10 Inspirg Gay Rugby Players and Personali

Contents:

• NRL’S FIRST OPENLY GAY PLAYER SLAMS ST GEE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS’ MD-BLOWG’ MOVE
• ATRALIA'S FIRST OPENLY GAY NRL PLAYER ON WHAT GOT HIM THROUGH HIS DARKT MOMENTIAN ROBERTS HAS AN ACPLISHED SPORTG REER BUT HE’S ALSO FAMO FOR BEG ATRALIA’S FIRST OPENLY GAY NRL PLAYER. HE OPENS UP ABOUT HIS MENTAL HEALTH BATTL AFTER RETIREMENT AND WHY ’S OKAY “NOT TO BE OKAY”.IAN ROBERTS IS THE FIRST OPENLY GAY NRL PLAYER ATRALIA. SOURCE: SUPPLIEDIN 1995, IAN ROBERTS BEME ATRALIA’S FIRST OPENLY GAY NRL PLAYER, BUT LOOKG BACK, HE REGRETS NOT “G OUT SOONER”.DPE GROWG UP THE 70S A “HOMOPHOBIC AND MISOGYNIST ATMOSPHERE”, ROBERTS TOLD THE FEED HE’S ALWAYS BEEN AT EASE WH HIS SEXUALY AND OPEN ABOUT PRIVATELY.FOR YEARS, HE WANTED TO E OUT PUBLICLY BUT HE H A DRAWBACK WHEN HE SAW WHAT HAPPENED WHEN ENGLISH SOCCER PLAYER JT FASHANU ME OUT 1990. FASHANU ONCE SAID OF HIS G OUT, "FOOTBALLERS ARE VERY NARROW-MD PEOPLE. WHEN YOU PUT YOURSELF THE FIRG LE, YOU ARE OPEN TO ATTACK. I KNOW I'M THERE TO BE SHOT DOWN FLAM."FASHANU TOOK HIS LIFE 1998 AT THE AGE OF 37.WHEN ROBERTS EVENTUALLY ME OUT 95’ HE NONTED SOME “HORRIBLE” HOMOPHOBIA BUT SAID, “THE BENEFS FAR OUTWEIGHED THE NEGATIV.”AT THE TIME, ROBERTS SAID THERE WAS A STIGMA ABOUT GAY PEOPLE BEG “WEAK” AND BAD AT SPORTS.NRL PLAYER IAN ROBERTS SAID HE WENT THROUGH A "DARK TIME" AFTER RETIRG OM THE SPORT 1998. SOURCE: AAP“I REALISED AFTER I ME OUT HOW POWERFUL WAS, HOW MUCH CHANGED PEOPLE'S LIV AND PEOPLE'S PERSPECTIV,” ROBERTS TOLD THE FEED.“IT GAVE SOME OF THE KIDS THE SUBURBS WHO’D BEEN STGGLG A B OF A VOICE.”AFTER AN IMPRSIVE REER, PLAYG FOR NSW STATE OF ORIG AND THE RABBOHS, SEA EAGL AND COWBOYS, ROBERTS HUNG UP HIS FOOTY BOOTS ‘98. IT WAS THEN THAT THGS BEGAN TO UNRAVEL HIS PERSONAL LIFE.“I RETIRED OM FOOTBALL, SO I WAS A REAL VOID OF NOT KNOWG WHAT TO DO,” ROBERTS SAID.“I HAD AN ADDICTN ISSUE. IT'S REALLY HARD TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS TIME.”IT WAS DURG THIS “DARK TIME” THAT ROBERTS NTACTED SUICI PREVENTN ANISATN LIFELE FOR HELP.“I WAS GOG THROUGH THIS HAZE OF NFN AND PA AND JT FEELG WORTHLS,” ROBERTS SAID.“THE PHONE LL WH THIS PERSON ON THE OTHER END, JT THE POWER OF THAT NVERSATN, VALIDATED WHAT I WAS FEELG. NOW I UNRSTAND, ’S OKAY TO FEEL THAT WAY AND THIS FEELG WILL PASS.” ACRDG TO LIFELE, NE LIV ARE LOST TO SUICI ATRALIA EVERY DAY.ON FRIDAY, 10 SEPTEMBER - WORLD SUICI PREVENTN DAY - LIFELE WILL BE HOSTG ‘OUT OF THE SHADOWS’. THE EVENT LLS ON ALL ATRALIANS “TO JO LIFELE CREATG HOPE THROUGH