‘No words’: gay Atralian footballer Josh Cavallo lls out homophobic crowd abe | A-League Men | The Guardian

Contents:

• ‘I HAVE BEEN FIGHTG MY SEXUALY’: A-LEAGUE MEN PLAYER JOSH CAVALLO OUT AS GAY
• ‘NO WORDS’: GAY ATRALIAN FOOTBALLER JOSH CAVALLO LLS OUT HOMOPHOBIC CROWD ABE
• ANDY BRENNAN IS FIRST MALE ATRALIAN FOOTBALLER TO E OUT AS GAY
• “I KNOW 10 OR 12 GAY AFL PLAYERS” REVEALS JACK VIDGEN ON I’M A CELEB…
• WHY IS AFL THE ONLY PRO SPORT TO NEVER HAVE AN OPENLY GAY MALE PLAYER?
• WHICH AFL PLAYERS ARE GAY?
• THE GAY MAN'S GUI TO ATRALIAN FOOTBALL'S HOTTT HUNKS
• ‘SAD’ TTH AS ATRALIA’S FIRST OPENLY GAY ACTIVE FOOTBALL JOSH CAVALLO SPOKE ON THE PROJECT
• SAT BE 'GAY IN' AHEAD OF AFL'S GURAL PRI GAME
• 'I'VE HAD TO MASK MY FEELGS': A-LEAGUE PLAYER OUT AS GAY EMOTNAL SOCIAL POSTS
• ‘I N UNRSTAND’: GAY PLAYERS THE AFL ‘CHOOSG NOT TO BE FIRST’ OUT PUBLICLY SAYS GILL MCLACHLAN
• JOSH CAVALLO BE FIRST ATRALIAN MALE FOOTBALLER TO E OUT AS GAY WHILE STILL PLAYG
• 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
• OPENLY GAY MALE PLAYERS WOULD BE WELED THE AFL: SELWOOD
• HOW LGBTQI+ AFL FANS HAVE BAND TOGETHER TO CREATE A WORK OF PRI GROUPSTHE AFL MIGHT BE BY NAVIGATG RONAVIS, BUT S FANS REMA AS LOYAL AS EVER. FOR LGBTQI+ ATRALIANS WHO HAVE PREVLY REPORTED FEELG UNWELE BY THE MEN'S GAME, THEY HAVE BEEN MOBILISG TO FE A NEW SENSE OF BELONGG.RABOW CROWS MEMBERS CELEBRATE AFTER THE 2019 AFLW GRAND FAL SOURCE: FACEBOOKPL CONIGL HAS BEEN A PAID MEMBER OF THE ESSENDON BOMBERS FOR 26 YEARS.BUT LIKE MANY LGBTQI+ ATRALIANS, HE’S FACED DIFFICULTI RENCILG HIS SEXUALY AND LOVE OF ATRALIAN L FOOTBALL.THE 41-YEAR-OLD IS THE CURRENT PRINT OF THE PURPLE BOMBERS, ONE OF 16 LGBTQI+ SUPPORTER GROUPS ASSOCIATED WH THEIR RPECTIVE AFL CLUBS ACROSS THE LEAGUE.“WHAT WE DO IS CREATE A SAFE SPACE FOR LGBTQI+ FANS AT THE FOOTBALL AND A SENSE OF BELONGG,” HE TOLD SBS NEWS.“BUT WE ALSO SEEK TO TE AFL FANS AROUND ATRALIA ABOUT LGBTQI+ ISSU. WE WANT TO SHARE STORI AND TALK ABOUT REAL-LIFE EVENTS SO PEOPLE N UNRSTAND WHAT ’S LIKE TO BE A MEMBER OF THE LGBTQI+ MUNY.”PURPLE BOMBERS PRINT PL CONIGL SOURCE: SUPPLIEDMR CONIGL SAID “THERE IS A LOT THAT YOU HAVE TO NTEND WH'' WHEN ATTENDG AFL MATCH AS AN LGBTQI+ PERSON.“IF AN UMPIRE OR OPPOSN PLAYER DO SOMETHG A SUPPORTER DON’T LIKE, THEY MAY CHOOSE TO E HOMOPHOBIC LANGUAGE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THERE MAY BE GAY OR LBIAN PEOPLE PRENT. IT MAK YOU FEEL LIKE LS OF A PERSON, AND SOME WAYS, YOU DON’T FEEL SAFE.” MR CONIGL SAID THE GROUP STARTED AFTER HE AND THE GROUP’S FOUNR WENT TO AN ESSENDON FUNCTN 2014 WH THEIR PARTNERS, BUT DIDN’T FEEL FORTABLE TO BE THEMSELV.“WE WENT HOME REALLY TRATED AND CID TO LL THE CLUB AND CHECK WHETHER THERE WAS TERT SUPPORTG AN LGBTQI+ FAN CLUB,” HE SAID.AND THERE WAS.THE PURPLE BOMBERS HAS NTUED TO GROW EACH YEAR AND ALMOST ALL AFL CLUBS NOW HAVE DITED LGBTQI+ FAN GROUPS, WHICH OPERATE AS PART OF A ALN LLED THE AFL PRI COLLECTIVE.REPRENTATIV OM EACH GROUP MEET A FEW TIM A YEAR TO DISCS MON ISSU AND LLABORATE AT VAR AFL EVENTS AND PRI FTIVALS AROUND ATRALIA.READ MORE'MARDI GRAS GIV LGBTIQ+ PEOPLE WH NO HOPE A REASON TO LIVE'THE RABOW CROWS, THE SUPPORTER GROUP OF THE ALAI CROWS, STARTED AUGT 2016 AS A FACEBOOK PAGE.SCE THEN, “THGS HAVE BLOSSOMED REALLY QUICKLY”, SAID S PRINT AND FOUNR BRETT MCALONEY.