Andy Brennan is first male Atralian footballer to e out as gay | A-League Men | The Guardian

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

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

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.

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.

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

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. 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. ”Another Twter er then rpond, sayg: "To me there is no such person as a gay person.

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 PODSTS

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.

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

What do mean to gay kids who want to play gby?

“Beg gay isn’t a belief. 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 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. 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.

DISMANTLG STEREOTYP: 10 INSPIRG GAY RUGBY PLAYERS AND PERSONALI

"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 out-and-about on the [gay] scene and meetg people.

I wanted more than what I was havg, " he 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.

"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 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 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.

GREG INGLIS URG GAY NRL PLAYERS TO E OUT

I know what was like to be the untry and thk, 'Oh sh, I thk I'm gay'. "I've worked wh kids who are homels bee they've been kicked out of home when they me out [as gay]. "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.

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 LKSHARETOPICS

”Ian Roberts, the former Manly player who 1995 as a Sea Eagle beme the first NRL player to publicly e out as gay, said he was “heartbroken” at the suatn but later weled the club’s apology.

He wasn’t the first gay man to play gby league – I’ll give the tip – he was the first to have urage to e out and pave the way for others to do so. “It hasn’t totally shocked me like ’s shockg everyone else, ” said former Manly forward Ian Roberts, who was the first high-profile gby player to publicly e out as gay the 1990s. The top eight teams qualify for the was the only club planng to wear a pri jersey this Manly forward Ian Roberts, who the 1990s was the first high-profile gby league player to e out as gay, said he was not surprised by the players’ cisn.

“As an olr gay man I’m ed to this.