Burgess brothers latest sports stars to call for end to homophobia in sport

Burgess brothers latest sports stars to call for end to homophobia in sport

SOUTH Sydney Rabbitohs star Tom Burgess has labelled discrimination “old fashioned” in a new video, also featuring his team mate and brother Sam, encouraging people to take part in a survey looking at LGBTI participation in sport.

The move comes as the National Rugby League (NRL) was confirmed as the first major sporting code to join a high profile group for LGBTI-friendly employers.

The video, in which the brothers don the Bingham Cup’s pink and purple “play hard” shirts (pictured above), coincides with the Out on the Fields survey being open to public submissions.

Launched earlier this month by Wallabies player Adam Ashley-Cooper, the Bingham Cup backed survey asks LGBTI respondents about their experiences playing  sport and if homophobia has prevented them from participating.

England-born and raised Tom said the study should shine a light on why players don’t feel comfortable coming out in sporting teams.

“Discrimination in sport is something which is old fashioned,” he said.

“In this day and age, we shouldn’t be discriminating against anyone, for anything.”

His brother Sam also equated homophobia with racism: “I don’t see why there should be any discrimination about colour, sexuality… or where you’re from.

“Sport is a great thing, and it brings people from all different aspects of life together, so why should your sexuality be a problem?”

Bingham Cup Sydney 2014 president Andrew Purchas said having the Burgess’ on board gave a boost to the anti-homophobia campaign.

“[Sam and Tom’s] support for their gay friends and recognition that the only way to eliminate homophobia is to talk about the issue… will send a strong message to players and fans,” he said.

“This is why it’s so important people take part in this study on homophobia in sport in Australia and around the world.

“We need to understand the extent of the problem so we can address it.”

Sam and Tom make up half the Burgess rugby clan with brothers George and Luke also playing for South Sydney Rabittohs.

Tom and Sam Burgess during training with the South Sydney Rabittohs (supplied image)
Tom and Sam Burgess during training with the South Sydney Rabittohs (supplied image)

George raised eyebrows last year when revealing selfie pics of the star began circulating on social media.

Meanwhile, the NRL has become the first sporting organisation to join Pride in Diversity, Australia’s only not-for-profit workplace program to assist employers with the inclusion of LGBTI staff.

The NRL joins organisations such as Westpac, Commonwealth Bank, the Australian Federal Police and IBM in the grouping.

The move follows the league’s recent action in cracking down on homophobic incidents including the two-week suspicion of NSW player Mitchell Moses after a slur at match earlier this month.

NRL boss Dave Smith foreshadowed the tougher stance in April when he said the code should have been, “stronger in our condemnation,” of previous homophobic incidents.

The Burgess brothers’ video can here:

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7 responses to “Burgess brothers latest sports stars to call for end to homophobia in sport”

  1. Love the article but disappointed that again there is the sexualisation of someone (in this case the Burgess brothers). Why it is at all necessary to include shirtless photos of the men in relation to them supporting the reduction of homophobia in sport?
    If something comparable was done in the straight world (for example bikini pics of some women who spoke out about an issue) there would be outrage, so why does this sexualisation continue unchallenged in our community?

  2. GREAT GUYS.THANKS for doing this great AD.
    Huge FAN of rugby league and every other sport too…100% Gay here !

    • Life isn’t a porno you moron. Pretty sad, that a bunch of beefcakes are thrown into the limelight and suddenly supporting the gay community is fashionable and ok. And most people on here fall for it everytime just so they can get a perve at them in their briefs. How shallow and disturbing, if this marks the levels of our attention span and depth…

      • Maybe, but it’s not about social pop culture dynamics. My qualms would be more about the thug George Burgess who was charged for car vandalism on a wild night out. Surely that’s enough to doubt the PR spin here in terms of credibility of a thug who’s now the NRL champion of gay rights….

    • I have nothing against gay people – but I’m yet to meet a real fan of the sport that’s gay… Maybe these two should be speakin to the gay community about Rugbyphobia