“THERE IS A REAL MARARIE - AND THAT’S NOT JT WH THE RABOW CROWS.” “WE ALSO HAVE A REAL CLOSE MARARIE WH ALL THE OTHER QUEER SUPPORTER GROUPS ACROSS THE AFL. WE TRAVEL TERSTATE AND TCH UP WH THE OTHER SUPPORTER GROUPS. “IT IS PROVIDG THAT SAFE SPACE AND CREATG VISIBILY ... TELLG THOSE KIDS AT HOME, THOSE ADULTS STILL STGGLG [WH THEIR SEXUALY], THAT 'S OKAY TO BE WHO YOU ARE.”RABOW CROWS PRINT BRETT MCALONEY SOURCE: SUPPLIEDA STUDY BY WTERN SYDNEY UNIVERSY AND CRICKET VICTORIA WAS MISSNED LAST YEAR TO UNRSTAND HOW LGBTQI+ SUPPORTER GROUPS ULD BE IATED AND SUPPORTED THE BIG BASH LEAGUE.AS PART OF THE STUDY, WHICH WAS RELEASED EARLIER THIS YEAR, EIGHT PARTICIPANTS SHARED THEIR EXPERIENCE OF NNG LGBTQI+ SUPPORTER GROUPS WH THE AFL. “ONE OF THE THGS THAT STCK MOST ABOUT THE AFL SUPPORTER GROUPS WAS HOW MUCH POSIVELY IMPROVED LGBTQI+ PEOPLE’S LIV,” LEAD THOR RYAN STORR SAID.“THEY ULD ENGAGE AND MEET PEOPLE AND HAVE NEW IENDS, HAVE A PURPOSE THAT WEEKEND, BE PART OF A CLUB AND HAVE AN INTY.“SOME PEOPLE SPOKE REALLY EPLY ABOUT HOW AFFECTED THEM THROUGH THE UNCERTATY OF THE MARRIAGE EQUALY SURVEY, WHEN THEIR MENTAL HEALTH WAS NOT A GOOD PLACE, BUT THE SUPPORT OF THEIR SUPPORTERS GROUP AND THEIR IENDS THERE REALLY HELPED THEM THROUGH .”AFL PRI COLLECTIVE MEMBERS AT THE MIDSUMMA PRI MARCH MELBOURNE THIS YEAR SOURCE: FACEBOOKDR STORR SAID THERE WERE SEVERAL TRANSGENR PEOPLE WHO SAID THEY WOULD NEVER HAVE OTHERWISE ENGAGED WH THE SPORT.“BUT BEE THEY KNEW PEOPLE AND THERE WAS A SUPPORTIVE GROUP, THEY ACTUALLY STARTED ATTENDG MATCH.”DR STORR SAID THE STUDY FOUND MANY OF THE AFL GROUPS BEGAN DUE TO A PERCEPTN THAT MATCH WERE NOT AS WELG AS THEY ULD BE.“IT ALL STARTED WH A VERY PASSNATE AND DITED BUNCH OF VOLUNTEERS WHO DID ALL THE WORK OFF THEIR OWN BACK,” HE SAID.“SOME OF THE PEOPLE TERVIEWED SAID THEY GREW UP WH AFL ... BUT THEY DIDN’T REALLY FEEL LIKE THEY ULD BE PART OF AND CLUD.”“THE AFL SUPPORTER GROUPS REALISE THAT AND THAT THEY N PROVI A WAY TO FEEL NNECTED TO THE CLUB A WAY THAT MEANS SOMETHG TO THEM.”READ MOREAFL PLAYERS TAKE A KNEE SUPPORT OF BLACK LIV MATTER MOVEMENTPREV REARCH HAS SHOWN AFL ENVIRONMENTS HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN AS LGBTQI+ IENDLY AS THEY ULD BE.A VICHEALTH REPORT ON LGBTQI+ CLN THE AFL 2017 SHOWED THAT HALF OF LGBTQI+ RPONNTS DID NOT VIEW GENERAL AFL MATCH AS A SAFE OR WELG ENVIRONMENT.A 2015 STUDY FOUND 80 PER CENT OF ATRALIANS VOLVED SPORT HAVE WNSED HOMOPHOBIA, WHICH LED TO THE CREATN OF THE PRI SPORT INX, AN STMENT SPECIFILLY SIGNED TO ASSS LGBTQI+ CLN ATRALIAN SPORT.FANS, CLUBS AND SPORTS LEAGU OF ALL PERSUASNS BENEF OM HAVG AN CLIVE ENVIRONMENT, DR STORR SAID.“WHEN SPORTS ANISATNS ENGAGE LGBTQI+ DIVERSY, N ATTRACT NEW FANS, BRG PEOPLE TO THE SPORT,” HE SAID.“THEY’LL POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA, MAYBE GO TO THE PRI GAM. IT BENEFS EVERYBODY BEE THE SPORT IS GETTG NEW FANS AND CREASED REVENUE.”CORONAVIS IMPACTPRR TO THE START OF THE 2020 SEASON AND THE RONAVIS SHUTDOWN, THE PURPLE BOMBERS HAD MORE THAN 100 MEMBERS SIGNED UP AND A RAFT OF EVENTS PLANNED FOR THE YEAR.MR CONIGL SAID WHILE THE VIS “PRETTY MUCH STALLED” MOST OF WHAT WAS PLANNED - CLUDG A LARGE -PERSON INTERNATNAL DAY AGAST HOMOPHOBIA, TRANSPHOBIA AND BIPHOBIA CELEBRATN - THE PURPLE BOMBERS HAVE BEEN RALLYG TOGETHER ONLE.