I don’t know if there are any gay dudes in the NRL, AFL, A-League, Super Rugby and cricket, but going on statistics, you’d assume there are.
It stands to reason that if gay people are one-in-five or one-in-ten of the population, or whatever the number is, then there’d have to be a couple, as there are in any walk of life.
And yet, there’s only been Ian Roberts in 30 years of footy and cricket? And Matthew Mitcham is the only male Olympian? (of course, we all know that Thorpie came out after he finished his stellar career)
There’s something up with that.
Over the years, I’ve asked a bunch of sports folk what the reaction would be in their club if a player declared they were gay. And to a man, they’re sure everyone would be cool with it.
Said one: “You’d like to think that if a bloke came out, that people wouldn’t have any problem with it. I certainly wouldn’t. And I don’t know any players who would. Yet obviously blokes still aren’t comfortable, for whatever reason, coming out to teammates, the public.”
Maybe it’s a slow burner. Maybe it’ll take one or two to come out for others to be comfortable about it.
Or, you know, maybe blokes don’t necessarily want to. Not everyone has to openly declare their sexuality. It’s not like a law.
But if there are gay sports people, and for whatever reason they haven’t felt comfortable about opening up and being themselves – and they would like to – then that’s something sport should address.
Sport is having the conversation, is being nudged in the right direction. The Pride In Sport Index keeps sports honest, ranking them on acceptance of gay folk. Surely we’re on an upwards trend towards a day when a player’s sexuality isn’t a ‘thing’?
From conversations with dozens of NRL playes, it’s clear the vast majority would be sweet if someone did come out. And the blokes that aren’t would be called for the mugs that they are.
Imagine a player said in a team meeting, “I’ve got something to tell you, boys. I’m a gay man and this is me.”
You’d assume it would be sweet. In fact, I’m sure it would be sweet. Blokes would respect him for it. They’d know it would take courage. Men are capable of empathy.
But you’d be naive to think that it wouldn’t change things, even if people are completely accepting and sweet with it.
There would be a period of adjustment. It might even be awkward for some, until they got over themselves.
But nothing would change in the bloke that you know. He’s the same, and you’d still like him if you liked him. You’d still respect him as a footy player. And if he copped any verbal slurs on the field – and again you’d be really surprised if he did, but if he did – it would be one-in-all-in.
Blokes would stick up for their mate. Because bottom line, you go into war with the bloke, he’s one of yours.
The player might be ‘Gay Jonno’ in the team for a while. There’d be a few gee-ups. That’s footy. That’s blokes. And he might be ‘the gay player’ outside the footy club and in the public. And he might always be, I suppose, unless there’s three or four who come out across the league and it’s ‘normalised’.
But as for people worrying about it, being shocked or whatever, or being bigoted against a player for his sexuality, surely it would only be a tiny minority. Like in society.
Look at Matty Ceccin, the referee, who came out a few years ago. Players respected him for that. And they still respect him as a referee (even if he does get things wrong).
But Ceccin coming out, being gay, it was only sort of news for a week. And now he’s still a ref.Nothing’s changed. And nothing’s happened on the field that’s differentiated him because of his sexuality.
You’d like to think that would be the same for a player. I’m sure it would be.
Rugby league, for one, is making the right noises. And it’s coming from the top down. A float’s gone up Mardi Gras a couple of times. That stuff’s important. And you’d hope it sends a good message.
But at the moment, obviously, it’s not enough to encourage gay footy players from coming out if they want to.
soapit
Guest
yep bring the partners out but refuse to talk about it in interviews would be a good approach from an outsiders view.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
According to the ABS 2011 Census same sex couples accounted for only 1% of all couples. Roy Morgan Research showed a bit under 4% of people surveyed in Australia in 2014 considered themselves homosexual. The proportion of teenagers that considered themselves homosexual was slightly higher at 5% and it was lower for older age groups (e.g 2% of those aged 50 years plus). I was a bit surprised - I thought it would have been higher and like Matt thought it was at least 1 in 10. I'm not surprised that league players that are gay don't come out - why put a big target on your back and get unnecessary aggro from opposition players and supporters.Did Roberts come out after he had retired? Bit disappointing that in this day and age they still have to keep it hidden.
