Israel Folau’s latest social media post condemning gay people to hell and damnation has no place in rugby union. His views have no place in society at all. How that still escapes him is beyond me.
People can no more choose their sexuality than they can the colour of their skin. It is not a heinous crime for which someone must repent, simply part of who they are.
Yet by saying gay people are hellbound purports the notion they are lesser than everyone else. That there’s something wrong with them. That they need to change.
The consequences of such backwards views can be catastrophic. The statistics tell us gay men have higher rates of depression, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts than the rest of the population.
The stories are even more sobering. Take this first-hand account of a 13-year-old schoolmate who committed suicide which Harry Jones was good enough to pen for The Roar last year.
“When I read Israel Folau’s remarks, forty years on, I felt sick again. Not about him having pious beliefs, drawn from an ancient text. He seems sincere. He has a great smile and is trying to be a good man.
“I felt sick because A was a beautiful boy, who might have grown into a wonderful adult. He was full of life. But saw little future as a man.”
Folau’s comments are as helpful to the LGBTQI community as a can of kerosene and a match are to a book. Those words matter, particularly coming from someone with such a profile. They contribute to a troubling societal issue.
After finding himself in hot water for two similar posts last year, surely he doesn’t not know how inappropriate his comments are. Ignorance is about as believable an excuse as ten-year-olds claiming the dog ate their homework.
And let’s not turn this into a freedom of speech issue. Freedom of speech means Folau can say what he wants. It doesn’t make him immune to the consequences of doing just that.
So now we’re left with a multitude of questions. Why did Folau publish that post? What did he think he’d achieve? Will Rugby Australia’s sponsors threaten, once again, to walk?
Above all, what happens now to Folau?
He’s just started a new four-year deal with Rugby AU. He’s one of the most in-form Wallabies heading into the World Cup, having just broken Super Rugby’s all-time tryscoring record. And he reportedly has a clause or two in his contract designed to prevent him from posting exactly this kind of content.
There’s no place in rugby – or anywhere else – for Israel Folau’s backwards views. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
If that clause does exist, if Rugby AU seriously care about the LGBTQI community in Australia – a community which undoubtedly contributes to rugby’s player base – they should show Folau the door.
The governing body’s response last night – branding it unacceptable and disrespectful – was a far cry from last year, when they tried to tiptoe their way through the issue while trying to keep everyone onside. It hints that a proper reprimand may be on the way.
One can only hope that’s the case.
Folau said in the past he was prepared to walk away from rugby “if the situation became untenable”. Having now made it clear on three occasions that he’s going to promote beliefs which have no place in rugby union (or modern society, for that matter), it’s time to take him up on that offer.
What’s the saying? Third time pays for all?
Booting Folau from the game would be a severe measure, but not an unwarranted one. It would deprive the Wallabies of one of their most gifted players at the World Cup, but there are some more than serviceable alternatives to Folau – Dane Haylett-Petty, Tom Banks and Reece Hodge are but a few.
Even if there weren’t, it doesn’t matter. Some things are more important than winning rugby matches. Having a superstar player spout homophobic nonsense while representing the sport is one of them.
Mr.Media
Roar Rookie
Mr. 2c Worth - BS. There are plenty of articles that prove it. "Scientific Research Refutes LGBT 'Born That Way' Claim" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWfsprG3xTI
Rugbyrah
Roar Rookie
What would happen if a rugby player wrote on their social media Psalm 14:1? The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good. Would we then see fools get offended and every fool take out a lawsuit because of the so called hate speech against fools? Would the fool community then campaign to censure this? Would this place all the young 12 year old fools at risk of suicide? Would this cause the fools in RA to sue for slander? Would the fools in Canberra enact laws to end hate speech against fools?
Rugbyrah
Roar Rookie
Does that men someone's disbelief is morally right to discriminate, bully and hate a person's belief?
GoGWS
Roar Guru
Thanks for that… you’re assuming quite a bit there don’t you think?… that Jesus actually existed in history and isn’t a myth, that he actually made these claims to exclusivity that you’re relying on, that these claims assigned to Jesus were accurately recorded and translated through at least three languages to your ears with no loss of accuracy of meaning….and even if all of this holds somehow, the final assumption you make is that Jesus himself wasn’t a self-deluded individual who was preaching about heaven/hell that doesn’t actually exist. Look Christians are more than welcome to their beliefs but leave the rest of us out of it… Christians seem to forget they are only about one-third of the population of the planet (at most) and expect us all to somehow respect these nonsense beliefs… I respect believers (and their right to believe) but I’m sorry the beliefs themselves are just laughable. If there is a ‘god’ out there my bet is that is is nothing at all like Christians expect it to be (or followers of any religion expect it to be for that matter). Like many people, I worship at the church of ‘we don’t know’… and distrust people who seem so certain about the unknowable.
Rugbyrah
Roar Rookie
Being decent or good still means the same destination. There is only one way to Heaven according to Jesus.
clipper
Roar Rookie
It's a sin, you have sinned and if you don't repent you will go to hell, especially the tattoo clause. But that's beside the point. I asked if you follow follow this, as written in Leviticus 19:19 - if not, how do you know what to follow and what not to? Is is just some sayings that are true and some that aren't. I just want to know how you sort it all out.
Din
Roar Rookie
It does not say you will go to hell if you make these tattoos.
Din
Roar Rookie
Israel is not passing judgement. He is quoting a Bible verse. Thats all!
