Gays at the Gam: Team Atralia! - AfterEllen

Contents:

• THE ATRALIAN ATHLET CHAMPNG LGBTIQ+ PRI SPORTFOURTEEN ATHLET ACROSS 10 SPORTS ARE JOG TOGETHER AS AMBASSADORS FOR THE ATRALIAN INSTUTE OF SPORT’S (AIS) GURAL THRIVE WH PRI PROGRAM, LNCHED ON TUDAY.THREE-TIME OLYMPIC WATER POLO PLAYER ROWIE WEBSTER. SOURCE: AAPATRALIAN ARTISTIC GYMNAST HEATH THORPE SAYS GROWG TO HIS INTY MEANT CREATG A PATHWAY THAT WASN’T “ALREADY THERE”. THORPE, 21, HAS BEEN VOLVED GYMNASTICS FOR 14 YEARS, REPRENTG ATRALIA AT WORLD CUPS AND WORLD CHAMPNSHIPS. HE SAYS HE IS ONE OF FEW OPENLY GAY GYMNASTS, BOTH ATRALIA AND TERNATNALLY.COMG TO TERMS WH HIS SEXUALY MEANT, AT FIRST, FACG A STEREOTYPE WH THE SPORT. “IT HAS BEEN AN TERTG PATHWAY … I KNOW WHEN I WAS GROWG UP THAT I WAS MET WH A LOT OF MENTS ABOUT GYMNASTICS BEG FOR GIRLS, OR BEG FOR GAY PEOPLE,” THORPE TOLD SBS NEWS. “FOR ME TO REALISE MY INTY WAS A B OF STGGLE, BEE I HAD ALMOST NOT WANTED TO PERPETUATE A STEREOTYPE THAT I HAD BEEN TOLD MY WHOLE LIFE. SO THAT WAS AN TERNAL STGGLE SELF.“AND EVEN SO NOW, I AM STILL ONE OF THE ONLY OPENLY GAY GYMANASTS ON AN TERNATNAL LEVEL.”READ MOREHOW LGBTQI+ AFL FANS HAVE BAND TOGETHER TO CREATE A WORK OF PRI GROUPSWH THE SPORTG WORLD, HE SAID HAS BEEN PLITED "CREATG A PATHWAY THAT ISN'T ALREADY THERE". “IT HAS BEEN QUE TERTG EXPLORG THAT AND UNRSTANDG THAT - PECIALLY AT A YOUNG AGE,” HE SAID."I ME OUT TO THE MEDIA WHEN I WAS 18 WHOUT EVEN NECSARILY REALISG THE ENORMY OF . I THK ’S JT THAT A LOT OF FIRSTS ARE HARD TO NAVIGATE.”HEATH THORPE PICTURED ANTWERP, BELGIUM NOVEMBER LAST YEAR. SOURCE: SUPPLIEDTHORPE IS NOW AMONG 14 ATHLET G TOGETHER AS AMBASSADORS FOR THE ATRALIAN INSTUTE OF SPORT’S (AIS) GURAL THRIVE WH PRI PROGRAM. HE SS ALONGSI GYMNAST DOMIC CLARKE, WHO IS ALSO OPENLY GAY. LNCHED ON TUDAY, NSULTATN WH NATNAL NOT-FOR-PROF SPORTG CLN PROGRAM PRI SPORT AND PROUD 2 PLAY, THE PROGRAM AIMS TO PROVI SAFE AND CLIVE SPORTG ENVIRONMENTS FOR ALL ATHLET. MATTI CLEMENTS, AIS’ ACTG CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SAID THE PROGRAM WILL EQUIP AMBASSADORS WH THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE TO SPEAK