“WE ME UP WH SOME FANTASTIC IAS THAT I KNOW WE WOULDN’T HAVE EVEN NSIRED A NON-COVID ENVIRONMENT. IT’S PROBABLY STRENGTHENED OUR MMENT TO MUNY ENGAGEMENT AS OUR NUMBER PRRY MOVG FORWARD,” HE SAID.“WE ARE CURRENTLY ROLLG OUT OUR ONLE WATCH PARTI FOR THE FIRST FEW ROUNDS WHERE MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS N WATCH THE GAME TOGETHER WHILST NNECTED TO ZOOM TO CELEBRATE THE GAME AND DISCS TACTICS.”MR CONIGL SAID HE AND OTHER MEMBERS HAVE HELPED EACH OTHER GET THROUGH THE PANMIC.“WE HAVE HAD REGULAR MEETGS AND REGULAR TCH-UPS TO KEEP OUR NNECTN AND MOMENTUM DURG THE PANMIC - WAS GREAT TO HAVE THE MTEE NNECTNS AS SOMETHG TO LOOK FORWARD TO.”RABOW CROWS MEMBERS GATHERED TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME MONTHS TO WATCH A MATCH AN ALAI PUB A FEW WEEKENDS AGO SOURCE: SUPPLIEDMR MCALONEY SAID MANY OF THE RABOW CROWS’ SCHLED ACTIVI, CLUDG A MEET-UP WH THE PURPLE BOMBERS FOR A GAME MELBOURNE, HAVE ALSO BEEN UNABLE TO PROCEED.BUT LIKE THE BOMBERS’ PRI GROUP, CROWS MEMBERS HAVE BEEN FDG WAYS TO KEEP NTACT.“WE HAVE ALSO HELD A FEW ONLE 'WATCH PARTI' WHEN OLD CROWS GAM WERE BEG PLAYED ON TV SO PEOPLE ULD TCH UP, AND A GROUP OF MEMBERS WENT MPG ON THE JUNE LONG WEEKEND WHEN SOUTH ATRALIA’S TRAVEL RTRICTNS WERE LIFTED.”“WE HELD A DNER AT A PUB A FEW WEEKS AGO, WHICH WE BOOKED OUT THE DG ROOM TO KEEP SOCIAL DISTANCG BUT WATCH THE GAME TOGETHER AND TCH UP FOR THE FIRST TIME MONTHS. WE ARE EXCED TO HAVE FOOTY BACK ON!”INCLIVY THE WOMEN'S GAMEMR CONIGL SAID “THERE'S A LOT OF WORK” TO BE DONE BEFORE THE AFL ULD MATCH THE LGBTQI+ ACCEPTANCE THE WOMEN'S LEAGUE, THE AFLW. THERE ARE SEVERAL OPENLY-GAY PLAYERS, CLUDG A UPLE, THE  AFLW, AND EARLIER THIS YEAR SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE LED A STREET MELBOURNE'S WT TO WATCH A PRI MARCH THE LEAD UP TO A MATCH BETWEEN THE WTERN BULLDOGS AND THE CARLTON BLU.“IF YOU LOOK AT THE AFLW, THEY ARE DOG SOME GREAT THGS THE QUEER SPACE. BUT I THK WE ARE NOT MOVG FORWARD AS QUICKLY AS WE ULD BE THE MEN’S GAME,” MR CONIGL SAID.PLAYERS N THROUGH THE PRI BANNER DURG THE ROUND 3, 2020 AFLW MATCH BETWEEN THE WTERN BULLDOGS AND CARLTON. SOURCE: AAPTHE AFL DID NOT RPOND TO A REQUT FOR MENT OM SBS NEWS. IN 2017, THE AFL WAS NAMED THE GURAL ORGANISATN OF THE YEAR AT THE PRI SPORT AWARDS, A YEAR AFTER HELD THE VERY FIRST ‘PRI GAME’ BETWEEN THE ST KILDA SATS AND SYDNEY SWANS.WH THE MATCH NOW AN ANNUAL FIXTURE, THERE HAVE BEEN LLS FOR A PRI ROUND, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN UNHEED.“I KNOW SOME PEOPLE ARE A LTLE B FUNNY ABOUT THAT AND SAY ‘WHY BRG POLICS TO FOOTBALL?' BUT MAKG SURE AN ENVIRONMENT IS CLIVE, IENDLY AND ACCEPTG OF EVERYONE - HOW IS THAT A POLIL THG?” MR MCALONEY SAID. MR MCALONEY SAID PRI GROUPS WILL PROVI SUPPORT FOR FUTURE GENERATNS OF YOUNG LGBTQI+ AFL FANS ATRALIA.“IT CERTALY TOOK QUE A NUMBER OF YEARS TO E TO AN ACCEPTANCE OF WHO I WAS."“I DON’T WANT OTHER PEOPLE TO GO THROUGH WHAT I FELT AND EXPERIENCED.”LGBTIQ+ ATRALIANS SEEKG SUPPORT N NTACT QLIFE ON 1800 184 527 OR VIS ALSO HAS A LIST OF SUPPORT SERVIC.SHARE8 M READPUBLISHED 16 JULY 2020 2:49PMUPDATED 23 FEBARY 2022 3:41PMBY EVAN YOUNGTAGSSPORTLIFESOCIAL DIVERSYSOCIAL ISSUNEW SOUTH WALSYDNEYSHARE THIS WH FAY AND IENDSCOPY LKSHAREREMEND FOR YOU
• ‘WOULD BE WORTH ALL THAT PRSURE?’: WHY THERE ARE NO OUT GAY MEN PLAYG AFL
• THE AFL’S GROWG PROBLEM WH VISIBILY OF GAY PLAYERS
• JOEL CREASEY OPENS UP ON GAY PLAYERS THE AFL