Din
Roar Rookie
It does not say you will go to hell if you wear or dont wear such clothes.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Let’s be honest here, it is historically ignorat at best and misleading at worst to suggest that limitations on freedom of speech only occurred during times of particular national security, unless you want to categorise the entire 1948-91 period as being so, which would render the entire suggestion absurd. Over that’s entire period your career in many many sectors was over if you voiced anything pro-Soviet. Or think back to the Rivers of Blood speech. That isn’t to say there’s isn’t hugely important discussion society needs to have on free speech, and finding a way to reaffirm its importance and centrality in our civil and political rights. But a situation in which a pro athlete is stood down for breaching his contract after being warned twics is not a good situation in which to take a stand.
Funbus
Guest
Yes, Fionn, there have been exceptions, usually at times of national security peril, but these were relatively rare. The casual falling on people like a ton of bricks for giving ‘offence’ is a relatively new phenomenon. The goalposts are also changing on a seemingly weekly basis. At the current trajectory it won’t be long before Folau’s comments brings police ‘interest.’ In the UK, we’re already there.
Redbeard
Roar Rookie
So Daniel you are advocating an accepting , open-armed and diverse rugby culture by not being open-armed and accepting of views that are not aligned with your own? Izzy is quoting Galatians, in the New Testament. You saying Izzy , a Christian, cannot quote the Bible? There are other Abrahamic books you may wish to ban or prohibit readings from, before you attack the bible? Izzy is actually targeting probably three quarters of the population in his post. And why is he doing that?, He wants to save all “sinners” and stop them from going to hell. Izzy is referring to Hell as that religious construct, the opposite of heaven , with purgatory between. If you are referring to the concept of hell, here and now, the causes of that are manifestly more localised and complex. Izzy’s post if read in context has no bearing on hell, here and now; may I suggest that you are stoking those fires by your writings above. All three Abrahamic religions offer some very stern advice and consequences to sinners in general, but Christianity offers forgiveness and acceptance. and I wouldn’t mind betting that if someone went up to Izzy and said, I’m a sinner and I want to repent; I’m sure Izzy would open his arms and welcome them into his fold.
SAVAGE
Guest
Rugby Union should just grow up and understand that it's individuals are individuals with a multitude of opinions and beliefs. No one has conclusively proved that a heaven or hell exists, oh there are many who believe, but no one knows until theyve left this world. And before anyone harps on about inclusiveness etc, yes, the LGBT community is included in rugby, also and much more importantly in the wider society. They've been given the right to marry, they're gender(s) have been officially recognised, they're members of the community. Like other members of the community they should or probably do understand, that not all members of the community are going to view their lives as agreeable.......ditto their view of Israel Folau and Christians. Welcome to the human race. Now get on with the rugby
Phantom
Roar Rookie
And what if there is no hell which may people believe to be the truth.
Tah Tragic
Roar Rookie
Folau is simply stating the belief held by Christians all through history and all through the world stating that all people need Jesus to be saved. Daniel are you suggesting that this Christian view has 'no place' in rugby or society? Should the Wallabies boycott playing Fiji given that they are mostly a team of Christians who pray at the end of each game? What about Muslims playing the sport?
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
So lemme get this straight Folau is entitled to have an opinion on gays and he's entitled to air that opinion. BUT people who might be critical of Folau are not entitled to air their opinions or criticise him. You might wanna rethink your stance against hypocrites.
David Cummings
Guest
He isn’t attacking gays. He is simply stating that according to his religion, they are going on in sin, and are therefore bound for hell unless they repent. He’s not attacking them or saying they are inferior. Everyone has completely misinterpreted him and his opinion. This is a free country and everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Unless, of course, they are a majority and their opinion slights the opinions of minorities. Then they are not allowed to have an opinion, much less display it. Disgusting. And this is politically correct? I do not think so. Back of Israel Folau and assess yourselves. Hypocrites. You are attacking him for viewing his opinions. Some gays find his opinions offensive. He probably finds your opinion of him offensive.
FunBus
Guest
Meh defamation law goes back at least to ancient Rome. Heck once upon a time you could be executed for heresy. Compared to some times past we have a remarkably strong freedom of speech. But the idea that speech is without it's consequences is remarkably naive.
sheek
Roar Guru
Daniel, At the time of typing, I am respondent #723. The caravan has probably well & truly moved on from your post. However, your headline is the most self-righteous bit of rubbish I've read anywhere. Australian rugby will be no better or worse without Folau, either for his overblown talent or whacky religious beliefs. It has so many other problems, I'm surprised you missed them. Folau is a symptom of rugby's ills, not a cause.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Not exactly true, Funbus. As I understand it you’re a historian also, and then you should know the post-war era you came out in public to support Nazism or the Soviet Union, even if you weren’t inciting violence, you were likely to not only be shunned by polite society, but be fired from many jobs or have doors closed. This still holds true for Nazism, although perhaps not the Soviet Union to the same extent. This is obviously not as extreme as doing that, but I think that reflects society’s changing view of what is acceptable and what is not. You should read Orwell’s introduction to Animal Farm, written during the brief period where the Soviet Union was universally praised in Britain during the Second World War / Great Patriotic War. He is unable to have his book published as it went against the climate of the age in criticising the Soviet Union, and he talks about how free expression is silenced in Britain. Free speech, from its humble beginnings that allowed criticism of the church, until today, has never meant freedom from the societal consequences of what you choose to say. Gambling is also legal in the west, but you’ve got to accept the consequences when you win or lose. The reality got Folau is that he was the poster boy for Aussie rugby and their main marketing guru. In a public position like that, you need to represent your organisation and not threaten them with financial harm. Qantas is the major sponsor of the Wallabies and last time this happened made it very clear they might pull out if Folau said these things again.