Olympic Coverage Criticized as Homophobic?

One of the most memorable moments of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio didn’t occur during an event. Instead, just after the women’s rugby event on Monday night, Brazil’s Isadora Cerullo’s partner, Marjorie Enya, surprised her with a proposal. As reported by CNN, Enya said in her emotional speech “I wanted to show people that love wins.” This magical moment is in contrast to some of the Olympic coverage criticized as not being inclusive.

In Brazil, gay marriage has been legal since 2013, but a proposal on such a globally-recognized stage, along with Enya’s invoking a phrase that exploded in popularity after the US Supreme Court’s ruling on marriage equality, certainly sends a powerful message to viewers around the world.

Olympic Coverage Criticized for Lack of Inclusion

Enya’s proposal was the first to occur during this year’s summer games. It also comes at a time when Olympic coverage criticized as homophobic by LGBT viewers. This has occurred after a series of missteps and, according to some, erasures. The criticism is especially true of the LGBT community in the United States.

First, NBC’s coverage of the men’s diving event failed to identify diver Tom Daley’s fiancé, Dustin Lance Black–Oscar-winning writer of the film Milk. This may not raise any immediate red flags, but deserves consideration.

Tom Daley, Olympic Champion, with financé, Oscar Winner Dustin Lance Black via Instagram

Slate magazine’s June Thomas put the network’s silence into perspective:

“Do you really think they wouldn’t point out a diver’s celebrity fiancée if it were Marion Cotillard, Brie Larson, or another Oscar winner?” Thomas continues, saying “You don’t have to be the kind of person who sees homophobia everywhere to think the commentators were reluctant to bring up a star athlete’s homosexuality.”

These concerns were seemingly justified with the broadcast of a women’s volleyball match between Brazil and the United States on Tuesday. After Brazil’s victory, the camera followed Larissa França back to the stands, where she hugged and kissed her wife. NBC’s Chris Marlowe’s remarks on the celebratory moment, however, were way off: “She gives a hug to Lili. That is her husband,” he said. “She married Lili in 2013.”

Larissa França left, her wife, Liliane Maestrini on right | image from The Advocate

Reactions to the statement ranged from confused to angry from openly-gay athletes and publications including OutSports, but NBC did not offer a public apology for the commentary.

With Marjorie Enya’s proposal, there is no confusion, and there is no way for NBC to attempt to erase these women from its coverage. It’s a moment of pride and visibility that may end up being one of the most resonant images from the 2016 games.

Main image by Alexander Hassenstein / Getty from The Daily Telegraph, Australia.