‘I HAVE BEEN FIGHTG MY SEXUALY’: A-LEAGUE MEN PLAYER JOSH CAVALLO OUT AS GAY

A-League Men midfielr Josh Cavallo says he knows there are other players “livg silence” after beg the only known current male top-flight profsnal footballer the world to e out as gay. Labor senate lear and openly gay woman, Penny Wong, tweeted: “Any young person who is stgglg wh their inty, or feelg exclud or judged, n look today to Josh Cavallo. Amerin former Leeds player Robbie Rogers also announced he was gay on retirg 2013, before returng to the field wh LA Galaxy and wng the MLS Cup to bee the first openly gay male athlete to w a major profsnal team sports tle the Uned 2019, former Newstle Jets player Andy Brennan beme Atralia’s first profsnal male footballer to e out while still playg the game.

“It is astonishg to know that there are currently no gay profsnal footballers who are out and actively playg, not only Atralia, but around the world.

Josh Cavallo, who last year beme the only openly gay profsnal top flight men’s footballer the world, says he has “no words” to scribe his disappotment at beg targeted by homophobic abe durg an A-League Men game over the Alai Uned player me on as a send-half substute durg the Reds’ away game at Melbourne Victory on Saturday night and said afterwards that he had received abe om the crowd at AAMI 22-year-old received acclaim om across the globe October when he me out via Alai’s social media channels. “I’m not gog to pretend that I didn’t see or hear the homophobic abe at the game last night, ” Cavallo wrote on Instagram on Sunday.

‘NO WORDS’: GAY ATRALIAN FOOTBALLER JOSH CAVALLO LLS OUT HOMOPHOBIC CROWD ABE

”Cavallo also said he was targeted after the game on Instagram and ed his own post to ll out the social media platform for the way als wh homophobic abe.

Jack Vidgen, one of the stars on Atralia’s I’m A Celebry… Get Me Out Of Here!, has revealed that he knows 10 or 12 gay Atralian Football League players, reports. Vidgen, who ma a name for himself on Atralia’s Got Talent, was talkg about homosexualy sport wh former AFL stars Travis Vare and Robert “Dipper” DiPerdomeni.

“I probably know about 10 or 12 footy players, I’d never say their name, that are gay but they wouldn’t e out, ” Vidgen said. 30pmFew people realise the men’s AFL is the only major profsnal male sport the world to never have had an openly gay or bisexual player, even after is why the cisn by the NFL’s Carl Nassib to e out as gay this week while still playg Amerin football ph Atralian football further off the crowd field of cln.

ANDY BRENNAN IS FIRST MALE ATRALIAN FOOTBALLER TO E OUT AS GAY

Nassib may be the first active NFL player to e out, but he’s actually the 16th gay NFL player sce 1975 – that’s close to the same number of players on an AFL Vegas Rairs fensive end Carl Nassib me out this APThe total visibily of gay or bisexual AFL players be even more ncerng when you nsir the multiple gay and bisexual players basketball, ice hockey, baseball, gby unn, gby league, cricket, soccer, and smaller sports like curlg, hurlg and lacrosse. However, ’s important to first rrect the mis-perceptn that homophobia is ls of a problem bee is assumed most players are gay. It also ters many girls, both straight and gay, om playg ntact sports like AFL or rearch has found between 15-20 per cent of female AFL players are not heterosexual.

Visibily is clearly important, particularly to children, but the visibily of male AFL players is a symptom of ser a problem that has long been ignored by the AFL and other erng is extensive evince om Atralia and overseas that gay and bisexual children, as well as heterosexual youth, are beg harmed by systemic homophobic behavurs muny and school sport settgs. Dpe this evince, I often hear sport lears and ernment officials say “thgs are a lot better for gay people sport the days. That’s not what we boys and girls who me out to others sport were signifintly more likely to report homophobic victimisatn than those who remaed the closet.

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

LoadgBeyond Blue has found experienc of homophobic discrimatn sport is associated wh clil anxiety and prsn, risk factors for suici.

Ian Roberts, Atralia’s first openly gay athlete, has been llg on sport and ernment lears to protect young people om homophobic abe sce 1997.

WHY IS AFL THE ONLY PRO SPORT TO NEVER HAVE AN OPENLY GAY MALE PLAYER?

This rearch found most activy to addrs this problem is beg driven by small chari, such as Pri Cup or Proud2Play, or muny sport clubs, while the mments ma by the lears of the AFL and the other sports have not been players om the Yarra Glen Football Club take part rearch nducted to better unrstand the drivers and harm ed by homophobic language sport.

WHICH AFL PLAYERS ARE GAY?

The club has been at the foreont of tacklg Monash UniversyOne of those papers, published the world’s top sport dtry journal, said erng bodi e rabow-themed social media posts and pri gam to create a false illn (ln) they are takg actn on homophobia, when realy, almost nothg is beg done beyond “lip service or happy talk. ”Our own rearch has found the AFL has done ls on the issue of homophobia than any other major sport Atralia, or globally. Olympic legend Ian Thorpe mpaigned Febary 2020 on the Relig Discrimatn Alex EllghsenThere is no mentn of LGBT people nor of any fundg to addrs homophobia sport.

The omissn of LGBT people needs to be urgently fixed and an vtigatn is need to terme why homophobia sport is nsistently ernments and sport lears start prrisg protectg children om harmful homophobic behavurs sport, we’ll be talkg about the lack of openly gay male athlet the AFL and other sports for many years to Denison is a behavural science rearcher at Monash Universy’s School of Social Scienc who vtigat solutns to homophobia sport.

There are so many different typ of sexual orientatn om heterosexual through to asexual, homosexual, bisexual and more.

THE GAY MAN'S GUI TO ATRALIAN FOOTBALL'S HOTTT HUNKS

While beg the face of a gay movement might sound good theory, when ’s your face and private life splashed through the media, ’s a lot to take . While Rugby Atralia acted the right manner and termated his posn, shows we have a long way to e before beg gay is accepted. If beg gay don’t affect their performance (which clearly don’t), then why is somethg they should have to brg up the first place?

While we have e a long way when to LGBT rights, we still have a long way to go towards equaly and breakg down barriers and there’s no way of predictg the effect of g out gay.

‘SAD’ TTH AS ATRALIA’S FIRST OPENLY GAY ACTIVE FOOTBALL JOSH CAVALLO SPOKE ON THE PROJECT

If you want to ppot another reason that gay athlet are proment the media, ’s thanks to the gay stereotyp that are monplace society. Acrdg to Jack Vidgen, a star on Atralia’s “I’m A Celebry… Get Me Out Of Here”, he personally knows at least 10 or 12 AFL players who are gay.

This support needs to e om ach, managers, fans, teammat, and society as a whole, but orr to get there, we need to end the discrimatn, excln, and stereotyp, so that beg gay be a non-issue.

