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Elite football should embrace sexual equality with the same enthusiasm it supports indigenous talent – Kevin Sheedy

// May 18th, 2017 // No Comments » // Media discussion, Sport, Within Australia, Within Victoria

Marking the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT) on 17th May 2017, AFL coaching legend Kevin Sheedy said he wanted the football world to embrace sexual equality with the same enthusiasm with which it has supported indigenous talent at the elite level of the game.

Sheedy joined a panel alongside Matt Hall, football’s first openly gay footballer ( @matthall1972 ), who in 1998 was refused registration in the Victorian Amateur Football Association because of his HIV-positive status, a ruling he fought and beat in the courts, together with former Olympian and politician Nova Peris and Collingwood AFLW player Penny Cula-Reid.

Sheedy also praised the AFL for its progressive stance on social issues, but spoke about the conservatism of society at large inhibiting a change in attitudes.

Read The Age journalist Rohan Connolly’s article in full here http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/kevin-sheedy-calls-on-football-to-embrace-sexual-equality-20170518-gw7hyh.html

Homophobes & bigots limber-up for the AFL’s Pride Round – are they a dying breed or on the rise in society?

// April 30th, 2016 // No Comments » // Media discussion, Research, Sport, Within Australia, Within Victoria

While homophobes and bigots attempt to make Aussie Rules Football the latest battleground in their fight against marriage equality, targeting St Kilda and Sydney AFL Football Clubs in a campaign to derail the AFL’s first Pride match in June, the unanswered question is “Are they a dying breed or increasing in numbers?”

Public support for marriage equality has dramatically risen. But just how rampant is homophobia in the sports-attending population; have hearts and minds changed? If so, by how much; if not, why not?

Research from 2005 revealed Melbourne’s Inner City to be least homophobic (14 per cent) and the Outer South & East suburbs the most. Outside Victoria, the study identified the three most and three least homophobic areas of Australia. Overall the most homophobic areas were the Moreton area of country Queensland (excluding the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast), Central/South-West Queensland and the Burnie/Western district of Tasmania where 50 per cent believed homosexuality is immoral.

Following Melbourne’s Inner City as least homophobic Australian metropolitan areas were Central Perth (21 per cent) and Central Melbourne (26 per cent).

The Anti-Violence Project is encouraging the AFL, LGBTI community organisations and the state government to use the pending AFL Pride match in June to see how much has changed in the hearts and minds of people leaving their suburban lounge-rooms to attend AFL football matches around the nation since the 2005 research.

Read more about homophobic flyers, targeting marriage equality and the AFL’s Pride match, left on spectators’ cars outside the VFL game between Sandringham and Footscray last weekend. The flyers were headlined: “Children deserve a mother and father”, here: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-season-2016-st-kilda-sydney-targeted-in-protest-against-afls-first-gay-pride-game-20160429-goi52g.html

Shaking the tree a little bit more to flush out homophobia in sport

// May 16th, 2015 // No Comments » // Sport, Within Australia, Within Victoria

In a recording the AFLPA is hoping will go viral once it is launched on Saturday night, the familiar footy faces hold cards bearing #FOOTY4IDAHO.

A theme of the piece is language and the damage homophobic slurs do.

While there are AFL rules against homophobic sledging and players are increasingly speaking out about homophobia, anecdotal feedback suggests lips can still be loose in AFL locker rooms.

Angie Greene has engaged some of the same footballers who feature in the AFLPA IDAHO campaign to her own, one-woman directed, anti-homophobia cause: “Move in May”.

She hopes a pride-themed fun run can become an annual fixture timed with IDAHO day from next year.

Read all about Angie and her efforts here:

TARGET=”_blank”>http://m.theage.com.au/sport/greene-campaign-against-homophobia-in-sport-coincides-with-afl-push-on-issue-20150515-gh2owh.html

Further USA media discussion after athlete withdraws offensive tweets

// May 13th, 2014 // No Comments » // International, Media discussion, Sport

No hesitation for networks airing Sam reaction – Lifestyle – The Boston Globe

http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/2014/05/12/hesitation-for-networks-airing-sam-reaction/duG3yzNmsmkEdhfZTjAmfL/story.html

Miranda Devine’s Latest Column Is Titled ‘NRL Bosses Are Totally Gay’. It Doesn’t Get Much Better From There. | Junkee

// May 9th, 2014 // No Comments » // Media discussion, Sport, Within Victoria

Ben Jenkins unpacks Miranda Devine’s Latest Column entitled ‘NRL Bosses Are Totally Gay’. It doesn’t get much better from there, he says and we agree.

Read more at http://junkee.com/miranda-devines-latest-column-is-titled-nrl-bosses-are-totally-gay-it-doesnt-get-much-better-from-there/33817#IrPyZLFWW5WrvHlZ.99

http://junkee.com/miranda-devines-latest-column-is-titled-nrl-bosses-are-totally-gay-it-doesnt-get-much-better-from-there/33817

The day football burst with Pride | theage.com.au

// May 5th, 2014 // No Comments » // Sport, Within Australia

” On a country footy oval under overcast skies, change came. It came in the rainbow-coloured 50-metre lines painted at each end of the ground. It came in the pre-match minute’s silence, led by a local Uniting Church minister, for “the same-sex attracted young people who have taken their own lives in fear and humiliation”. It came in an afternoon of celebration and unity”, writes The Age’s Jill Stark.
http://m.theage.com.au/sport/football/the-day-football-burst-with-pride-20140503-zr3w6.html

AFL spreads word on homophobic vilification | theage.com.au

// January 19th, 2014 // No Comments » // Media discussion, Sport, Within Australia, Within Victoria

http://m.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-spreads-word-on-homophobic-vilification-20140118-311rh.html

AFL Players Association

// May 14th, 2013 // No Comments » // Media discussion, Sport, Within Australia, Within Victoria

Leading AFL players launch a new initiative, #FOOTY4IDAHO targeting homophobia in the lead up to IDAHO 2013

http://www.aflplayers.com.au/news/post/afl_players_asks_fans_not_to_shirk_the_issue

Do Trans* People Work Out? – The Huffington Post

// May 8th, 2013 // No Comments » // Around the globe, International, Sport

Interesting discussion: raising visibility for some of the most vulnerable people.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/justin-adkins/do-trans-people-work-out_b_3181853.html

AFL stars come out against gay slurs | theage.com.au

// May 5th, 2013 // No Comments » // Media discussion, Sport, Within Australia, Within Victoria

Movement grows to end homophobia within Australian Rules football
http://m.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-stars-come-out-against-gay-slurs-20130504-2j0cf.html