Come Out, Come Out, Where Ever You Are

Local News, By Christian Taylor, 6th May, 2008

Nathan Burke, former St Kilda skipper and now club director, [top picture] has spoken out about homophobia in the AFL. He wants the league to discipline and penalise players who engage in homophobic behaviour.

“The rules should be along the same lines as its successful racial vilification policy,” Burke told the Herald Sun.

He wants gay and lesbian anti-discrimination rules implemented across all sports clubs in Victoria and is working with Rob Mitchell, a well known activist, to make it happen.

Time will tell whether or not the anti-homophobia measures will actually result in any players coming out. It was thought that Ian Roberts’ coming out in 1995 would open the flood gates, however when it comes to proud gay sports stars in Australia, he still stands out there pretty much on his own. In the world of Australian Rules Football no man has ever outed himself.

In a 2004 article in The Age, Jason Dowling asked why there haven’t been any openly gay Aussie Rules footballers. He said that with between 5 and 10% of the population being gay, and with Australian Rules Football being more than 100 years old and with there being about 680 contracted AFL players in 2004, surely there have to be some gay players lurking out there somewhere.

Perhaps they’ve looked at how coming out has affected other sporting heroes? Some have lost years of sponsorship deals, others careers have plummeted, leading to ruin and in some cases, suicide.

Think whatever you like about Ian Roberts, but the man was brave to step out back in the nineties. After coming out he received a letter which read, “AIDS will finish you in hell. SODOMIST. An arsehole bandit. You are pure filth and will die SOON!”

With opinions like that out there, Nathan Burke and Rob Mitchell sure do have their work cut out for them.

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Your Thoughts

ecclipse83

said ages ago

about f**ken time someone in the ALF spoke up

Jonny Hotspur

said ages ago

In Sydney ... we've formed the Sydney FC Lesbian and Gay Supporters Group (affectionately known as SLAGS) to now only support our Sydney FC in the Hyundai A-League but also combat homophobia in football (soccer) in general. For the new season beginning in April we have worked with Sydney FC to provide a gay and lesbian reserved seating area for us SLAGS. We have 13 members and will all be sitting together in Cove Heights behind the goal at the Sydney Football Stadium. We even encouraged the main supporters group to include not tolerating homophobia in their fans charter. Football can be a hard sport to follow with its racist, sexist or homophobic chants but the Hyundai A-League is leading the way at accepting gay and lesbians at both a club and fan level which is great! For more info on SLAGS check out our Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8213289011

sprinklesz

said ages ago

I remember looking down at bourkey at that moment in the picture.. I didnt know him, and I still dont. But I still know hes done more for gays and lesbians in sport than most people. People speaking out is one of the best things that can be done, raising awareness and helping to increase understanding of the issues gays and lesbians face.

Yuri

said ages ago

You go, gir- um, I mean, thanks for sticking up for us, mate! Me, I fantasize about getting a group of gay Sydney Swans fans together to hit the games together, or at least hang out afterward for drinks. or gather somewhere to watch away games ... &c &c ... who knows, maybe get some official sanction from the Swans organsation itself (ha, good luck) ...

Travis de Jonk

said ages ago

Go St Kilda! and Good on ya Nathan Burke! They may be a inconsistent team, but damn they've got great values.

Travis de Jonk

said ages ago

And there definitely are Gay AFL players out there. I've spoken to some... and they all said the same thing; That they would never come out as long as they played AFL.

Yuri

said ages ago

Names? Hints? Tell me the Swans' Barry Hall is tormented by being in the closet and that's why he decked that Eagles player a few weeks back. I'm sure he is. I can just tell when I watch the games how badly he wants me.

SeanC

said ages ago

Sadly money talks and for these boys to risk their careers for an honesty that the broad footy population dont want to hear, why would they or for that matter should they? I admire Nathan for his stance and for wanting to equalise the field but i can understand why and empathise with the players for not wearing it on their sleeve.

caine-mac

said ages ago

in the mean time.. i wait.. for ben cousins :P

arryspace

said ages ago

i say dont come out. it will ruin fantasies. once you know someones gay u cant fantasies about sedducing the hot straight footballer lol.

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