SAT BE 'GAY IN' AHEAD OF AFL'S GURAL PRI GAME

Send your suggtns via @newsHQ | @the_mattyoung7 David Pock (Super 15)The Wallabi skipper has been outspoken agast homophobia and is a strong advote of gay marriage. Alai Uned football Josh Cavallo has bee the first Atralian footballer to e out as gay while actively playg the 21-year-old took to social media on Wednday to “publicly announce I am gay”, jog a select group of high-level footballers across the world who have e out, almost all after their playg his brave announcement has exposed the dark secret of men’s football and sport general when to players beg open about who they really are.

”Other active and openly gay mal playg profsnal football elsewhere the world clu Coll Mart, who plays for San Diego Loyal the send tier of football the USA, as well as Phuti Lekoloane, who plays South Ai’s third tier.

” While several Atralian women’s players cludg Sam Kerr, Michelle Heyman and Tameka Yallop are all openly gay, is still rare the men’s game.

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

Asie women’s pta Kerr tweeted: “Good for you @JoshuaCavallo” gay Atralian Senator Penny Wong praised Cavallo, sayg: “Any young person who is stgglg wh their inty, or feelg exclud or judged, n look today to Josh Cavallo.

‘I N UNRSTAND’: GAY PLAYERS THE AFL ‘CHOOSG NOT TO BE FIRST’ OUT PUBLICLY SAYS GILL MCLACHLAN

It might not be a scriptor the St Kilda fenr ever expected, but, acrdg to Jason Ball (Atralian Football's first openly gay male player), the scriptn is que, a 28-year-old centre half-back for Victorian untry club Yarra Glen, explaed how highly Gilbert is thought of by the lbian, gay, bisexual, transgenr, tersex and qutng (LGBTIQ) muny.

"I me to unrstand a lot of the homophobic language and behavur wasn't g om a place of hatred towards me or gay people, but rather jt ignorance and not knowg the impact on me, " Ball said. "(They weren't) necsarily directed at me, but every time I would hear those words, felt like a remr if they found out I was gay, I wouldn't be accepted. "Acrdg to the study Out On The Fields, which documented the experienc of gay, lbian and bisexual people team sports, 87 per cent of young gay Atralians felt pelled to hi their sexualy some hid his sexualy om his football club for many years, but he had ma a promise to himself he would not lie about if ever knew tryg to fabrite tal about experienc wh women would get him ught was openly gay while studyg at Melbourne Universy, so when an old school iend me to the football club, Ball's sexualy soon beme an open secret, although he remaed unaware others night after trag, while talkg to a teammate, the nversatn shifted and Ball was asked about his personal life.

JOSH CAVALLO BE FIRST ATRALIAN MALE FOOTBALLER TO E OUT AS GAY WHILE STILL PLAYG

He was able to proudly intify as a gay cisn to e out publicly was supported by Yarra Glen, which ntu to back Ball his 's experienc have shown him people are pable of change. "Gilbert believ the AFL is ready for s first openly gay player, but only when a person feels fortable enough to go down that path. Alai Uned midfielr Josh Cavallo hop more profsnal footballers will follow his lead and publicly announce that they’re gay.

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

“It’s astonishg to know that there are currently no gay profsnal footballers who are out and actively playg, not only Atralia, but around the world. AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan says he n unrstand why gay players the men’s petn wouldn’t want to e out due to the “prsure and weight” of beg the first to do so.

Start your ee trial now >“The first thg I’d say is, I am very fortable there are gay male players and I am very fortable ( sayg) they are known to their teammat, ” McLachlan said on Monday. And those wh flawsListen below or subscribe Apple Podsts or SpotifyThe AFL remas one of the only sportg s Atralia whout an openly gay player. Alai Uned’s Josh Cavallo has publicly e out as gay, beg the first male profsnal Atralian footballer to do so durg their playg 21-year-old young Socceroo ma the announcement on Wednday, clarg he was “proud to publicly announce I am gay” an emotnal statement on Twter.

He said he wanted to create a safe space for others to e active and openly gay mal playg profsnal football elsewhere the world clu Coll Mart, who plays for San Diego Loyal the send tier of football the USA, as well as Phuti Lekoloane, who plays South Ai’s third his statement, Cavallo said he knew the potential negative repercsns of his announcement but hoped his cisn to e out would spire other closeted male footballers and “show that everyone is wele the game of football”. To my fay and iends – thank you, pecially Tommy and David for makg possible for me to say proudly and publicly that I’m gay. 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.

OPENLY GAY MALE PLAYERS WOULD BE WELED THE AFL: SELWOOD

“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. Geelong pta Joel Selwood says he would be “proud” to see a male AFL player e out as gay, clarg there is now a “safety blanket” place terms of club the Cats lnched their specially signed jumper for Friday night’s Pri Round AFLW clash wh Collgwood at GMHBA Stadium, Selwood said any openly gay male player would be weled.

”What is seen as a more acceptg AFL men’s culture after Alai Uned A-League player Josh Cavallo revealed late last year he was gay, beg the first man top-tier football worldwi to do so.

Football Atralia has issued Melbourne Victory wh a show e notice after Cavallo said he received homophobic abe om the club’s supporters durg an A-League clash.