WH LOL SPORTG ENVIRONMENTS ON LGBTIQ+ AWARENS, ACTIVE ALLYSHIP AND CLIVY. “THE PROGRAM IS ABOUT RAISG AWARENS AROUND THE LGBTIQ+ POPULATN, AND SPORT BEG A GREAT VEHICLE TO HAVE THOSE NVERSATNS WHICH, TO BE ANK, WE HAVEN’T BEEN ABLE TO HAVE AT ALL TIM OVER THE LAST UPLE OF YEARS,” MS CLEMENTS SAID. “I THK, HISTORILLY, SOME OF THE NVERSATNS HAVEN'T BEEN HAD POTENTIALLY BEE PEOPLE HAVEN'T SEEN OTHERS LIKE THEM. AND WE KNOW THAT WHEN PEOPLE N RELATE TO OTHERS, THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE A NVERSATN ABOUT WHO THEY ARE. “SO, A PROGRAM SUCH AS THRIVE PRI CREAT THAT NVERSATN.”ROWIE WEBSTER, PICTURED DURG THE 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPIC GAM TOKYO, IS ALSO A PROGRAM AMBASSADOR. SOURCE: SPORTSFILE VIA GETTY IMAGPRI SPORT INX -FOUNR ANDREW PURCHAS SAID IS EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROGRAM AND THE AIS’ LEARSHIP LEVERAGG HIGH-PERFORMANCE ATHLET TO ENGAGE WH SPORTG MUNI. “IT IS EXTREMELY POWERFUL TO HAVE ELE ATHLET AND ACH EMPOWERED  TO TALK TO THEIR PEERS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF CLN,” HE SAID. “THE THRIVE WH PRI PROGRAM WILL ENURAGE RPECTFUL, TED AND CLIVE MUNITN BETWEEN THE PARTICIPANTS AND ATRALIAN SPORTG MUNI; BUILDG TST, FOSTERG CHANGE TO PROVI A SAFE AND CLIVE PLACE FOR ATHLET TO THRIVE SPORT.”READ MOREWHY THIS ATRALIAN WANTS TO LNCH THE WORLD GAY BOXG CHAMPNSHIPSTHE PROGRAM AMBASSADORS PRISE LGBTIQ+ ATHLET AND ALLI OM ACROSS 10 SPORTS, CLUDG TWO-TIME OLYMPIC DIVER MATTHEW MCHAM, FORMER RUGBY SEVENS PTA SHARNI WILLIAMS AND NON-BARY SHOT-PUTTER MARIA STRONG, WHO MA THEIR PARALYMBIC BATE TOKYO LAST YEAR. ALSO AMONG THEM IS THREE-TIME OLYMPIC WATER POLO PLAYER ROWIE WEBSTER, WHO SAYS HER VOLVEMENT IS ALL ABOUT STARTG NVERSATNS A SAFE SPACE. “I KNEW FOR A LONG TIME THAT I WAS GAY, AND I CERTALY DIDN’T FEEL ALL THAT FORTABLE G OUT - JT THE SPORTG WORLD,” SHE TOLD SBS NEWS. “THERE WEREN’T MANY ROLE MOLS THAT I KNEW OF THAT WERE LIKE ME.”ROWIE WEBSTER IS PICTURED AT THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE ATRALIAN WOMENS WATER POLO TEAM FOR THE TOKYO 2020 OLYMPICS. SOURCE: AAPWH A SUPPORT WORK