ACTN.”ATRALIANS N REGISTER TO JO A FACE-TO-FACE OR VIRTUAL WALK THEIR AREA OR PLANT A FLOWER AT LIFELE’S VIRTUAL GARN.IN AUGT, LIFELE RERD FOUR OF THE BIT DAYS S 57-YEAR HISTORY. THE SUICI PREVENTN ANISATN IS ON TRACK FOR S BIT YEAR EVER WH 694,400 LLS FOR HELP THE YEAR TO DATE.RELATEDATRALIAN OLYMPIANS ADM THEY NEVER WOULD HAVE DONE WHAT SIMONE BIL DIDROBERTS SAID HIS LL TO LIFELE WASN’T THE LAST TIME HIS LIFE WOULD BE MARKED BY THE KDNS OF STRANGERS.ANOTHER PIVOTAL MOMENT ME WHEN HIS R BROKE DOWN UP THE ROAD OM THE NATNAL INSTUTE OF DRAMATIC ARTS (NIDA). ROBERTS WALKED TO THE SCHOOL, HOPG HE ULD GET A START ONE OF HIS OTHER LOV: ACTG.THERE WAS JT ONE PROBLEM. AT 35 YEARS OF AGE, ROBERTS STGGLED WH DYSLEXIA AND ULDN’T “READ OR WRE”.“I MET THIS GUY, KEV JACKSON, WHO CHANGED MY LIFE. WHEN I TOLD HIM I WAS DYSLEXIC, WASN’T AN ISSUE AT ALL,” ROBERTS SAID.“I LEARNT TO READ AND WRE AT A VERY BASIC LEVEL, WAS A REAL TURNG POT.”ROBERTS TRAED WH KEV FOR SIX MONTHS BEFORE DNG FOR ENTRY AT NIDA. HE GOT AND STUDIED THERE FOR THREE YEARS.“IT’S HARD TO SCRIBE THE FEELG. I HAD THE SAME FEELG WHEN I LLED LIFELE,” HE SAID.“LIKE ALL OF A SUDN, SOMEBODY H ME ON THE HEAD WH A HAMMER AND WAS LIKE ‘THIS IS OKAY. YOU'RE GOG TO BE OKAY.”IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS IMMEDIATE CRISIS, PLEASE LL POLICE AND AMBULANCE ON 000.FOR FURTHER HELP, NTACT BEYOND BLUE ON 1300 22 4636, LIFELE ON 13 11 14 OR KIDS HELPLE ON 1800 551 800.SHAREFOLLOW THE FEEDFACEBOOKTWTERSTAGRAMYOUTUBETHROUGH AWARD WNG STORYTELLG, THE FEED BREAKS NEW GROUND WH S PELLG MIX OF CURRENT AFFAIRS, EDY, PROFIL AND VTIGATNS. SEE DIFFERENT. KNOW BETTER. LGH HARR. READ MORE ABOUT THE FEEDWATCH NOWHAVE A STORY OR MENT? CONTACT USTHROUGH AWARD WNG STORYTELLG, THE FEED BREAKS NEW GROUND WH S PELLG MIX OF CURRENT AFFAIRS, EDY, PROFIL AND VTIGATNS. SEE DIFFERENT. KNOW BETTER. LGH HARR.WATCH NOWFOLLOW THE FEEDFACEBOOKTWTERSTAGRAMYOUTUBE4 M READPUBLISHED 10 SEPTEMBER 2021 12:00AMUPDATED 22 FEBARY 2022 5:26PMBY EN GILLPIETAGSMENTAL HEALTHMENTAL HEALTHSHARE THIS WH FAY AND IENDSCOPY LKSHAREREMEND FOR YOU
• GAY MANLY PLAYER IS LEFT 'VASTATED' BY SEVEN STARS BOYTTG GAME OVER NRL'S FIRST PRI JERSEY
• GAY RUGBY LEAGUE PLAYER SAYS HE'S SEEN MUCH 'GAYER' THGS IN SPORTS CHANGG ROOMS
• IS THE NRL READY FOR A GAY PLAYER? ONLY IF HE’S HAPPY TO BE RIDICULED, SAYS PL MALONE
• JAGUARS ASSOCIATE STRENGTH ACH KEV MAXEN OUT AS GAY A FIRST FOR US-BASED PRO LEAGU
• THE 39 CURRENT NFL PLAYERS HAVE ALL PLAYED WH AN OUT GAY TEAMMATE
• DISMANTLG STEREOTYP: 10 INSPIRG GAY RUGBY PLAYERS AND PERSONALI

