Ian Thorpe's confirmation he is gay is a positive step but the fact his admission is even a news story shows that homophobia still exists, the NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby says.
Thorpe's decision to confirm his sexuality was hardly shocking television, pulling in 982,000 viewers compared to the 1.3 million who tuned into Seven News and 1.2 million Australians who preferred to watch the X-Factor, which aired at the same time.
Justin Koonin from the NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, says the 31-year-old's coming out will have a positive impact, "particularly on young people".
"Same-sex attracted and gender diverse young people have rates of suicide and depression many times the national average, and that's cause not because they're same-sex attracted and gender diverse but because they live in a society where these things are not quite accepted yet," Mr Koonin told AAP on Monday.
"It's a measure of how far we've come that Ian Thorpe is able to come out and I think it's a measure of how far we have to go that it's a news story. In an ideal world it wouldn't be but we're not there yet. Homophobia still happens in society, young people still find it difficult to come out."
"I don't think we get to the point where this is not a story unless we go through this process."
Australia's most successful Olympian confirmed he was gay in an interview with famed UK journalist Michael Parkinson. It's understood the network paid about $550,000 for the interview, aired on Network Ten during prime time. Thorpe was reportedly paid $400,000.
"I'm comfortable saying I'm a gay man and I don't want young people to feel the same way that I did," Thorpe told Parkinson.
Mr Koonin said the public response had been "overwhelmingly positive".
"I have seen some comments saying `why has it taken this long'? But you can never understand what's going on in someone else's journey and who knows what sort of pressures Ian Thorpe was under," he said.
Not everyone greeted Thorpe's news in a positive way, including anti-discrimination campaigner and openly homosexual man Gary Burns, who once pursued radio broadcaster John Laws in court for calling gay men "pillow biters" on air.
"The reason why Mr Thorpe has kept his homosexuality hidden for so many years is because of the fear of losing huge sponsorship deals," Mr Burns said in a statement.
Thorpe issued a brief message on Twitter after the broadcast: "To everyone who has sent a message of support I sincerely thank you".
* Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.
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