Atralia's first openly gay NRL player on what got him through his darkt moment | SBS The Feed

Contents:

• GAY RUGBY LEAGUE PLAYER SAYS HE'S SEEN MUCH 'GAYER' THGS IN SPORTS CHANGG ROOMS
• RUGBY LEAGUE: FOOTY BOSS, OPENLY GAY NRL PLAYER FUME AT MARCELO MONTOYA'S HOMOPHOBIC SLUR
• IS THE NRL READY FOR A GAY PLAYER? ONLY IF HE’S HAPPY TO BE RIDICULED, SAYS PL MALONE
• GAY MANLY PLAYER IS LEFT 'VASTATED' BY SEVEN STARS BOYTTG GAME OVER NRL'S FIRST PRI JERSEY
• RUMOUR GAY AFL PLAYERS
• DISMANTLG STEREOTYP: 10 INSPIRG GAY RUGBY PLAYERS AND PERSONALI
• EX NRL PLAYER GAY
• 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
• 'I'VE HAD TO MASK MY FEELGS': A-LEAGUE PLAYER OUT AS GAY EMOTNAL SOCIAL POSTS
• CASEY CONWAY BAR ALL: BEG A GAY ABORIGAL MAN PROFSNAL SPORTAS A FORMER RUGBY LEAGUE PLAYER, A MOL AND A YOUTH WORKER, STRADDLG WORLDS IS WHAT CASEY CONWAY DO BT. BUT BEG A GAY, ABORIGAL MAN THE WORLD OF PROFSNAL SPORT REQUIRED A PARTICULARLY FE BALANCG ACT.CASEY CONWAY SPEAKS ABOUT GBY LEAGUE, RACE AND BARG ALL. SOURCE: RSELL FLEMG / SLUGGERS SWIMWEARATRALIAN SPORT HASN'T PROVEN SELF TO BE A BASTN OF RACIAL OR SOCIAL HARMONY, PECIALLY OF LATE. SO ONE N ONLY IMAGE THE ANXIETY CASEY CONWAY FELT MOVG OM CENTRAL QUEENSLAND TO SYDNEY TO PLAY THE NATNAL RUGBY LEAGUE (NRL) STRAIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.NOT ONLY WAS HE A SMALL-TOWN ABORIGAL TEEN THST TO THE SPOTLIGHT A NEW CY, BUT HE WAS LEADG WHAT HE LLS A "DOUBLE LIFE", EXPLORG HIS SEXUAL INTY SYDNEY’S GAY SCENE WHILE KEEPG HIS RELATNSHIPS PRIVATE OM HIS TEAMMAT.A BARADA MAN, CONWAY GREW UP ONE OF FIVE BOYS THE SMALL TOWN OF BLUFF, A UPLE OF HOURS WT OF ROCKHAMPTON. HE PLAYED FOOTBALL OM THE AGE OF SIX AND WAS TED AT ST BRENDAN'S COLLEGE YEPPOON – A BOARDG SCHOOL WH A SPECIALISED GBY LEAGUE PROGRAM WELL-KNOWN FOR PRODUCG POTENTIAL NRL PLAYERS. IT WAS HERE HE WAS SUTED FOR HIS BIG BREAK WH THE SYDNEY ROOSTERS.JOG THE TEAM'S JERSEY FLEGG OUTF (NOW KNOWN AS THE NRL'S NATNAL YOUTH COMPETN/HOLN CUP) 2003, HE WAS STILL UNSURE ABOUT HIS SEXUALY, BEFORE EVENTUALLY ADMTG TO CLUB OFFICIALS THAT HE WAS GAY."I WAS UP-AND-G, SO THEY WERE UT ABOUT GOG ABOUT THE RIGHT WAY," HE EXPLAED."THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WAS LOOKG AFTER MYSELF AND ACCSG THE SUPPORT THAT I NEED, AND THEY WERE NCERNED ABOUT THE CLUB'S IMAGE."DPE DISCSG HIS SEXUALY WH CLUB MANAGEMENT, CONWAY SAID HE REMAED UNFORTABLE ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF REVEALG HE WAS GAY TO HIS TEAMMAT AS HE STGGLED TO RENCILE HIS RAL UPBRGG WH HIS NEW LIFE SYDNEY.I WAS DOG THAT UNRVER AND FALLY ME TO A POT WHERE I HAD TO START ACCEPTG ."I WAS OUT-AND-ABOUT ON THE [GAY] SCENE AND MEETG PEOPLE. I WAS DOG THAT UNRVER AND FALLY ME TO A POT WHERE I HAD TO START ACCEPTG . I WANTED MORE THAN WHAT I WAS HAVG," HE SAID.IF CONWAY WAS EXPECTG A LS RIGID ENVIRONMENT WHICH TO EXPRS HIMSELF OUTSI THE WORLD OF FOOTBALL, HE SOON DISVERED HE’D HAVE TO NAVIGATE OTHER FORMS OF IGNORANCE OM WH THE GAY MUNY."THERE WAS A LOT OF SUAL RACISM. PEOPLE WOULD SAY THGS LIKE, 'YOU'RE HOT FOR AN ABORIGAL GUY' OR 'I'VE NEVER BEEN WH A BLACK GUY'. I'D THK, 'YOU KNOW THAT’S NOT A PLIMENT?'