“I actually quit the tour shortly after I came out because I couldn't handle mentally and emotionally what that was like."
A few years ago, I got pitchforked by social media mobs for questioning the validity of one-event world titles, with reference to Keala Kennelly’s big-wave crown, particularly since she didn’t make a wave in the final and there were only ten other competitors in the event.
I did forget what year I’m in and that any sort of critique is hate and so on, particularly if the person is female or gay.
To question someone who is both, even if the issue has nothing to do with gender or sexing, is suicidal.
It was enough to trigger some sort of sad feeling, if I was open to these sorts of things.
“I had just all this internalized homophobia and self-hatred for being gay,” Kennelly says. “I was living this double life because on tour, I was pretending to be straight. I’m just a really honest person, I’m a really genuine, authentic person. So, to feel like I was living this lie was just crushing my soul and after so many years of that, it was just, “I can’t do this anymore, this is actually going to kill me if I can’t live my truth.” It got to a point where I didn’t care what the cost was, I couldn’t live like this.”
Kennelly says that it was “not okay to be a lesbian” and that if you did prefer shaved babylike snatches to rock-and-cock Tom Selleck lookalikes it was “career suicide.”
“So when I got on the tour, I was so freaking nervous because I inherently knew I was gay. So, I was absolutely terrified and I spent the majority of my time on the pro circuit in the closet and just completely terrified to come out — completely terrified to get outed, that I was going to lose my sponsors.”
In 2005, when Kennelly, aged twenty-seven, eventually came out she “faced a wave of homophobia from companies and other surfers that eventually led her to leave the sport.”
“I actually quit the tour shortly after I came out because I couldn’t handle mentally and emotionally what that was like. Then I had a few sponsors drop me and so, that was just more confirmation that it wasn’t okay. I left the tour because, emotionally and mentally, I just couldn’t handle it.”
Times change, of course, and Kennelly notes the world champ Tyler Wright wears a contest jersey with a gay flag.
“It makes me really happy that athletes are not having a struggle as I did,” says Kennelly. ” She came out and her sponsor didn’t drop her, they’re still supporting her. So, it’s really nice to see that attitude change.”
Incredibly, in the forty-six years since the men’s tour has been around, not one active male pro has admitted to being a barebacking queen.
(Yeah, Matt Branson, but for his time on tour he was played as super straight, eating out chicks in the Bells Beach carpark etc, as reported by Paul Sargeant.”
Is their gayness not real?
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Her surfing in the Snapper comp was downright embarrassing
Surfer boys have always used a manly boardshort “hug” as a disguised homoerotic act… only a surfer knows the feeling, yeah?
Ya, there was something comical about Italo and Gabby’s dueling aggressive haircuts. In Make or Break Italo even claimed he was going to intimidate his opponents with it. Laughing about it is still different than hating on it. Watching those two flex on social media (literally and figuratively) in the lead up to the finals was entertaining.
I’m a fan of the Wright’s surfing: Owen’s back hand snap, Tyler’s power wraps, and Mikey’s full send airs. Interesting there’s pockets where people don’t like them. Understandable here at BG, where liking anything is strictly taboo. But ya, remember when when Taj and Parko copied Mikey’s Mullet? Seemed like all of Australia was throwing Mullet vibes for a minute back then.
Full send. That term really gaslights me and is a total trigger that makes me feel like I need a thorough greenwash
I’m glad someone called out that lazy attempt to describe Mikey’s airs (there’s no worse look than an old guy, like myself, throwing around lame youth slang). Mikey’s airs are more full throttle anyway. If you need a good greenwash buy some of Kelly’s clothing, I hear it will make you a walking talking environmental safe space.
Sofia won in ’04, you left the tour in ’05 afraid to come out? The maths don’t add up.
“I’m the only gay in the village!”
Not to worry KK, if the evagelists qop gets their way, back in the closet you go. Can’t have any of that in the grand theocratic plans.
evagelist lol
Opps, you are right ‘fake evangelists’ or ‘fake christians’ would have been better.
My uncle did the same thing. He stayed in the closest because it he was worried about loosing his job. He came out when he got cancer and had to retire.
Bit of a wild exaggeration – everyone knew she was gay, few people on or off the tour cared (?)