AROUND HER, WEBSTER SAYS SHE WAS ABLE TO REALISE HER THENTIC SELF AND IS NOW THRIVG. BUT SHE ACKNOWLEDG MANY OTHERS HAVEN’T HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE. “I THK I'VE BEEN A PRIVILEGED POSN WHERE I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, AND I HAVEN'T HAD DISCRIMATN TOWARDS ME. BUT I CERTALY KNOW OF OTHER ATHLET AND PEOPLE THE GREATER MUNY WHO HAVE,” SHE SAID. “SO I THK THAT'S WHAT OUR ROLE IS NOW; TO TRY TO OVERE THOSE BARRIERS AND THOSE CHALLENG, AND MAKE MORE OF AN ACCEPTED THG [NVERSATN] TO HAVE.“WE WANT TO START HEALTHY NVERSATNS, HAVE A REALLY SUPPORTIVE AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT TO HAVE THOSE NVERSATNS, AND ALSO TO TE SPORTG ANISATNS TO BETTER SUPPORT THEIR ATHLET. AND ALSO, I THK THAT WILL HAVE A REAL RIPPLE EFFECT TO THE MUNY."READ MORE'FOOTBALL IS FOR EVERYBODY': WORLD REACTS TO FOOTBALLER JOSH CAVALLO G OUT AS GAYTHORPE AGRE THAT TN IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS PROGRS AND EQUALY FOR QUEER ATHLET. “I THK THAT OFTEN, A LOT OF IGNORANCE OR MISRMATN JT OM MISUNRSTANDG. SO, PEOPLE DON’T FEEL FORTABLE NECSARILY SUPPORTG OR ENGAGG WH A SPACE THEY DON’T UNRSTAND,” HE SAID. “SO ’S REALLY IMPORTANT AND CCIAL TO TE OM A YOUNG AGE, AND TO TE OM THE TOP AS WELL.” ULTIMATELY, HE HOP TO ENURAGE YOUNG QUEER ATHLET TO “NOT WALK AWAY” OM THEIR SPORT. "SPORT IS A SPACE FOR EVERYONE, AND TO ME, 'S A MEANS FOR MOVEMENT AND HEALTH AND MUNY, AND NO ONE SHOULD EVER BE NIED THAT," HE SAID.“I JT HOPE THAT BY PUTTG THIS PROGRAM OUT THERE, THAT YOUNG QUEER KIDS N E TO THE SPORT, AND ’S A SPACE FOR THEM [WHERE] THEY FEEL WELE AND THEY N PLAY THE SPORT THAT THEY LOVE. IT’S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.” LGBTIQ+ ATRALIANS SEEKG SUPPORT N NTACT QLIFE ON 1800 184 527 OR VIS .  ALSO HAS A LIST OF SUPPORT SERVIC.SHARE6 M READPUBLISHED 1 FEBARY 2022 6:40AMUPDATED 1 FEBARY 2022 7:23AMBY EMMA BRANTISANOSOURCE: SBS NEWSSHARE THIS WH FAY AND IENDSCOPY LKSHAREREMEND FOR YOU
• ATHLET WHO ARE GAY
• IT'S HARD TO BE A GAY ATHLETE ATRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
• GAYS AT THE GAM: TEAM ATRALIA!