."TRAVERSG WORLDS AS A MEMBER OF BOTH RACIAL AND SEXUAL MORI PROVED TO BE BOTH A MEFIELD AND A UNIQUE SIGHT TO THE DISCRIMATN FACED BY BOTH MUNI.WHEN ANTHONY MUNDE FAMOLY CLAIMED THAT HOMOSEXUALY AND ABORIGAL CULTURE DIDN'T MIX, FOLLOWG AN EPISO OF THE ABC'S REDFERN NOW PROGRAM 2013, CONWAY WAS AGHAST AT THE THOUGHT OF ANOTHER ABORIGAL FORMER NRL PLAYER G HIS PLATFORM TO PREACH TOLERANCE.FOR SOMEONE LIKE HIM A POSN OF FLUENCE THE ABORIGAL MUNY, WAS REALLY DISAPPOTG"I DON'T THK [HIS MENTS] WERE REFLECTIVE OF THE ABORIGAL MUNY AT ALL. FOR SOMEONE LIKE HIM A POSN OF FLUENCE THE ABORIGAL MUNY, WAS REALLY DISAPPOTG," HE SAID.NOW A FULL-TIME YOUTH VELOPMENT ORDATOR FOR A SMALL NON-FOR-PROF ON QUEENSLAND’S GOLD COAST, CONWAY SAID HE SE THE DIRECT IMPACT OF THOSE TYPE OF MENTS ON YOUNG PEOPLE G TO TERMS WH THEIR SEXUALY."THERE ARE YOUNG PEOPLE OUT THERE HEARG MENTS LIKE THAT AND THEY'RE QUTNG THEMSELV. I KNOW WHAT WAS LIKE TO BE THE UNTRY AND THK, 'OH SH, I THK I'M GAY'. AT THAT TIME THERE WASN'T REALLY A BIG PH THE MEDIA FOR EQUALY," HE SAID."I'VE WORKED WH KIDS WHO ARE HOMELS BEE THEY'VE BEEN KICKED OUT OF HOME WHEN THEY ME OUT [AS GAY]. THEY'RE SUFFERG NOT ONLY BEE THEY DON'T HAVE A HOME, BUT BEE OF THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND A RAFT OF OTHER ISSU."CONWAY SAID HE'S SEEN A SHIFT THE ATTUS OF PROFSNAL ATHLETDPE MENTS LIKE MUNDE'S, CONWAY SAID HE'S SEEN A SHIFT THE ATTUS OF PROFSNAL ATHLET, EVEN THOUGH FEW HAVE CHOSEN TO REVEAL THEY’RE GAY THEMSELV."THERE'S NOT TOO MANY WHO HAVE E FORWARD, BUT I FELY THK THERE'S BEEN A CHANGE. THERE ARE LOTS OF DIFFERENT SPORTG INTI, CLUBS AND S THAT ARE SAYG, 'WE'RE FOR EQUALY'. I THK THAT’S REALLY GREAT. IT'S REALLY POSIVE."CONWAY ME OUT TO HIS FORMER TEAMMAT AFTER HE LEFT THE SYDNEY ROOSTERS 2005 – ALL OF WHOM, HE SAID, WERE PLETELY SUPPORTIVE.AFTER A BRIEF STT THE FNS DTRY, HE BEME THE FACE OF ATRALIAN SWIMWEAR AND UNRWEAR BRAND, SSIEBUM, BREAKG NEW GROUND AS AN ABORIGAL MALE MOL ON THE TERNATNAL STAGE."IT WAS FUN, BUT AT TIM A LTLE B OVERWHELMG. THE BRAND WAS REALLY GROWG AT THAT TIME. I WAS ON GIANT BILLBOARDS LOS ANGEL AND ON THE SI OF B LONDON," HE SAID.NOW THE FACE (AND BODY) OF THE SLUGGERS SWIMWEAR BRAND'S SUMMER MPAIGN, CONWAY STILL TENDS TO FOC ON HIS YOUTH WORK AFTER MORE THAN SIX YEARS HELPG YOUNG PEOPLE TO REENGAGE WH SCHOOL, EMPLOYMENT AND THE MUNY."MOLG IS A SI THG. I LOVE MY WORK AND I’M NOT WILLG TO LET GO OF AT THE MOMENT," HE SAID."I'M TRYG TO E MY MORE PUBLIC PROFILE AS A PLATFORM TO GET MY VIEWS OUT, BUT I ALSO THK YOUNG PEOPLE APPRECIATE THAT I’M NOW JT AN EVERYDAY TYPE OF GUY, RATHER THAN A SGER OR AN ATHLETE. IT HELPS TO GET THOSE MSAG ACROSS."SHARE5 M READPUBLISHED 23 OCTOBER 2015 10:44AMUPDATED 23 OCTOBER 2015 10:47AMBY DREW SHELDRICKTAGSJTICECOUNTRYSOCIAL ISSUNEW SOUTH WALSYDNEYSHARE THIS WH FAY AND IENDSCOPY LKSHAREPOPULAR STORI
• “I KNOW 10 OR 12 GAY AFL PLAYERS” REVEALS JACK VIDGEN ON I’M A CELEB…
• GREG INGLIS URG GAY NRL PLAYERS TO E OUT
• GAY FORMER LEAGUE STAR SLAMS MANLY PLAYERS, LIVERS DRSG ROOM TTH BOMB
• STTO’S LATT: TUCKER, GAY, SUMNER, NOEL

