AFL rejects gay policy call
The AFL has rejected implementing policy to stamp out sexual orientation discrimination in the sport, saying current guidelines are sufficient to cover all types of discrimination – despite lower leagues making inroads in this area.
The Victorian Country Football League (VCFL) released a statement two weeks ago saying the board was committed to implementing specific policy to deliver a message to country clubs that sexual orientation discrimination is “totally unacceptable.”
AFL spokesperson Patrick Keane said there are no plans in the AFL to implement such policy, as racial and religious discrimination policies are in place already.
AFL guidelines, Rule 30.1 states that no person should threaten, disparage, vilify or insult another person on the basis of their “race, religion, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin,” but does not mention sexual orientation.
In a recent case, a mediation session was held in an AFL Victoria (formerly VFL) league team after allegations of transphobia were made.
The mediation session involved a transsexual former committee member of the Northern Saints Football Club, Tess Emery, and the Northern Saints board. The session was mediated by the President of the Essendon District Football League (EDFL), Ian Price.
Emery said she felt “let down” by club administration and felt the board was ignoring her in meetings because of her transsexual identity.
According to Northern Saints Cub President Dan Kennedy, Emery was asked to leave the committee earlier this year for exposing confidential committee details on an online football forum.
Emery said she was relatively happy with the result of the mediation, but felt the Board didn’t understand what she was saying because a silent culture of transphobia was at play.
“There is almost a mates club and if you’re not part of it you’re welcome but don’t get too involved.”
“We do not have any out gay players and there is a reason for that, and it’s not because there aren’t any,” Emery says.
Kennedy said Emery is still welcome around the club and issues of transphobia only came up in the mediation session.
“When you’re on a committee it’s difficult when you’ve got people going in different directions…her sexuality was never a consideration,” Kennedy said.
EDFL President Ian Price said he thought what happened to Emery was wrong, but denied transphobia was an issue. Price said although it may have been different 15 years ago, he doesn’t hear names like ‘poofter’ on the footy field.
“You have to be careful what you say – you just can’t say what you want anymore,” he said.
AFL Victoria Community Development Manager Peter McDougall said he thinks sexual orientation discrimination is not an issue for football but for wider society.
“We can’t be lumbered with every problem in society, but we’re happy to play a role and support programs and still balance our core business of playing football,” McDougall said.
McDougall said AFL Victoria is looking into implementing an educational program for sexual orientation discrimination for the next season.
by ANDIE NOONAN from www.bnews.net.au
I care Paul. Just because gender and disability may not be in the code does not mean that we should not work towards removing discrimination, even if it is only one stage at a time. Besides, AFL clubs have nothing against women playing for them – there was even the case of a woman trying out for an AFL team some years ago, to test their discrimination policy – they did not even blink an eye and let her try out – any AFL club would absolutely love to have a woman play for them if she outperforms on the field – and the same goes for someone with a disability.
Who cares, I will not watch or play footly or never did anyway, why does there need to be “sexual orientation” added to the code – “it is a complete waste of time, money and resources for the club anyway”. What about adding gender, disability, HIV status, etc to the code?
I have been watching this unfold with interest and I hope this article has correctly reported the AFL’s position. I am an out gay AFL coach based in Sydney. I have played AFL, umpired at senior level, and now coach.
Peter McDougall is simply not in touch with this topic. For the sake of placing ‘sexual orientation’ into the policy he would be placing the AFL in line with current national Anti Discrimination policy. Any business that has people all have to include sexual orientation in their HR policies – even a blind man knows that one! It’s relatively easy to do, so I fail to understand why the authorities have not been diligent on this matter.
The AFL is in the business of people everyday and on every level. To think that this issue is not relevant to football is just plain ignorance for someone who has the title of Community Manager. No one is lumbering anything on AFL football but there is a clear and reasonable expectation that the AFL reflects the broader social standing in all its policies … and that includes the safety and development of all players who identify themselves as GLBTI. Sport for many rural and provincial areas leads they way in social policy and tolerance. Changes occur at grass root levels but often the higher ivory levels
take time in catching up.
I personally know what it means to be on the end of a “spray” that is motivated by “sexual orientation” intolerance. I have coached kids and young adults in AFL and have drawn the line at sledging of any kind and especially vilification on grounds of racial and sexual orientation. Kids watch and learn from their adults – Peter McDougall needs to remember that when he makes comments like he has.
The business of football in my experience and opinion would be well served by including sexual orientation in the AFL guidelines. It’s time to stop pussy-footing around on the issue and wake up to the reality. Do what needs to be done so we can all move on and make AFL a better code all round!