NRL’S FIRST OPENLY GAY PLAYER SLAMS ST GEE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS’ MD-BLOWG’ MOVE

The NRL’s first openly gay player has slammed the St Gee Illawarra Dragons’ “md-blowg” cisn to pursue the signature of former Wallaby Israel Fol. Get your 14-day ee trial now & start streamg stantly >Fol hasn’t played the NRL sce leavg the Brons 2010 and 2019 had his ntract wh Rugby Atralia torn up for makg homophobic ments on social media, brgg an end to his illtr Wallabi reer.

ATRALIA'S FIRST OPENLY GAY NRL PLAYER ON WHAT GOT HIM THROUGH HIS DARKT MOMENTIAN ROBERTS HAS AN ACPLISHED SPORTG REER BUT HE’S ALSO FAMO FOR BEG ATRALIA’S FIRST OPENLY GAY NRL PLAYER. HE OPENS UP ABOUT HIS MENTAL HEALTH BATTL AFTER RETIREMENT AND WHY ’S OKAY “NOT TO BE OKAY”.IAN ROBERTS IS THE FIRST OPENLY GAY NRL PLAYER ATRALIA. SOURCE: SUPPLIEDIN 1995, IAN ROBERTS BEME ATRALIA’S FIRST OPENLY GAY NRL PLAYER, BUT LOOKG BACK, HE REGRETS NOT “G OUT SOONER”.DPE GROWG UP THE 70S A “HOMOPHOBIC AND MISOGYNIST ATMOSPHERE”, ROBERTS TOLD THE FEED HE’S ALWAYS BEEN AT EASE WH HIS SEXUALY AND OPEN ABOUT PRIVATELY.FOR YEARS, HE WANTED TO E OUT PUBLICLY BUT HE H A DRAWBACK WHEN HE SAW WHAT HAPPENED WHEN ENGLISH SOCCER PLAYER JT FASHANU ME OUT 1990. FASHANU ONCE SAID OF HIS G OUT, "FOOTBALLERS ARE VERY NARROW-MD PEOPLE. WHEN YOU PUT YOURSELF THE FIRG LE, YOU ARE OPEN TO ATTACK. I KNOW I'M THERE TO BE SHOT DOWN FLAM."FASHANU TOOK HIS LIFE 1998 AT THE AGE OF 37.WHEN ROBERTS EVENTUALLY ME OUT 95’ HE NONTED SOME “HORRIBLE” HOMOPHOBIA BUT SAID, “THE BENEFS FAR OUTWEIGHED THE NEGATIV.”AT THE TIME, ROBERTS SAID THERE WAS A STIGMA ABOUT GAY PEOPLE BEG “WEAK” AND BAD AT SPORTS.NRL PLAYER IAN ROBERTS SAID HE WENT THROUGH A "DARK TIME" AFTER RETIRG OM THE SPORT 1998. SOURCE: AAP“I REALISED AFTER I ME OUT HOW POWERFUL WAS, HOW MUCH CHANGED PEOPLE'S LIV AND PEOPLE'S PERSPECTIV,” ROBERTS TOLD THE FEED.“IT GAVE SOME OF THE KIDS THE SUBURBS WHO’D BEEN STGGLG A B OF A VOICE.”AFTER AN IMPRSIVE REER, PLAYG FOR NSW STATE OF ORIG AND THE RABBOHS, SEA EAGL AND COWBOYS, ROBERTS HUNG UP HIS FOOTY BOOTS ‘98. IT WAS THEN THAT THGS BEGAN TO UNRAVEL HIS PERSONAL LIFE.“I RETIRED OM FOOTBALL, SO I WAS A REAL VOID OF NOT KNOWG WHAT TO DO,” ROBERTS SAID.“I HAD AN ADDICTN ISSUE. IT'S REALLY HARD TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS TIME.”IT WAS DURG THIS “DARK TIME” THAT ROBERTS NTACTED SUICI PREVENTN ANISATN LIFELE FOR HELP.“I WAS GOG THROUGH THIS HAZE OF NFN AND PA AND JT FEELG WORTHLS,” ROBERTS SAID.