HOW LGBTQI+ AFL FANS HAVE BAND TOGETHER TO CREATE A WORK OF PRI GROUPSTHE AFL MIGHT BE BY NAVIGATG RONAVIS, BUT S FANS REMA AS LOYAL AS EVER. FOR LGBTQI+ ATRALIANS WHO HAVE PREVLY REPORTED FEELG UNWELE BY THE MEN'S GAME, THEY HAVE BEEN MOBILISG TO FE A NEW SENSE OF BELONGG.RABOW CROWS MEMBERS CELEBRATE AFTER THE 2019 AFLW GRAND FAL SOURCE: FACEBOOKPL CONIGL HAS BEEN A PAID MEMBER OF THE ESSENDON BOMBERS FOR 26 YEARS.BUT LIKE MANY LGBTQI+ ATRALIANS, HE’S FACED DIFFICULTI RENCILG HIS SEXUALY AND LOVE OF ATRALIAN L FOOTBALL.THE 41-YEAR-OLD IS THE CURRENT PRINT OF THE PURPLE BOMBERS, ONE OF 16 LGBTQI+ SUPPORTER GROUPS ASSOCIATED WH THEIR RPECTIVE AFL CLUBS ACROSS THE LEAGUE.“WHAT WE DO IS CREATE A SAFE SPACE FOR LGBTQI+ FANS AT THE FOOTBALL AND A SENSE OF BELONGG,” HE TOLD SBS NEWS.“BUT WE ALSO SEEK TO TE AFL FANS AROUND ATRALIA ABOUT LGBTQI+ ISSU. WE WANT TO SHARE STORI AND TALK ABOUT REAL-LIFE EVENTS SO PEOPLE N UNRSTAND WHAT ’S LIKE TO BE A MEMBER OF THE LGBTQI+ MUNY.”PURPLE BOMBERS PRINT PL CONIGL SOURCE: SUPPLIEDMR CONIGL SAID “THERE IS A LOT THAT YOU HAVE TO NTEND WH'' WHEN ATTENDG AFL MATCH AS AN LGBTQI+ PERSON.“IF AN UMPIRE OR OPPOSN PLAYER DO SOMETHG A SUPPORTER DON’T LIKE, THEY MAY CHOOSE TO E HOMOPHOBIC LANGUAGE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THERE MAY BE GAY OR LBIAN PEOPLE PRENT. IT MAK YOU FEEL LIKE LS OF A PERSON, AND SOME WAYS, YOU DON’T FEEL SAFE.” MR CONIGL SAID THE GROUP STARTED AFTER HE AND THE GROUP’S FOUNR WENT TO AN ESSENDON FUNCTN 2014 WH THEIR PARTNERS, BUT DIDN’T FEEL FORTABLE TO BE THEMSELV.“WE WENT HOME REALLY TRATED AND CID TO LL THE CLUB AND CHECK WHETHER THERE WAS TERT SUPPORTG AN LGBTQI+ FAN CLUB,” HE SAID.AND THERE WAS.THE PURPLE BOMBERS HAS NTUED TO GROW EACH YEAR AND ALMOST ALL AFL CLUBS NOW HAVE DITED LGBTQI+ FAN GROUPS, WHICH OPERATE AS PART OF A ALN LLED THE AFL PRI COLLECTIVE.REPRENTATIV OM EACH GROUP MEET A FEW TIM A YEAR TO DISCS MON ISSU AND LLABORATE AT VAR AFL EVENTS AND PRI FTIVALS AROUND ATRALIA.READ MORE'MARDI GRAS GIV LGBTIQ+ PEOPLE WH NO HOPE A REASON TO LIVE'THE RABOW CROWS, THE SUPPORTER GROUP OF THE ALAI CROWS, STARTED AUGT 2016 AS A FACEBOOK PAGE.SCE THEN, “THGS HAVE BLOSSOMED REALLY QUICKLY”, SAID S PRINT AND FOUNR BRETT MCALONEY.“THERE IS A REAL MARARIE - AND THAT’S NOT JT WH THE RABOW CROWS.” “WE ALSO HAVE A REAL CLOSE MARARIE WH ALL THE OTHER QUEER SUPPORTER GROUPS ACROSS THE AFL. WE TRAVEL TERSTATE AND TCH UP WH THE OTHER SUPPORTER GROUPS. “IT IS PROVIDG THAT SAFE SPACE AND CREATG VISIBILY ... TELLG THOSE KIDS AT HOME, THOSE ADULTS STILL STGGLG [WH THEIR SEXUALY], THAT 'S OKAY TO BE WHO YOU ARE.”RABOW CROWS PRINT BRETT MCALONEY SOURCE: SUPPLIEDA STUDY BY WTERN SYDNEY UNIVERSY AND CRICKET VICTORIA WAS MISSNED LAST YEAR TO UNRSTAND HOW LGBTQI+ SUPPORTER GROUPS ULD BE IATED AND SUPPORTED THE BIG BASH LEAGUE.AS PART OF THE STUDY, WHICH WAS RELEASED EARLIER THIS YEAR, EIGHT PARTICIPANTS SHARED THEIR EXPERIENCE OF NNG LGBTQI+ SUPPORTER GROUPS WH THE AFL. “ONE OF THE THGS THAT STCK MOST ABOUT THE AFL SUPPORTER GROUPS WAS HOW MUCH POSIVELY IMPROVED LGBTQI+ PEOPLE’S LIV,” LEAD THOR RYAN STORR SAID.“THEY ULD ENGAGE AND MEET PEOPLE AND HAVE NEW IENDS, HAVE A PURPOSE THAT WEEKEND, BE PART OF A CLUB AND HAVE AN INTY.“SOME PEOPLE SPOKE REALLY EPLY ABOUT HOW AFFECTED THEM THROUGH THE UNCERTATY OF THE MARRIAGE EQUALY SURVEY, WHEN THEIR MENTAL HEALTH WAS NOT A GOOD PLACE, BUT THE SUPPORT OF THEIR SUPPORTERS GROUP AND THEIR IENDS THERE REALLY HELPED THEM THROUGH .”AFL PRI COLLECTIVE MEMBERS AT THE MIDSUMMA PRI MARCH MELBOURNE THIS YEAR SOURCE: FACEBOOKDR STORR SAID THERE WERE SEVERAL TRANSGENR PEOPLE WHO SAID THEY WOULD NEVER HAVE OTHERWISE ENGAGED WH THE SPORT.“BUT BEE THEY KNEW PEOPLE AND THERE WAS A SUPPORTIVE GROUP, THEY ACTUALLY STARTED ATTENDG MATCH.”DR STORR SAID THE STUDY FOUND MANY OF THE AFL GROUPS BEGAN DUE TO A PERCEPTN THAT MATCH WERE NOT AS WELG AS THEY ULD BE.“IT ALL STARTED WH A VERY PASSNATE AND DITED BUNCH OF VOLUNTEERS WHO DID ALL THE WORK OFF THEIR OWN BACK,” HE SAID.“SOME OF THE PEOPLE TERVIEWED SAID THEY GREW UP WH AFL ... BUT THEY DIDN’T REALLY FEEL LIKE THEY ULD BE PART OF AND CLUD.”