THE ATRALIAN ATHLET CHAMPNG LGBTIQ+ PRI SPORTFOURTEEN ATHLET ACROSS 10 SPORTS ARE JOG TOGETHER AS AMBASSADORS FOR THE ATRALIAN INSTUTE OF SPORT’S (AIS) GURAL THRIVE WH PRI PROGRAM, LNCHED ON TUDAY.THREE-TIME OLYMPIC WATER POLO PLAYER ROWIE WEBSTER. SOURCE: AAPATRALIAN ARTISTIC GYMNAST HEATH THORPE SAYS GROWG TO HIS INTY MEANT CREATG A PATHWAY THAT WASN’T “ALREADY THERE”. THORPE, 21, HAS BEEN VOLVED GYMNASTICS FOR 14 YEARS, REPRENTG ATRALIA AT WORLD CUPS AND WORLD CHAMPNSHIPS. HE SAYS HE IS ONE OF FEW OPENLY GAY GYMNASTS, BOTH ATRALIA AND TERNATNALLY.COMG TO TERMS WH HIS SEXUALY MEANT, AT FIRST, FACG A STEREOTYPE WH THE SPORT. “IT HAS BEEN AN TERTG PATHWAY … I KNOW WHEN I WAS GROWG UP THAT I WAS MET WH A LOT OF MENTS ABOUT GYMNASTICS BEG FOR GIRLS, OR BEG FOR GAY PEOPLE,” THORPE TOLD SBS NEWS. “FOR ME TO REALISE MY INTY WAS A B OF STGGLE, BEE I HAD ALMOST NOT WANTED TO PERPETUATE A STEREOTYPE THAT I HAD BEEN TOLD MY WHOLE LIFE. SO THAT WAS AN TERNAL STGGLE SELF.“AND EVEN SO NOW, I AM STILL ONE OF THE ONLY OPENLY GAY GYMANASTS ON AN TERNATNAL LEVEL.”READ MOREHOW LGBTQI+ AFL FANS HAVE BAND TOGETHER TO CREATE A WORK OF PRI GROUPSWH THE SPORTG WORLD, HE SAID HAS BEEN PLITED "CREATG A PATHWAY THAT ISN'T ALREADY THERE". “IT HAS BEEN QUE TERTG EXPLORG THAT AND UNRSTANDG THAT - PECIALLY AT A YOUNG AGE,” HE SAID."I ME OUT TO THE MEDIA WHEN I WAS 18 WHOUT EVEN NECSARILY REALISG THE ENORMY OF . I THK ’S JT THAT A LOT OF FIRSTS ARE HARD TO NAVIGATE.”HEATH THORPE PICTURED ANTWERP, BELGIUM NOVEMBER LAST YEAR. SOURCE: SUPPLIEDTHORPE IS NOW AMONG 14 ATHLET G TOGETHER AS AMBASSADORS FOR THE ATRALIAN INSTUTE OF SPORT’S (AIS) GURAL THRIVE WH PRI PROGRAM. HE SS ALONGSI GYMNAST DOMIC CLARKE, WHO IS ALSO OPENLY GAY. LNCHED ON TUDAY, NSULTATN WH NATNAL NOT-FOR-PROF SPORTG CLN PROGRAM PRI SPORT AND PROUD 2 PLAY, THE PROGRAM AIMS TO PROVI SAFE AND CLIVE SPORTG ENVIRONMENTS FOR ALL ATHLET. MATTI CLEMENTS, AIS’ ACTG CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SAID THE PROGRAM WILL EQUIP AMBASSADORS WH THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE TO SPEAK WH LOL SPORTG ENVIRONMENTS ON LGBTIQ+ AWARENS, ACTIVE ALLYSHIP AND CLIVY. “THE PROGRAM IS ABOUT RAISG AWARENS AROUND THE LGBTIQ+ POPULATN, AND SPORT BEG A GREAT VEHICLE TO HAVE THOSE NVERSATNS WHICH, TO BE ANK, WE HAVEN’T BEEN ABLE TO HAVE AT ALL TIM OVER THE LAST UPLE OF YEARS,” MS CLEMENTS SAID. “I THK, HISTORILLY, SOME OF THE NVERSATNS HAVEN'T BEEN HAD POTENTIALLY BEE PEOPLE HAVEN'T SEEN OTHERS LIKE THEM. AND WE KNOW THAT WHEN PEOPLE N RELATE TO OTHERS, THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE A NVERSATN ABOUT WHO THEY ARE. “SO, A PROGRAM SUCH AS THRIVE PRI CREAT THAT NVERSATN.”ROWIE WEBSTER, PICTURED DURG THE 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPIC GAM TOKYO, IS ALSO A PROGRAM AMBASSADOR. SOURCE: SPORTSFILE VIA GETTY IMAGPRI SPORT INX -FOUNR ANDREW PURCHAS SAID IS EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROGRAM AND THE AIS’ LEARSHIP LEVERAGG HIGH-PERFORMANCE ATHLET TO ENGAGE WH SPORTG MUNI. “IT IS EXTREMELY POWERFUL TO HAVE ELE ATHLET AND ACH EMPOWERED  TO TALK TO