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I was just listening to the Morning Glory team talking about the Bulldogs alleged gang rape, (by the way there are two Storm players facing rape charges too, at the moment) and it occurred to me that everyone sounded a bit smug.
They talked about how AFL fights the good fight etc etc and how on-field violence was no longer accepted (remember when a cheap shot king hit was "just part of the game"?) and how on-field racism was the norm until those white knights who play, administer and watch the greatest game decided to clean it up. While that's basically true I reckon we should stop being smug and keep going down the path of making our game and the world a better place. One thing that stands out where the game is still well behind society is in it's attitude to gay men.
Now, I'm married, as many of you may recall, but I am also and actor and musician so at any given time as many as half my working colleagues are gay. It's not something one thinks about. it's just part of life.
I was really surprised, then, watching the 2003 Bulldogs game the other night, to see the reaction of Steve Quatermain and the other two commentators (SOS and Tim Lane) when a couple of Sydney fans started dancing with each other 'cos they were so excited. When the shot went to them I laughed 'cos it was so great to see how happy they were (no pun intended) and how much they were enjoying the game. And, also, I had never seen fans celebrating in such a camp manner. I thought It was brilliant. It was also indicitive of the fact that the S.C.G is geographically close to Gay Central Australia.
The commentators, however, didn't share my reaction. They were, at first, gobsmacked and then laughed (at them, not with them) and then attempted to make Gay puns. Frankly they giggled like fifteen year old schoolboys from Wagga on their first trip to Chapel St. I found it really interesting and I guarantee that a lot of you are reading this thinking "look it's a harmless comment, bit of fun." If you are thinking that then that is my point.
What do you think would have happened if the shot had crossed to two Pacific Islanders doing a bit of traditional dancing and the commentators had laughed and said, "Bit of a boong celebration here in Sydney. Gee, it's a Black old night for the Bulldogs tonight. Dark times ahead for Peter Rohde, I reckon."?
A couple of coomentators would have lost their jobs, is what would have happened. Right now some of you are going, "yea. but it's not the same thing." Sorry, but it is. If you don't understand that then you are in exactly the same position as those Collingwood supporters were in 10 years ago.
To illustrate my point, we have all heard tha Nathan Brown was set to play a gay doctor on Bulger, M.D. The doctor's name? Dr. Pink. If you don't understand that this is homophobic, then you have a lot to learn.
There is a simple rule of thumb for defining if the portrayl of a character is racist or homophobic and that is to ask the question "is their race, creed or sexuality considered a character trait?"
Would a footy player play an Indian doctor called Dr. Curry? Not in this state, he wouldn't.
The way to ask yourself if you are homphobic is to ask, "Do I think that two men dancing together is as valuable a way to celebrate a goal as waving the flags, banging the fence, doing a haka, or kissing the missus?" If you have to even pause to respond to that question then you have your answer right there.
Question: How many gay men have played Ausssie Rules at the highest level?
Answer: Probably a couple of hundred.
Question: How many gay players have come out in public?
Answer: Zero
So, in short, we as fans and players have yet another avenue in which to be streets, (even generations) ahead of all the other footy codes in this country.
Go Swannies!!! And see you at the game this afternoon.
They talked about how AFL fights the good fight etc etc and how on-field violence was no longer accepted (remember when a cheap shot king hit was "just part of the game"?) and how on-field racism was the norm until those white knights who play, administer and watch the greatest game decided to clean it up. While that's basically true I reckon we should stop being smug and keep going down the path of making our game and the world a better place. One thing that stands out where the game is still well behind society is in it's attitude to gay men.
Now, I'm married, as many of you may recall, but I am also and actor and musician so at any given time as many as half my working colleagues are gay. It's not something one thinks about. it's just part of life.
I was really surprised, then, watching the 2003 Bulldogs game the other night, to see the reaction of Steve Quatermain and the other two commentators (SOS and Tim Lane) when a couple of Sydney fans started dancing with each other 'cos they were so excited. When the shot went to them I laughed 'cos it was so great to see how happy they were (no pun intended) and how much they were enjoying the game. And, also, I had never seen fans celebrating in such a camp manner. I thought It was brilliant. It was also indicitive of the fact that the S.C.G is geographically close to Gay Central Australia.
The commentators, however, didn't share my reaction. They were, at first, gobsmacked and then laughed (at them, not with them) and then attempted to make Gay puns. Frankly they giggled like fifteen year old schoolboys from Wagga on their first trip to Chapel St. I found it really interesting and I guarantee that a lot of you are reading this thinking "look it's a harmless comment, bit of fun." If you are thinking that then that is my point.
What do you think would have happened if the shot had crossed to two Pacific Islanders doing a bit of traditional dancing and the commentators had laughed and said, "Bit of a boong celebration here in Sydney. Gee, it's a Black old night for the Bulldogs tonight. Dark times ahead for Peter Rohde, I reckon."?
A couple of coomentators would have lost their jobs, is what would have happened. Right now some of you are going, "yea. but it's not the same thing." Sorry, but it is. If you don't understand that then you are in exactly the same position as those Collingwood supporters were in 10 years ago.
To illustrate my point, we have all heard tha Nathan Brown was set to play a gay doctor on Bulger, M.D. The doctor's name? Dr. Pink. If you don't understand that this is homophobic, then you have a lot to learn.
There is a simple rule of thumb for defining if the portrayl of a character is racist or homophobic and that is to ask the question "is their race, creed or sexuality considered a character trait?"
Would a footy player play an Indian doctor called Dr. Curry? Not in this state, he wouldn't.
The way to ask yourself if you are homphobic is to ask, "Do I think that two men dancing together is as valuable a way to celebrate a goal as waving the flags, banging the fence, doing a haka, or kissing the missus?" If you have to even pause to respond to that question then you have your answer right there.
Question: How many gay men have played Ausssie Rules at the highest level?
Answer: Probably a couple of hundred.
Question: How many gay players have come out in public?
Answer: Zero
So, in short, we as fans and players have yet another avenue in which to be streets, (even generations) ahead of all the other footy codes in this country.
Go Swannies!!! And see you at the game this afternoon.
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