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

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. And a lot of would be seen as beg MUCH ‘gayer’ than a rabow on a jersey.

RUGBY LEAGUE: FOOTY BOSS, OPENLY GAY NRL PLAYER FUME AT MARCELO MONTOYA'S HOMOPHOBIC SLUR

”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. 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.

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

Photo / SuppliedThe CEO of the North Queensland Cowboys has lled Marcelo Montoya out for directg a homophobic slur at Kyle Feldt Friday night's Sunday, New Zealand Warrrs wger Montoya was referred directly to the NRL judiciary for his rogatory ment about Cowboys premiership-wner Feldt durg the Warrrs' goln pot the charge was hand down, Montoya and the Warrrs released a statement apologisg for the slur, which was picked up on the referee's microphone. "We were extremely disappoted to learn a homophobic slur was ed by an opposg player durg our match agast the Warrrs on Friday night, " said Reibel. "Over the weekend, Ian Roberts, the world's first openly gay profsnal gby league player, qutned why the NRL, Warrrs and Cowboys had taken so long to speak publicly about the cint.

Roberts, a former State of Orig and Cowboys player, said he was "sadned" by the Roberts march durg the 44th Sydney Gay and Lbian Mardi Gras Para last month Sydney. 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”. 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 Updated: 11:55 BST, 26 July 2022.

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

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. The players are refg to wear the Everyone League gay pri jersey bee of relig and cultural beliefs.

RUMOUR GAY AFL PLAYERS

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.

'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.

DISMANTLG STEREOTYP: 10 INSPIRG GAY RUGBY PLAYERS AND PERSONALI

As an olr gay man, this isn't unfaiar.

NRL star Toby Rudolf opens up about his same-sex experienc followg Manly Sea Eagl pri jersey sagaCronulla Sharks prop Toby Rudolf 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" 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. 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. In light of recent ntroversy regardg homophobic slurs by Israel Fol, we thought we would she a light on 10 fluential gay gby personali.

EX NRL PLAYER GAY

The players have bee a bean of light bee they overme stereotyp and other challeng faced by homosexual athlet way too often.