THEIR PEERS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF CLN,” HE SAID. “THE THRIVE WH PRI PROGRAM WILL ENURAGE RPECTFUL, TED AND CLIVE MUNITN BETWEEN THE PARTICIPANTS AND ATRALIAN SPORTG MUNI; BUILDG TST, FOSTERG CHANGE TO PROVI A SAFE AND CLIVE PLACE FOR ATHLET TO THRIVE SPORT.”READ MOREWHY THIS ATRALIAN WANTS TO LNCH THE WORLD GAY BOXG CHAMPNSHIPSTHE PROGRAM AMBASSADORS PRISE LGBTIQ+ ATHLET AND ALLI OM ACROSS 10 SPORTS, CLUDG TWO-TIME OLYMPIC DIVER MATTHEW MCHAM, FORMER RUGBY SEVENS PTA SHARNI WILLIAMS AND NON-BARY SHOT-PUTTER MARIA STRONG, WHO MA THEIR PARALYMBIC BATE TOKYO LAST YEAR. ALSO AMONG THEM IS THREE-TIME OLYMPIC WATER POLO PLAYER ROWIE WEBSTER, WHO SAYS HER VOLVEMENT IS ALL ABOUT STARTG NVERSATNS A SAFE SPACE. “I KNEW FOR A LONG TIME THAT I WAS GAY, AND I CERTALY DIDN’T FEEL ALL THAT FORTABLE G OUT - JT THE SPORTG WORLD,” SHE TOLD SBS NEWS. “THERE WEREN’T MANY ROLE MOLS THAT I KNEW OF THAT WERE LIKE ME.”ROWIE WEBSTER IS PICTURED AT THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE ATRALIAN WOMENS WATER POLO TEAM FOR THE TOKYO 2020 OLYMPICS. SOURCE: AAPWH A SUPPORT WORK AROUND HER, WEBSTER SAYS SHE WAS ABLE TO REALISE HER THENTIC SELF AND IS NOW THRIVG. BUT SHE ACKNOWLEDG MANY OTHERS HAVEN’T HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE. “I THK I'VE BEEN A PRIVILEGED POSN WHERE I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, AND I HAVEN'T HAD DISCRIMATN TOWARDS ME. BUT I CERTALY KNOW OF OTHER ATHLET AND PEOPLE THE GREATER MUNY WHO HAVE,” SHE SAID. “SO I THK THAT'S WHAT OUR ROLE IS NOW; TO TRY TO OVERE THOSE BARRIERS AND THOSE CHALLENG, AND MAKE MORE OF AN ACCEPTED THG [NVERSATN] TO HAVE.“WE WANT TO START HEALTHY NVERSATNS, HAVE A REALLY SUPPORTIVE AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT TO HAVE THOSE NVERSATNS, AND ALSO TO TE SPORTG ANISATNS TO BETTER SUPPORT THEIR ATHLET. AND ALSO, I THK THAT WILL HAVE A REAL RIPPLE EFFECT TO THE MUNY."READ MORE'FOOTBALL IS FOR EVERYBODY': WORLD REACTS TO FOOTBALLER JOSH CAVALLO G OUT AS GAYTHORPE AGRE THAT TN IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS PROGRS AND EQUALY FOR QUEER ATHLET. “I THK THAT OFTEN, A LOT OF IGNORANCE OR MISRMATN JT OM MISUNRSTANDG. SO, PEOPLE DON’T FEEL FORTABLE NECSARILY SUPPORTG OR ENGAGG WH A SPACE THEY DON’T UNRSTAND,” HE SAID. “SO ’S REALLY IMPORTANT AND CCIAL TO TE OM A YOUNG AGE, AND TO TE OM THE TOP AS WELL.” ULTIMATELY, HE HOP TO ENURAGE YOUNG QUEER ATHLET TO “NOT WALK AWAY” OM THEIR SPORT. "SPORT IS A SPACE FOR EVERYONE, AND TO ME, 'S A MEANS FOR MOVEMENT AND HEALTH AND MUNY, AND NO ONE SHOULD EVER BE NIED THAT," HE SAID.“I JT HOPE THAT BY PUTTG THIS PROGRAM OUT THERE, THAT YOUNG QUEER KIDS N E TO THE SPORT, AND ’S A SPACE FOR THEM [WHERE] THEY FEEL WELE AND THEY N PLAY THE SPORT THAT THEY LOVE. IT’S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.” LGBTIQ+ ATRALIANS SEEKG SUPPORT N NTACT QLIFE ON 1800 184 527 OR VIS .  ALSO HAS A LIST OF SUPPORT SERVIC.SHARE6 M READPUBLISHED 1 FEBARY 2022 6:40AMUPDATED 1 FEBARY 2022 7:23AMBY EMMA BRANTISANOSOURCE: SBS NEWSSHARE THIS WH FAY AND IENDSCOPY LKSHAREREMEND FOR YOU