Perthtigers
Guest
I didn't come out at my work (male dominated industry-mining not fashion)- but when I bring my (same sex) partner to work related events everyone seems to find out and then it's (work) public knowledge. Footy players should be no different they should be able to act the same in work/media required situations, talk about their family and partner and such.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
Yeah I do . With people who fabricate rather than base their argument on facts . And now , because I've questioned the credibility of the content I'm an open target for all and sundry who hold a contrary opinion. In relation to the comment that has drawn you ire , I hope you can appreciate satire.
soapit
Guest
theyre not walking around openly with boyfriends tho like hetero players do with women so its not equal footing just yet
soapit
Guest
you see them turn up with female partners to the dally m's and around the traps tho which is a bit of a declaration
Rod
Guest
My thoughts as well. You don't have heterosexual athletes declaring there sexual orientation. Good on anyone for doing so. But it's not exactly a topic that people go out and declare to the world either.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
Haw haw haw oh dear oh me , somebody get a needle and thread and stitch me up . Ohhhh the reference to a caveman , that's gold .
Oingo Boingo
Guest
So people who prefer facts in contrast to exaggerated statements designed to support an argument,are the reason behind the lack of gay footballers . Now , there's an exaggerated statement designed to support an argument or is that just lefty logic ?
Dom
Guest
You've got problems, Mr Boingo. You realise gay people are, like, regular people, right? With jobs and everything? Or are you saying because you're a straight guy, you're unable to work around women?
Bill
Guest
Matt Cleary. You are far too ugly to be gay.
Jack Russell
Roar Guru
And fair enough too. Who's business is it who you want to have sex with? If you don't want to share that information with the public then that's fully understandable.
Moonboot
Guest
Kinsey said 10% and that was in the days of illegal, don't tell policies so maybe higher now. How do you count people that change sides or are bi? It would be lesser in the contact footy codes for the sheer macho attitudes wouldn't attract the average gay and it seems to me as people age more heteros become gay as well but the reverse isn't true (apart from that US lesbian comedian Ellens former wife.
GoGWS
Roar Guru
1 in 10 is a commonly repeated number when it comes to same sex attraction claims but that's very likely an exaggeration for the sake of people wanting to be seen to be more inclusive. I had a gay lecturer at uni and he said told us that the real number of gay men was about 2 or 3 percent, and that he wished it was 10 percent like people like to claim (and he quoted some survey not just his opinion). One in thirty seems a lot closer to the true number based on what I've seen at work at school/uni. I don't blame any gay players from staying in the closet...it'd be a circus if they came out
Oingo Boingo
Guest
So between 1 and four gay men in each 1st grade squad , I'm surprised they get any training done at all.
Matt Cleary
Expert
Fair enough. But there's a large body of folks for whom it is an issue. Ian Roberts was incredibly ballsy, though he doesn't sort of think he was. For him being "out" it was just who he was. No choice. He was a gay dude and that was just it. But then he was 6 foot 5 and there weren't many if any having a crack at him to his face. But today there's young blokes, teenagers, killing themselves because they fear society and the micro-society they're in - sport - isn't cool with who they are. That's not right. And that's why it is an Issue, and one that needs to be continually talked about until it isn't one.
John
Guest
When was the last time you heard a player openly come out as a full-blown heterosexual with no bi-sexual/homosexual tendencies/urges? I have a feeling much like those guys everyone else has reached the conclusion that your sexuality does not and should not define you as a footy player so why bother coming out? You would also think in this day and age that if something was seen to be normal, then wouldn't coming out and declaring your orientation seem like you feel it's not normal, so you feel the need to disclose it?
Matt Cleary
Expert
No - It got a geurnsey. Or Guernsey. And yes - if old mate Goebells had started a sports opinion website we could be wall-to-wall married gay people. And then where would we be? Nowhere different to where we are, except the kooks would be freaking out more about the death of democracy, procreation of the species, etc. Which would be good. I think.
Matt Cleary
Expert
Well - yes. He would be speaking, so yes. He would be lying. The quote included "or whatever", and was, granted, not the most mathematically stringent piece of calculus there's ever been. I dunno how many people are and/or identify as LBTQIRSVPLOL, etc etc, but one in five, or one in ten, or whatever, is about right.
spruce moose
Guest
Thanks Alex Jones. Go back to your shanty now please.