In this article, we’ll name ten of the most notable gay gby personali, analyze their acplishments, discs how they are shapg the game today, and asss their impact on the overall perceptn of homosexual profsnal athlet around the world.

That beg said, due to s physily, gby is regard as a “manly” sport, which mak more difficult for gay players to publicly acknowledge their preference.

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

At the same time, there are many misnceptns about this betiful sport, which has led to the margalizatn and targetg of gay players. Some high-profile stars like Israel Fol have recently ma headl due to potentially homophobic posts on social media. This is one of the ma reasons why reprentativ of World Rugby met wh the lears of Internatnal Gay Rugby (IGR) to help eradite homophobia and tolerance om the game.

'I'VE HAD TO MASK MY FEELGS': A-LEAGUE PLAYER OUT AS GAY EMOTNAL SOCIAL POSTS

Notable homosexual gby players and personali. Here’s a list of ten notable gay gby players and how they are shapg the game today.

The very first high-profile gby player to ever e out to the public as gay is former Atralian ternatnal Ian Roberts.

Even though Ian Roberts may have been the first high-profile player to openly adm beg gay, Keegan Hirst was the first to ever do while still active.

CASEY CONWAY BAR ALL: BEG A GAY ABORIGAL MAN PROFSNAL SPORTAS A FORMER RUGBY LEAGUE PLAYER, A MOL AND A YOUTH WORKER, STRADDLG WORLDS IS WHAT CASEY CONWAY DO BT. BUT BEG A GAY, ABORIGAL MAN THE WORLD OF PROFSNAL SPORT REQUIRED A PARTICULARLY FE BALANCG ACT.CASEY CONWAY SPEAKS ABOUT GBY LEAGUE, RACE AND BARG ALL. SOURCE: RSELL FLEMG / SLUGGERS SWIMWEARATRALIAN SPORT HASN'T PROVEN SELF TO BE A BASTN OF RACIAL OR SOCIAL HARMONY, PECIALLY OF LATE. SO ONE N ONLY IMAGE THE ANXIETY CASEY CONWAY FELT MOVG OM CENTRAL QUEENSLAND TO SYDNEY TO PLAY THE NATNAL RUGBY LEAGUE (NRL) STRAIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.NOT ONLY WAS HE A SMALL-TOWN ABORIGAL TEEN THST TO THE SPOTLIGHT A NEW CY, BUT HE WAS LEADG WHAT HE LLS A "DOUBLE LIFE", EXPLORG HIS SEXUAL INTY SYDNEY’S GAY SCENE WHILE KEEPG HIS RELATNSHIPS PRIVATE OM HIS TEAMMAT.A BARADA MAN, CONWAY GREW UP ONE OF FIVE BOYS THE SMALL TOWN OF BLUFF, A UPLE OF HOURS WT OF ROCKHAMPTON. HE PLAYED FOOTBALL OM THE AGE OF SIX AND WAS TED AT ST BRENDAN'S COLLEGE YEPPOON – A BOARDG SCHOOL WH A SPECIALISED GBY LEAGUE PROGRAM WELL-KNOWN FOR PRODUCG POTENTIAL NRL PLAYERS. IT WAS HERE HE WAS SUTED FOR HIS BIG BREAK WH THE SYDNEY ROOSTERS.JOG THE TEAM'S JERSEY FLEGG OUTF (NOW KNOWN AS THE NRL'S NATNAL YOUTH COMPETN/HOLN CUP) 2003, HE WAS STILL UNSURE ABOUT HIS SEXUALY, BEFORE EVENTUALLY ADMTG TO CLUB OFFICIALS THAT HE WAS GAY."I WAS UP-AND-G, SO THEY WERE UT ABOUT GOG ABOUT THE RIGHT WAY," HE EXPLAED."THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WAS LOOKG AFTER MYSELF AND ACCSG THE SUPPORT THAT I NEED, AND THEY WERE NCERNED ABOUT THE CLUB'S IMAGE."DPE DISCSG HIS SEXUALY WH CLUB MANAGEMENT, CONWAY SAID HE REMAED UNFORTABLE ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF REVEALG HE WAS GAY TO HIS TEAMMAT AS HE STGGLED TO RENCILE HIS RAL UPBRGG WH HIS NEW LIFE SYDNEY.I WAS DOG THAT UNRVER AND FALLY ME TO A POT WHERE I HAD TO START ACCEPTG ."I WAS OUT-AND-ABOUT ON THE [GAY] SCENE AND MEETG PEOPLE. I WAS DOG THAT UNRVER AND FALLY ME TO A POT WHERE I HAD TO START ACCEPTG . I WANTED MORE THAN WHAT I WAS HAVG," HE SAID.IF CONWAY WAS EXPECTG A LS RIGID ENVIRONMENT WHICH TO EXPRS HIMSELF OUTSI THE WORLD OF FOOTBALL, HE SOON DISVERED HE’D HAVE TO NAVIGATE OTHER FORMS OF IGNORANCE OM WH THE GAY MUNY."THERE WAS A LOT OF SUAL RACISM. PEOPLE WOULD SAY THGS LIKE, 'YOU'RE HOT FOR AN ABORIGAL GUY' OR 'I'VE NEVER BEEN WH A BLACK GUY'. I'D THK, 'YOU KNOW THAT’S NOT A PLIMENT?'