“THE AFL SUPPORTER GROUPS REALISE THAT AND THAT THEY N PROVI A WAY TO FEEL NNECTED TO THE CLUB A WAY THAT MEANS SOMETHG TO THEM.”READ MOREAFL PLAYERS TAKE A KNEE SUPPORT OF BLACK LIV MATTER MOVEMENTPREV REARCH HAS SHOWN AFL ENVIRONMENTS HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN AS LGBTQI+ IENDLY AS THEY ULD BE.A VICHEALTH REPORT ON LGBTQI+ CLN THE AFL 2017 SHOWED THAT HALF OF LGBTQI+ RPONNTS DID NOT VIEW GENERAL AFL MATCH AS A SAFE OR WELG ENVIRONMENT.A 2015 STUDY FOUND 80 PER CENT OF ATRALIANS VOLVED SPORT HAVE WNSED HOMOPHOBIA, WHICH LED TO THE CREATN OF THE PRI SPORT INX, AN STMENT SPECIFILLY SIGNED TO ASSS LGBTQI+ CLN ATRALIAN SPORT.FANS, CLUBS AND SPORTS LEAGU OF ALL PERSUASNS BENEF OM HAVG AN CLIVE ENVIRONMENT, DR STORR SAID.“WHEN SPORTS ANISATNS ENGAGE LGBTQI+ DIVERSY, N ATTRACT NEW FANS, BRG PEOPLE TO THE SPORT,” HE SAID.“THEY’LL POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA, MAYBE GO TO THE PRI GAM. IT BENEFS EVERYBODY BEE THE SPORT IS GETTG NEW FANS AND CREASED REVENUE.”CORONAVIS IMPACTPRR TO THE START OF THE 2020 SEASON AND THE RONAVIS SHUTDOWN, THE PURPLE BOMBERS HAD MORE THAN 100 MEMBERS SIGNED UP AND A RAFT OF EVENTS PLANNED FOR THE YEAR.MR CONIGL SAID WHILE THE VIS “PRETTY MUCH STALLED” MOST OF WHAT WAS PLANNED - CLUDG A LARGE -PERSON INTERNATNAL DAY AGAST HOMOPHOBIA, TRANSPHOBIA AND BIPHOBIA CELEBRATN - THE PURPLE BOMBERS HAVE BEEN RALLYG TOGETHER ONLE.“WE ME UP WH SOME FANTASTIC IAS THAT I KNOW WE WOULDN’T HAVE EVEN NSIRED A NON-COVID ENVIRONMENT. IT’S PROBABLY STRENGTHENED OUR MMENT TO MUNY ENGAGEMENT AS OUR NUMBER PRRY MOVG FORWARD,” HE SAID.“WE ARE CURRENTLY ROLLG OUT OUR ONLE WATCH PARTI FOR THE FIRST FEW ROUNDS WHERE MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS N WATCH THE GAME TOGETHER WHILST NNECTED TO ZOOM TO CELEBRATE THE GAME AND DISCS TACTICS.”MR CONIGL SAID HE AND OTHER MEMBERS HAVE HELPED EACH OTHER GET THROUGH THE PANMIC.“WE HAVE HAD REGULAR MEETGS AND REGULAR TCH-UPS TO KEEP OUR NNECTN AND MOMENTUM DURG THE PANMIC - WAS GREAT TO HAVE THE MTEE NNECTNS AS SOMETHG TO LOOK FORWARD TO.”RABOW CROWS MEMBERS GATHERED TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME MONTHS TO WATCH A MATCH AN ALAI PUB A FEW WEEKENDS AGO SOURCE: SUPPLIEDMR MCALONEY SAID MANY OF THE RABOW CROWS’ SCHLED ACTIVI, CLUDG A MEET-UP WH THE PURPLE BOMBERS FOR A GAME MELBOURNE, HAVE ALSO BEEN UNABLE TO PROCEED.BUT LIKE THE BOMBERS’ PRI GROUP, CROWS MEMBERS HAVE BEEN FDG WAYS TO KEEP NTACT.“WE HAVE ALSO HELD A FEW ONLE 'WATCH PARTI' WHEN OLD CROWS GAM WERE BEG PLAYED ON TV SO PEOPLE ULD TCH UP, AND A GROUP OF MEMBERS WENT MPG ON THE JUNE LONG WEEKEND WHEN SOUTH ATRALIA’S TRAVEL RTRICTNS WERE LIFTED.”“WE HELD A DNER AT A PUB A FEW WEEKS AGO, WHICH WE BOOKED OUT THE DG ROOM TO KEEP SOCIAL DISTANCG BUT WATCH THE GAME TOGETHER AND TCH UP FOR THE FIRST TIME MONTHS. WE ARE EXCED TO HAVE FOOTY BACK ON!”INCLIVY THE WOMEN'S GAMEMR CONIGL SAID “THERE'S A LOT OF WORK” TO BE DONE BEFORE THE AFL ULD MATCH THE LGBTQI+ ACCEPTANCE THE WOMEN'S LEAGUE, THE AFLW. THERE ARE SEVERAL OPENLY-GAY PLAYERS, CLUDG A UPLE, THE  AFLW, AND EARLIER THIS YEAR SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE LED A STREET MELBOURNE'S WT TO WATCH A PRI MARCH THE LEAD UP TO A MATCH BETWEEN THE WTERN BULLDOGS AND THE CARLTON BLU.“IF YOU LOOK AT THE AFLW, THEY ARE DOG SOME GREAT THGS THE QUEER SPACE. BUT I THK WE ARE NOT MOVG FORWARD AS QUICKLY AS WE ULD BE THE MEN’S GAME,” MR CONIGL SAID.PLAYERS N THROUGH THE PRI BANNER DURG THE ROUND 3, 2020 AFLW MATCH BETWEEN THE WTERN BULLDOGS AND CARLTON. SOURCE: AAPTHE AFL DID NOT RPOND TO A REQUT FOR MENT OM SBS NEWS. IN 2017, THE AFL WAS NAMED THE GURAL ORGANISATN OF THE YEAR AT THE PRI SPORT AWARDS, A YEAR AFTER HELD THE VERY FIRST ‘PRI GAME’ BETWEEN THE ST KILDA SATS AND SYDNEY SWANS.WH THE MATCH NOW AN ANNUAL FIXTURE, THERE HAVE BEEN LLS FOR A PRI ROUND, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN UNHEED.“I KNOW SOME PEOPLE ARE A LTLE B FUNNY ABOUT THAT AND SAY ‘WHY BRG POLICS TO FOOTBALL?' BUT MAKG SURE AN ENVIRONMENT IS CLIVE, IENDLY AND ACCEPTG OF EVERYONE - HOW IS THAT A POLIL THG?” MR MCALONEY SAID. MR MCALONEY SAID PRI GROUPS WILL PROVI SUPPORT FOR FUTURE GENERATNS OF YOUNG LGBTQI+ AFL FANS ATRALIA.“IT CERTALY TOOK QUE A NUMBER OF YEARS TO E TO AN ACCEPTANCE OF WHO I WAS."“I DON’T WANT OTHER PEOPLE TO GO THROUGH WHAT I FELT AND EXPERIENCED.”LGBTIQ+ ATRALIANS SEEKG SUPPORT N NTACT QLIFE ON 1800 184 527 OR VIS ALSO HAS A LIST OF SUPPORT SERVIC.SHARE8 M READPUBLISHED 16 JULY 2020 2:49PMUPDATED 23 FEBARY 2022 3:41PMBY EVAN YOUNGTAGSSPORTLIFESOCIAL DIVERSYSOCIAL ISSUNEW SOUTH WALSYDNEYSHARE THIS WH FAY AND IENDSCOPY LKSHAREREMEND FOR YOU

