‘There are kids killing themselves’: gay former NRL player Ian Roberts’ message for Folau
Image: Image: Nine.
Ian Roberts, the first NRL player to come out as gay, has sent a powerful message to Israel Folau as the embattled rugby star fights for his career.
Appearing on Channel Nine to discuss the issue, Roberts made a powerful statement about the impact public homophobia has on young LGBTI people.
“I kind of…I do feel sorry for Israel,” Roberts said.
“But there are consequences to your actions, and reactions.
“I don’t say this lightly, what I’m about to say. The language I use is hard and it’s for a point, it’s to get that message across.
“There are literally kids in the suburbs killing themselves,” Roberts said, referring to high rates of LGBTI youth suicide.
“I say that with the greatest sense of respect, and I’m not implying that Israel’s responsible solely for that, please don’t take it that way.
“But it’s these types of comments and these off-the-cuff remarks, when you have young people and vulnerable people, kids in the suburbs, who are dealing with their sexuality…[who are] confused, not knowing how to deal with it.
“These type of remarks…they can and do push people over the edge.”
Roberts came out in 1995, having played for Manly, the North Queensland Cowboys and South Sydney, as well as representing New South Wales in State of Origin and Australia at an international level.
Folau’s code of conduct hearing began on Saturday, and was expected to be finalised on Sunday before Rugby Australia announced it will continue on Tuesday.
Folau escaped sanctions last year, but his social media posts last month, which said “hell awaits” homosexuals and that legal reforms for trans and gender diverse people were a sign of “evil ways”, have seen Rugby Australia seek to tear up Folau’s contract.
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Fantastic. Clear, measured and concise message from a bloke who’s probably done more than anyone to get the message through to straight Australians that being openly gay doesn’t mean being weak or poofy or less masculine. Great work as always Ian Roberts.
I don’t particularly like Ian Roberts for various reasons, but this time, he’s actually stood up and said a very powerful and heartfelt statement. Now can a few more people stand up and tell that idiot Folau that he’s committing hate speech and hiding behind religion is no defence. In fact, don’t even start me on the church and it’s pack of lying, denying paedophiles!
How can you trust a country that has a statute on it’s books not to enforce that law whenever it suits them!!
Ian Roberts is to be congratulated for bringing to our notice the damage that can be done by sports people who broadcast homophobic comments on social media, such as those of Israel Folau! The NRL should think carefully about just giving this Folau a slap over the wrist instead of giving him the boot! That’s if they’re serious about upholding their commitment to all those wanting to make football their chosen sport, irrespective of their sexual orientation
Thank you, Ian, for speaking out against these rightwing nutters, and especially the RA members who are Pacific Islanders and believe there’s a god on high.
They are so brainwashed they ignore science which has clearly demonstrated there is no almighty god. Their insignificant god has not lifted a finger to help a single living individual in the past 2000 years.
The Roman civilisation is a classic example of the useless gods they worshipped who didn’t save a single Roman citizen from the elite’s butchery they imposed on their slaves and even their gladiators.
We need more like Ian to tell these browbeaten nutters to quit telling others how to live their lives.
Israel Folau is a spoilt overpaid sportsman who needs to grow up and keep his religious nonsense to himself!
Religion is bad enough at the best of times but the superficial, simplistic tripe that fundamentalist churches serve up to underdeveloped, lesser educated communities such as in the Pacific (and also Aboriginal communities in central Australia) is just the worst.
I was quite infuriated with the islander response to this Folau bullshit. These guys should be proud of their heritage and their ancestors. Instead they’ve signed up to a religion which (as Folau’s controversial Instagram post clearly reminded us) makes them believe all of their ancestors are burning in hell for eternity for being idolators.