“THE PHONE LL WH THIS PERSON ON THE OTHER END, JT THE POWER OF THAT NVERSATN, VALIDATED WHAT I WAS FEELG. NOW I UNRSTAND, ’S OKAY TO FEEL THAT WAY AND THIS FEELG WILL PASS.” ACRDG TO LIFELE, NE LIV ARE LOST TO SUICI ATRALIA EVERY DAY.ON FRIDAY, 10 SEPTEMBER - WORLD SUICI PREVENTN DAY - LIFELE WILL BE HOSTG ‘OUT OF THE SHADOWS’. THE EVENT LLS ON ALL ATRALIANS “TO JO LIFELE CREATG HOPE THROUGH ACTN.”ATRALIANS N REGISTER TO JO A FACE-TO-FACE OR VIRTUAL WALK THEIR AREA OR PLANT A FLOWER AT LIFELE’S VIRTUAL GARN.IN AUGT, LIFELE RERD FOUR OF THE BIT DAYS S 57-YEAR HISTORY. THE SUICI PREVENTN ANISATN IS ON TRACK FOR S BIT YEAR EVER WH 694,400 LLS FOR HELP THE YEAR TO DATE.RELATEDATRALIAN OLYMPIANS ADM THEY NEVER WOULD HAVE DONE WHAT SIMONE BIL DIDROBERTS SAID HIS LL TO LIFELE WASN’T THE LAST TIME HIS LIFE WOULD BE MARKED BY THE KDNS OF STRANGERS.ANOTHER PIVOTAL MOMENT ME WHEN HIS R BROKE DOWN UP THE ROAD OM THE NATNAL INSTUTE OF DRAMATIC ARTS (NIDA). ROBERTS WALKED TO THE SCHOOL, HOPG HE ULD GET A START ONE OF HIS OTHER LOV: ACTG.THERE WAS JT ONE PROBLEM. AT 35 YEARS OF AGE, ROBERTS STGGLED WH DYSLEXIA AND ULDN’T “READ OR WRE”.“I MET THIS GUY, KEV JACKSON, WHO CHANGED MY LIFE. WHEN I TOLD HIM I WAS DYSLEXIC, WASN’T AN ISSUE AT ALL,” ROBERTS SAID.“I LEARNT TO READ AND WRE AT A VERY BASIC LEVEL, WAS A REAL TURNG POT.”ROBERTS TRAED WH KEV FOR SIX MONTHS BEFORE DNG FOR ENTRY AT NIDA. HE GOT AND STUDIED THERE FOR THREE YEARS.“IT’S HARD TO SCRIBE THE FEELG. I HAD THE SAME FEELG WHEN I LLED LIFELE,” HE SAID.“LIKE ALL OF A SUDN, SOMEBODY H ME ON THE HEAD WH A HAMMER AND WAS LIKE ‘THIS IS OKAY. YOU'RE GOG TO BE OKAY.”IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS IMMEDIATE CRISIS, PLEASE LL POLICE AND AMBULANCE ON 000.FOR FURTHER HELP, NTACT BEYOND BLUE ON 1300 22 4636, LIFELE ON 13 11 14 OR KIDS HELPLE ON 1800 551 800.SHAREFOLLOW THE FEEDFACEBOOKTWTERSTAGRAMYOUTUBETHROUGH AWARD WNG STORYTELLG, THE FEED BREAKS NEW GROUND WH S PELLG MIX OF CURRENT AFFAIRS, EDY, PROFIL AND VTIGATNS. SEE DIFFERENT. KNOW BETTER. LGH HARR. READ MORE ABOUT THE FEEDWATCH NOWHAVE A STORY OR MENT? CONTACT USTHROUGH AWARD WNG STORYTELLG, THE FEED BREAKS NEW GROUND WH S PELLG MIX OF CURRENT AFFAIRS, EDY, PROFIL AND VTIGATNS. SEE DIFFERENT. KNOW BETTER. LGH HARR.WATCH NOWFOLLOW THE FEEDFACEBOOKTWTERSTAGRAMYOUTUBE4 M READPUBLISHED 10 SEPTEMBER 2021 12:00AMUPDATED 22 FEBARY 2022 5:26PMBY EN GILLPIETAGSMENTAL HEALTHMENTAL HEALTHSHARE THIS WH FAY AND IENDSCOPY LKSHAREREMEND FOR YOU

