it. Kind of like Jodie Foster or Ellen DeGeneres, when they finally did come out the news hit with a resounding "duh!" from most people.
Has Jodie Foster ever really come out? I don't know. But unlike Foster and DeGeneris, Carillo did live as hetero. She was married for quite some time. This doesn't mean wasn't bisexual. Or she may have realized she was bi or gay at some point. But I see no evidence of that.
I think most people only know her from her career as a broadcaster. But I remember her from before that, when she was a tennis player.
She is definitely one of the funniest people in the business of sports. I'm really enjoying her Olympic Specials between events.
The sports world is lucky to have her. Anyone who doesn't get her didn't come equipped with a sense of humor. That's all.
I agree. Watching her pretending to eat the scorpion was hilarious.
It's a man, baby!
Absolutely not. She has given birth to two children.
As I said before, I've been familiar with her career for many years, long before she became a broadcaster. She won the French Open mixed doubles with John McEnroe in 1977.
Just been watching the ozzie open and she is terrible. You can tell the other commentators don't like her especially P Mac. She takls over everybody and finds herself a lot funnier than anyone else does
I know Mary and her girlfriend Sarah and their combined family (total of four gorgeous kids 11-20 years old I'm thinking) and you could not ask for a better family blend. Mary is most definitely a woman as you proclaimed Caprice as she has given birth to two of four. Sarah gave birth to other two with her ex hsuband. I never wanted to be rude and ask if the second (younger) two children were theirs togehter, but it does seem that way. This is the most delighful family I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. Polite children and excellent parents and so who cares that they happen to be Two Mommies? Mary travels wihle Sarah takes care of children. Mary's older two are in college or almost in college. Works out wonderfully well for them. I think the world of them and that's why I'm void of some detials becaues I would never insult their parenting by asking rude questions. But yes, Mary is a woman thru and thru and has life partner, female youngish looking woman. Very admirable couple and family.
I have no way to verify if any of the above is true. "Timqueenie" just joined Blogger today--apparently in order to post this comment.
BTW, Timqueenie, giving birth, or having the ability to do so, does not make one a woman.
Even considering the gender binary as spectrum, Caprice, one could validly assert that giving birth is clear evidence that a person either is (or once identified as) a woman. Perhaps Timqueenie was only (unnecessarily) verifying that Ms. Carillo is not someone who transitioned to her current identity.
I'm not sure Thomas Beattie or Scott Moore, or any of the dozens of other men who have given birth, ever identified as women. I repeat, giving birth is not evidence of a person's gender.
Mary Carillo is a neighbor of mine in NYC. She is a class act and has the intestinal fortitude to tell it like it is when nost who work in her field are too worried about hurting feelings. She is the bravest person I know and there have been rumors about her sexuality and allegedly ebing a lesbian. I do not know if the rumors are true or doI care. All I can say (as a man) that if I was a woman I would be a lesbian. That being said I hope that she continues to be the BEST sportscater in the world (man or woman) and continues to be as beautiful as she is inside as well as out. Love you Mary C.
Yours, CS
Not that it much matters, but yes, she is. If she were born a male figure skater her name would be Johnny Weir, if she were a male comic book character, her name would be the human torch and her favorite saying would be "flame on". She is the prototypical bear. She has taken a decidely masculine persona and here is the litmus test for homosexuality, does that person if male act more feminine than a woman, if lesbian act more masculine than a male. What I've noticed about homosexuaity is that some individuals go out of their way to denounce gender roles, yet they go out of their way portray a particular "gender role", kind of ironic if you ask me.
Sorry Woody, but you don't know what you're talking about. You are totally confusing gender expression and sexual orientation. I know lesbians who are totally feminine (they're called femmes) and gay men who are extremely masculine.
Sexual orientation is solely a question of what type of person one is attracted to.
Regardless of her sexual preferences, Mary has a grating habit of starting a sentence with either a pronoun or no subject at all, then adding it at the end, sort of like this: "He just hit an amazing backhand down the line -- Federer." She does it constantly - over and over with various permutations. Then, without realizing it, Dick Enberg or Johnny Mac start doing the same thing. But she started it. All she would need to do it THINK for a second and start the sentence with the player's name. Really annoying habit. It's almost Yoda-like the way she talks - Carillo.
You know I don't care if Mary Carillo is a chimpanzee. I met her many years ago when I was representing Venus and Serena and their family. She was warm, sincere, fun and she remembered everyone's name no matter who they were. She is the best as an announcer, she is knowledgeable, funny, her comments mirror my thoughts on integrity and hard work. So find something else to talk about like what a pro and apparently wonderful person she is...and I have lots of lesbian friends...they are great...I wear pantsuits occasionally....and I am straight!! Sally sullivan
I am a straight as you can get 80 year old male.In my lifetime,both personal and professional I have worked,socialized with women who were lesbian.I did so in a supervisory position and in a employee position.These women were intelligent,career oriented,and efficient.
The comments in the postings concerning Mary Carillo read like "high school sleepover"
Get your heads out of the 7-11 check out line.Learn how to learn about people you are talking about.Then perhaps your comments would have substanance.
I think people are so quick to judge. She is a human being! 100% Woman and great at her job. You keep up the great work Mary! Who gives a crap whether she is straight or gay?
Post a Comment