He says he is one of few openly gay gymnasts, both Atralia and to terms wh his sexualy meant, at first, facg a stereotype wh the sport. “It has been an tertg pathway … I know when I was growg up that I was met wh a lot of ments about gymnastics beg for girls, or beg for gay people, ” Thorpe told SBS News. “I knew for a long time that I was gay, and I certaly didn’t feel all that fortable g out - jt the sportg world, ” she told SBS News.

Gay, lbian, bisexual, trans and queer soccer players who are publicly out — now at least 95 total — make up almost 13% of all the athlet petg the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Atralia and New Zealand, Outsports has found. In today’s world, LGBT has gaed acceptance of homosexualy, although rejectn still do prevail ral areas.

ATHLET WHO ARE GAY

Also, they are the on who have ma a notable announcement to openly lbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, and transgenr sportspeople. Likewise, he is also a trampolist and, equally important, the first openly gay athlete to w an Olympic gold medal.

“I don’t see sexualy as fluencg my beliefs or opns or perceptns of anybody, whether they’re gay, straight, bi, trans, experimental, I don’t re. Furthermore, he has openly e out as gay, and th, he is the first high-profile Atralian sportsperson and the first gby footballer the world to be such.

IT'S HARD TO BE A GAY ATHLETE ATRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

Rogers is a former profsnal soccer player and the first openly gay man to pete a top North Amerin profsnal sports league. Consequently, Robbie me out as gay back 2013, and 2016, he married his longtime boyiend, televisn wrer-producer Greg Berlanti. The Phenomenon has also been a part of the first-class ducte the Natnal Gay and Lbian Sports Hall of Fame.

Atralian A-League soccer star Josh Cavallo me out as gay an October vio posted to his social media, beg hailed as the first current male top-flight profsnal soccer player to publicly do so."Hi, everyone," the 21-year-old left back and central midfielr for the Alai Uned soccer team said the vio. I'm a footballer and I'm gay."He ntued: "Growg up I always felt the need to hi myself, you know, bee I was ashamed, and ashamed I'll never be able to do what I love and be gay. In a September terview wh USA Today, 25-year-old mor league baseball player beme the only active baseball profsnal to be out as gay!A member of the Salem-Keizer Volno team as well as an acplished untry mic sger-songwrer, Ruby told USA Today, "I kept thkg about the ltle 14-year-old me, who was sred bee I'm a baseball player who loved untry mic.

Natnal Hockey League prospect Le Prokop me out as gay July, the first active player the league to e out.

GAYS AT THE GAM: TEAM ATRALIA!

Selected the third round of the 2020 NHL Draft by the Nashville Predators, the big fenr has a good shot of makg the regular-season roster."I am proud to publicly tell everyone that I am gay," he wrote a heartfelt msage on social media.

The 28-year-old Natnal Football League player and Rairs fensive leman ma history when he me out as gay on Instagram durg Pri Month, beg the first veteran NFL player to e out as gay while signed to a regular-season ntract."What's up people," Nassib said his Instagram post. I jt wanted to take a quick moment to say that I'm gay."He ntued: "I've been meang to do this for a while now but fally feel fortable gettg off my cht. The Bachelor star and former football player (who was signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted ee agent and was on the practice squad of the Oakland Rairs and the Philalphia Eagl) me out as gay April, sayg he had fally e to terms wh his sexualy and the "next step all of this was sort of lettg people know."He wanted everyone to know he was "still the same Colton everybody met on TV" and is "proud to be gay.".