."TRAVERSG WORLDS AS A MEMBER OF BOTH RACIAL AND SEXUAL MORI PROVED TO BE BOTH A MEFIELD AND A UNIQUE SIGHT TO THE DISCRIMATN FACED BY BOTH MUNI.WHEN ANTHONY MUNDE FAMOLY CLAIMED THAT HOMOSEXUALY AND ABORIGAL CULTURE DIDN'T MIX, FOLLOWG AN EPISO OF THE ABC'S REDFERN NOW PROGRAM 2013, CONWAY WAS AGHAST AT THE THOUGHT OF ANOTHER ABORIGAL FORMER NRL PLAYER G HIS PLATFORM TO PREACH TOLERANCE.FOR SOMEONE LIKE HIM A POSN OF FLUENCE THE ABORIGAL MUNY, WAS REALLY DISAPPOTG"I DON'T THK [HIS MENTS] WERE REFLECTIVE OF THE ABORIGAL MUNY AT ALL. FOR SOMEONE LIKE HIM A POSN OF FLUENCE THE ABORIGAL MUNY, WAS REALLY DISAPPOTG," HE SAID.NOW A FULL-TIME YOUTH VELOPMENT ORDATOR FOR A SMALL NON-FOR-PROF ON QUEENSLAND’S GOLD COAST, CONWAY SAID HE SE THE DIRECT IMPACT OF THOSE TYPE OF MENTS ON YOUNG PEOPLE G TO TERMS WH THEIR SEXUALY."THERE ARE YOUNG PEOPLE OUT THERE HEARG MENTS LIKE THAT AND THEY'RE QUTNG THEMSELV. I KNOW WHAT WAS LIKE TO BE THE UNTRY AND THK, 'OH SH, I THK I'M GAY'. AT THAT TIME THERE WASN'T REALLY A BIG PH THE MEDIA FOR EQUALY," HE SAID."I'VE WORKED WH KIDS WHO ARE HOMELS BEE THEY'VE BEEN KICKED OUT OF HOME WHEN THEY ME OUT [AS GAY]. THEY'RE SUFFERG NOT ONLY BEE THEY DON'T HAVE A HOME, BUT BEE OF THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND A RAFT OF OTHER ISSU."CONWAY SAID HE'S SEEN A SHIFT THE ATTUS OF PROFSNAL ATHLETDPE MENTS LIKE MUNDE'S, CONWAY SAID HE'S SEEN A SHIFT THE ATTUS OF PROFSNAL ATHLET, EVEN THOUGH FEW HAVE CHOSEN TO REVEAL THEY’RE GAY THEMSELV."THERE'S NOT TOO MANY WHO HAVE E FORWARD, BUT I FELY THK THERE'S BEEN A CHANGE. THERE ARE LOTS OF DIFFERENT SPORTG INTI, CLUBS AND S THAT ARE SAYG, 'WE'RE FOR EQUALY'. I THK THAT’S REALLY GREAT. IT'S REALLY POSIVE."CONWAY ME OUT TO HIS FORMER TEAMMAT AFTER HE LEFT THE SYDNEY ROOSTERS 2005 – ALL OF WHOM, HE SAID, WERE PLETELY SUPPORTIVE.AFTER A BRIEF STT THE FNS DTRY, HE BEME THE FACE OF ATRALIAN SWIMWEAR AND UNRWEAR BRAND, SSIEBUM, BREAKG NEW GROUND AS AN ABORIGAL MALE MOL ON THE TERNATNAL STAGE."IT WAS FUN, BUT AT TIM A LTLE B OVERWHELMG. THE BRAND WAS REALLY GROWG AT THAT TIME. I WAS ON GIANT BILLBOARDS LOS ANGEL AND ON THE SI OF B LONDON," HE SAID.NOW THE FACE (AND BODY) OF THE SLUGGERS SWIMWEAR BRAND'S SUMMER MPAIGN, CONWAY STILL TENDS TO FOC ON HIS YOUTH WORK AFTER MORE THAN SIX YEARS HELPG YOUNG PEOPLE TO REENGAGE WH SCHOOL, EMPLOYMENT AND THE MUNY."MOLG IS A SI THG. I LOVE MY WORK AND I’M NOT WILLG TO LET GO OF AT THE MOMENT," HE SAID."I'M TRYG TO E MY MORE PUBLIC PROFILE AS A PLATFORM TO GET MY VIEWS OUT, BUT I ALSO THK YOUNG PEOPLE APPRECIATE THAT I’M NOW JT AN EVERYDAY TYPE OF GUY, RATHER THAN A SGER OR AN ATHLETE. IT HELPS TO GET THOSE MSAG ACROSS."SHARE5 M READPUBLISHED 23 OCTOBER 2015 10:44AMUPDATED 23 OCTOBER 2015 10:47AMBY DREW SHELDRICKTAGSJTICECOUNTRYSOCIAL ISSUNEW SOUTH WALSYDNEYSHARE THIS WH FAY AND IENDSCOPY LKSHAREPOPULAR STORI