“If an umpire or opposn player do somethg a supporter don’t like, they may choose to e homophobic language an environment where there may be gay or lbian people prent. A 2015 study found 80 per cent of Atralians volved sport have wnsed homophobia, which led to the creatn of The Pri Sport Inx, an stment specifilly signed to asss LGBTQI+ cln Atralian, clubs and sports leagu of all persuasns benef om havg an clive environment, Dr Storr said.

”Coronavis impactPrr to the start of the 2020 season and the ronavis shutdown, the Purple Bombers had more than 100 members signed up and a raft of events planned for the Conigl said while the vis “pretty much stalled” most of what was planned - cludg a large -person Internatnal Day Agast Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia celebratn - the Purple Bombers have been rallyg together onle. There are several openly-gay players, cludg a uple, the AFLW, and earlier this year several hundred people led a street Melbourne's wt to watch a pri march the lead up to a match between the Wtern Bulldogs and the Carlton Blu. If the Tom Morris tap ed women the football media to wonr, aga, what men were sayg about them behd their backs, the laddish tone and homophobic language ed the rerdgs also raised the qutn: how tolerant is the AFL dtry, really, of LGBTQI people?

‘WOULD BE WORTH ALL THAT PRSURE?’: WHY THERE ARE NO OUT GAY MEN PLAYG AFL

There are gay men (not players) workg football who feel accepted by their lleagu, but none wanted to speak to The Age and Sydney Morng Herald about the issue for the same reasons they have not e out publicly: ’s not worth the hassle and, if they have a public profile, ’s not worth the backlash they might attract on social are no publicly out male AFL players at the Richard Giliberto When to players, says North Melbourne AFLW pta Emma Kearney, some clubs are more diverse and acceptg than others. While the prence of women’s teams wh many openly gay players may have brought some cultural change, she says not every locker room would be a fortable place for a gay man.

But I thk as a whole, particularly the AFL men’s space, I don’t thk there’s an environment where gay [male] players n be their te selv, ” said Kearney, who me out publicly last year. “Whether ’s fear of hate om the players, or more so fear of the discrimatn they’ll face beg one of the first gay athlet, and the hate on their social media acunts as a rult. ”North Melbourne pta Emma Kearney is out to the Stt MccNghtonTake the experience of A-League player Josh Cavallo, who last October beme the first active top-flight male profsnal footballer the world to e out as gay.

THE AFL’S GROWG PROBLEM WH VISIBILY OF GAY PLAYERS

There was an outpourg of love and support for Cavallo om around the world but ltle more than two months later he was the target of homophobic slurs om over the fence, ath threats and “hateful and hurtful msag” on social hted at how much prsure would fall on the first AFL player to announce he was gay. ”Conversatns wh four AFL club chief executiv, three heads of football and more than 10 players om different age groups revealed a nsens: none was aware of one male AFL footballer who was openly is que possible that there are gay male players who are happy and accepted by their clubs, but not prepared to share their sexualy one player said to another last week: “The first gay AFL footballer will make a lot of money, but would be worth wh all that prsure?

Nor did he want to be a target for homophobic broadster Corb Middlemas, who me out 2018, reads Fox’s sackg of Morris as a sign of thentic change the football landspe.

JOEL CREASEY OPENS UP ON GAY PLAYERS THE AFL

”In that may be discerned the reason any gay male footballer would keep his, how to balance the right to self-protectn agast some sort of rponsibily to be a bean for others? ”He said homophobia often me hand--hand wh toxic masculy, and this may dissua players om g out regardls of how clive their immediate circle is.

“The culture wh male teams sport, om grassroots level all the way up to the ele, has often gone hand--hand wh homophobic language. ”There is also a perceptn that a player g out as gay may be an unnecsary distractn, that the attentn may tract om what the player and his team are tryg to achieve.