Roberts reprented the South Sydney Rabbohs, Manly-Warrgah Sea Eagl and North Queensland Cowboys durg his 13-year reer the me out as gay 1995, beg one of the first high-profile Atralian athlet to do so.

“People don’t unrstand the effects of homophobia and the nsequenc. ” READ MORE: Tragic past of Wally Lewis’ new flame READ MORE: Fol agre to social media backflipAtralian Rugby League Commissn (ARLC) chairman Peter V’landys has prevly said Fol’s views on homosexualy were not wele the NRL. In 1995, Ian Roberts beme Atralia’s first openly gay NRL player, but lookg back, he regrets not “g out sooner”.

Dpe growg up the 70s a “homophobic and misogynist atmosphere”, Roberts told The Feed he’s always been at ease wh his sexualy and open about years, he wanted to e out publicly but he h a drawback when he saw what happened when English soccer player Jt Fashanu me out 1990. "Fashanu took his life 1998 at the age of Roberts eventually me out 95’ he nonted some “horrible” homophobia but said, “the benefs far outweighed the negativ. ”At the time, Roberts said there was a stigma about gay people beg “weak” and bad at player Ian Roberts said he went through a "dark time" after retirg om the sport 1998.

GAY MANLY PLAYER IS LEFT 'VASTATED' BY SEVEN STARS BOYTTG GAME OVER NRL'S FIRST PRI JERSEY

Gay up-and-g Manly player is left 'vastated' by seven stars boyttg game bee they refe to wear gby league's first pri jerseyThe young man is g up the ranks and dreamed of playg first gra Seven players have boytted wearg the club's history pri jersey He has been left 'eply sadned' by the actns of his Manly teammat Gay former Manly player Ian Roberts is also sadned by their cisn Published: 04:34 BST, 26 July 2022 | Updated: 11:55 BST, 26 July 2022.

The fallout om pri-gate at Manly ntu, wh reports a young gay player has been left 'vastated' by his teammat' cisn to boytt the NRL club's historic Everyone League Sea Eagl will roll out the rabow strip Thursday night's NRL blockbter agast the Sydney Roosters a first for gby league Atralia.

GAY RUGBY LEAGUE PLAYER SAYS HE'S SEEN MUCH 'GAYER' THGS IN SPORTS CHANGG ROOMS

The players are refg to wear the Everyone League gay pri jersey bee of relig and cultural beliefs. That has had an enormo impact on at least one player, wh Wi World of Sports reportg that a young Sea Eagle who is gay, but has not e out publicly, has been left shattered by their cisn. Former Manly player Ian Roberts is the only openly gay man to play first graA close iend of the player said was his dream to play first gra for Manly, but now he is not so sure.