Currently a Wakefield Try prop, Hirst has bee one of the most notable gay athlet, earng himself a startg role after signg a ntract wh the League si 2016. Sam Stanley beme the first openly gay Rugby Unn and Sevens player the UK.

Although he never played gby at a profsnal level, Mark Bgham has bee an inic figure for gay gby players and sportspeople around the world. Known for his heroics durg the September 11 attacks, Bgham was a robt send-row man who played for the gay-clive San Francis Fog RFC.

“I KNOW 10 OR 12 GAY AFL PLAYERS” REVEALS JACK VIDGEN ON I’M A CELEB…

The Mark Kendall Bgham Memorial Tournament, simply known as the Bgham Cup, is a biennial gay gby unn tournament which was held for the first time 2002. Thomas publicly me out 2009 and has sce scribed his experience as a secretly gay player, revealg how the social prsure and stereotyp pose a signifint challenge for many athlet today. The Welshman is also a TV personaly and a voted activist for the LGBT e, wng “Gay Sports Personaly of the De” at the Stonewall awards ceremony London back 2015.

As the tle says is their any that you know * Please keep factual and only discs openly gay players. This is not to be about bashg gay players. Bee his name don't promote homosexualy, his star tattoos fely do.

No one said we red if they were or not 's jt a simple topic for to discs, n hardly be classed as slanr unls your homophobic.

GREG INGLIS URG GAY NRL PLAYERS TO E OUT

he is married to Tom Waterhoe's sister, uld still be gay though. I work wh a lot of gay people my office they're not bad people, que funny and entertag tbh.

GAY FORMER LEAGUE STAR SLAMS MANLY PLAYERS, LIVERS DRSG ROOM TTH BOMB

Given the number of people who have played footy over the years, I would suggt the chanc are there has been hundreds of gay blok playg.

There's a few people (ex players) I've always thought might be gay, not that I'm sayg they are, but for example: Wayne Pearce, Pl Vt, Terry Hill, Greg Alexanr. btw if i was an nrl player i would lie and say i was gay to get a petive advantage bee maybe some guys then wouldn't want to get to too much of a wrtle wh me.

the tackle id be sayg a gay voice, "omg y baby grapple me, twist harr damn , ohhh yeah that feels good baby". who r pendg on what stats you believe 1 10 is gay soo about 40 or so of the 400 ntracted players each year uld be but really s a non issue.

STTO’S LATT: TUCKER, GAY, SUMNER, NOEL

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.

Alai Uned midfielr Josh Cavallo hop more profsnal footballers will follow his lead and publicly announce that they’re gay. Cavallo on Wednday beme a rary profsnal sport: an openly gay male athlete.