Surely there is gayness at BG.
BeachGrindr?
Jesus wept! Another gay KK-story warmed up again. Get up to date man. Write about the relationships, partners and spouses on tour at the moment. That was really interesting on make or break as everyone can relate, I think. Sarge is old news. What’s up with JMP?
Poor white privilege gay surfers.. really?
Bummer for her that she’s had personal problems, and maybe that’s something associated with her odd behaviour in the booth at the Pipe (non)Masters comp this year.
P.S.
Or she was just playing Brucies crystal flute with Kaipo between heats…
I can empathise with Keala. Some of the chicks I’ve fucked were so ugly I felt gay.
I was thinking the same thing
Anbody mention Kai Lenny?
Got that vibe
🎯
Yeah I think it was the aggressive hair cut and resting bitch face that ostracised her rather than her sexuality.
Italo and Gabby got identical aggressive haircuts for finals, nobody seemed bothered. Mikey Wright went aggressive with his mullet and it seemed like an entire country copied him. Also funny how if a man has resting bitch face he’s perceived as tough and cool.
Sounds like you’re saying Keala only got dropped for her sexuality which is pretty crook in this day and age mate. I am surprised to see homophobia at BeachGrit. Just awful.
I have no idea what you’re talking about. The only sense I can make of your reply is it’s a strange attempt at gaslighting.
That term gaslighting gets thrown around a bit. Netflix generation.
Gotta be careful that one doesn’t set one’s underpants on fire when lighting gas.
Good fun however.
More or less dangerous than spitting the winkle?
I’d guess; less.
Ya it does get thrown around a lot. Surprisingly a lot of people actually do it too. I probably could have skipped trying describe your nonsensical reply though. Then again, if a lot of people are telling you you’re gaslighting, there might be something to it.
Gaslighting, mansplaining, ghosting, canceling, greenwashing etc…I don’t know what any of that shit means but it all sounds pretty poof to me…not that there’s anything wrong with that other than being really lame
You need to come to the good ‘ole USA, especially around my parts. It’s diff out west and in areas like New England, but there is whole swath of this country aka the bible belt that is nowhere near on board with gays.
Cum round your parts?
Not in public. Get locked up for indecency.
They sure would like to lock you up for being gay
I wish I had that as another option to be honest. Life would’ve been 50% more exciting.
It kinda comes with the territory though.
I’m just envious that she gets to actually go surfing and still has hair. Bitch.
I mean, Butch.
“It was enough to trigger some sort of sad feeling, if I was open to these sorts of things.”
Would you consider yourself a sociopath Dez?
I thought that was vintage, genius Dez.
I’m torn by the suggestion of making a rainbow Hurluley sticker because I don’t want to make that part of a joke.
Are you having a laugh? Take your place next to the rainbow Blundstone good sir.
If I felt like spending (or if I could spend) $200 for a tongue in cheek statement I would consider wearing those boots resolutely with jeans rolled up.
On the other hand, an earnest rainbow Hurluley sticker could enjoy pride of place on my car window. No problem.
I knew it.
I suppose Hurluley could just sponsor a trans surfer.
They used to be a skater?
Hurluley is the epitome of inclusivity.
I thought so, thanks for confirming.
I guess. I didn’t think that Transworld Surfing was still being published.
Surfing World is still being published
OK, chew on this for a few minutes and let me know how it tastes.
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Edit: 8 hours later, not a single upvote, so clearly a winner as even too hardcore for BG!
I can see shapes in there crying out for transform flip horizontal.
mmmm yeah. I understand. Thanks. good idea.
It kinda isn’t the logo any more then.
But I’ll knock one out and see how it flies.
EDIT: see above
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Ha!
I think you mean this: https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Well played. Nice work.
Here you go. A couple of options
The logo doesn’t flip to really make a heart, ‘naturally’.
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
That’s a little more high-brow than what I was thinking, but appreciate the effort.
This works
Of course tomboys (manly lesbians) are going to rip at women’s surfing… until trans men dominate the women’s tour.
Where are ya PMW?
Your keyboard would be look’en like a plasters radio after that read??
Your infatuation with gay people would suggest it would be your keyboard that would need a deep clean.
It’s more a fetish than an infatuation, khent
Dont be mean to Derek.