But when to homosexualy, they have a problem.

IS THE NRL READY FOR A GAY PLAYER? ONLY IF HE’S HAPPY TO BE RIDICULED, SAYS PL MALONE

'In the 134-year history of first gra gby league Atralia only one active player has ever publicly nfirmed they are gay, former Manly hardman Ian said cisns like the player boytt would have huge impacts on young LGBTIQA+ people who supported the club. As an olr gay man, this isn't unfaiar.

A former English gby league star has rpond to the recent LGBTQIA+ jersey saga engulfg the Manly Sea ex-player Keegan Hirst says 's rather ironic that the group are boyttg wearg the pri k bee he's seen 'what go on changg rooms' and 'would be seen as beg MUCH gayer' than simply wearg a rabow jersey for a AlamyThe Manly Sea Eagl have ma headl across the world this week after releasg their 'Everyone League' jersey – unfortunately, though, wasn't for the right was meant to be a posive move to drive clivy soon turned sour when several players threatened to boytt their next game after refg to wear the club’s rabow Aloiai, Jason Saab, Christian Tuipulotu, Josh Schter, Hmole Olak’atu, Tolut Koula and Toafofoa Sipley have been named as the players qutn and will subsequently miss their next fixture after beg stood down on relig saga hasn't pated anyone volved a particularly pleasant light wh both the players and the club self g unr fire. A number of big-name figur have had their say on the matter, cludg the NRL's first and only openly-gay player Ian Hirst, who me out as gay 2015 durg his time the UK Super League, has h out at the Sea Eagl players.

JAGUARS ASSOCIATE STRENGTH ACH KEV MAXEN OUT AS GAY A FIRST FOR US-BASED PRO LEAGU

And a lot of would be seen as beg MUCH ‘gayer’ than a rabow on a jersey. ”Another Twter er then rpond, sayg: "To me there is no such person as a gay person. All people are equal no need for gay pri.

THE 39 CURRENT NFL PLAYERS HAVE ALL PLAYED WH AN OUT GAY TEAMMATE

Gay people are equently ostracised, ridiculed, beaten and even killed simply for beg gay. Gay people around the world are still executed, arrted and persecuted for beg gay.

What do mean to gay kids who want to play gby? “Beg gay isn’t a belief.

NRL star Toby Rudolf has opened up about his same-sex experienc followg the Manly Sea Eagl pri jersey Cronulla Sharks prop said he will back the NRL hostg s first pri round to celebrate clivens, revealg he was raised by "que a few gay and lbian muny members" and there is "so much love that muny" 26-year-old spoke up after seven players stepped down om Thursday night's clash agast the Sydney Roosters over their refal to don a rabow-tailed jersey, which celebrat "clivens" for the Round 20 more sports news live & on mand wh Flash. "What I will say is I was raised by que a few gay and lbian muny members.

DISMANTLG STEREOTYP: 10 INSPIRG GAY RUGBY PLAYERS AND PERSONALI

My uncle is gay and my godmother is gay, and there's so much love that muny. I've been out and kissed many gay men, kissed many straight woman and kissed many gay woman. "That's probably why I love gog to all the gay bars Sydney as well - I love dancg wh my shirt off and gettg down Universal on Oxford Street until 2am.

COME out and play, gby league said last Sydney’s Greg Inglis and NRL boss Dave Smh joed high-profile athlet and officials om Atralia’s four football s and cricket speakg out agast homophobia said he would support any gay NRL player who me out and believed would be a burn lifted for any player who ’s 19 years sce Ian Roberts took the step of clarg he was gay but, nsirg the way anyone who has stood out even slightly has been ridiculed by opponents and sectns of the media, why would another gay player “e out”. Michael Sam beme the first openly gay player to be drafted when the then-St.