PFLAG challenge Brisbane Roar “inaction” on homophobia

PFLAG challenge Brisbane Roar “inaction” on homophobia
Image: Photographer: Ann-Marie Calilhanna (Source: Star Observer)

A-LEAGUE soccer club Brisbane Roar has been urged by Queensland-based LGBTI advocates to signup to an agreement specifically addressing homophobic abuse by game crowds during games.

In October, Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) national spokesperson Shelley Argent met with representatives from Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Broncos, Queensland Reds and Brisbane Roar about making the stadium a “homophobia-free zone”.

“I am pleased to say that Suncorp is supportive of the idea,” Argent said.

PFLAG plan to hold further meetings with the Reds and Broncos on the issue but Roar management said that existing measures were suitable.

“However, the Roar Football Management Team have decided the Football Federation Of Australia — Spectator Code of Behaviour is enough, including the four public announcements about expected crowd behaviour,” Argent said.

“But is it enough to minimise homophobia at sporting events?”

Argent has expressed disappointment that the Roar’s Code of Conduct does not specifically mention homophobic behaviour or language.

“Exclusion is not necessarily deliberate. However, its exclusion implies to me that the Roar either don’t care or don’t understand the impact it has on individuals and their families,” she said.

“Homophobia increases suicidal ideation, depression and low self-esteem. Nothing good comes from homophobia, not even for the perpetrators, who just appear ignorant and to be avoided.”

In the October meeting PFLAG proposed to the three teams that messages be displayed on stadium screens that homophobic language, like sexist and racist language, would not be accepted.

It was also suggested that on their websites, the teams include homophobia as behaviour that is unacceptable during games.

On a national level, earlier this year Australia’s five major sporting codes signed up to the Anti-Homophobia and Inclusion Framework in the lead up to the Bingham Cup in Sydney.

The Framework was designed to provide a guide to sporting codes on how to address homophobia and offer an inclusive sporting environment, with each peak body determining their own policies using the Framework as a foundation.

One of the framework’s three pillars refers to tackling homophobic and abusive language: “Each member union or club must implement policies which are consistent with the policy, such as prohibiting homophobic and abusive language within the clubs’ member protection policies, codes of conduct, or like documents.”

A section within the sample anti-discrimination policy offered by the framework specifically refers to including “parents, guardians, spectators and sponsors” when attempting to foster a positive and inclusive environment.

Last month, Football Federation Australia — the governing body for the A-League and its clubs like Brisbane Roar — said it had begun to roll out an LGBTI inclusion program for soccer staff, players and clubs as part of its commitments to the framework.

Argent has called on the public to challenge what she sees as the Roar management’s inaction on directly addressing homophobic language.

“As spectators we don’t have to condone the Roar’s inaction or the ignorance of others,” she said.

“So basically, if the Roar don’t want to be part of change, we the fans can lead the way. People just need to be aware.”

Speaking to the Star Observer, Argent said that there has been “no movement whatsoever” with Roar management over the past few months and that her efforts to pay for adverts within team publications have continually been met with obstacles.

“I couldn’t get past [the switchboard], who said [they] passed my proposed advert-community notice on to some guy. I called every day to speak to [him], but of course he was always busy,” she said.

“I even sent a copy of this proposed advert to The Coffee Club – principal sponsors of the Roar – asking if they had an objection to this advert being placed in the magazine, but again silence.”

Brisbane Roar management was contacted for comment but no response was provided at time of print.

Main photo credit: Ann-Marie Calilhanna (Source: Star Observer)

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7 responses to “PFLAG challenge Brisbane Roar “inaction” on homophobia”

  1. I must admit to being conflicted on this article; I agree we need to get this topic on organisations agenda like the Brisbane Roar and more importantly then to then get meaningful action. But then I’m conflicted by the overall tone and approach taken here – I look at the Roar and like Al see a club that’s done a lot for race, gender, and aboriginal players in the past so assume they are more forward thinking and open than perhaps this article suggests. So is the right approach to berate this club because they don’t (appear) to do exactly as we want, when we want in regards to our agenda? Are we likely to move forward with warmth and support with organisations like this with such an approach and are they going to be open and genuinely listen and engaged on this topic or will they fear the negative, almost bullying response portrayed here and so avoid it altogether? We need a sympathetic and supporting ear to help us change attitudes and behaviours and it sounds like the Roar and other clubs are moving in the right direction albeit not at a speed to everyone’s liking?

  2. Well said John McCormach, there’s always more that can be done and of course we shouldn’t be complacent; Roar supporters are generally good to excellent in my experience and I hope if continues with growth. I too am a regular game-day fan and I haven’t heard any homophobic comments at a game, not even in “jest”, so as I say no room for complacency but at the same time Roar have done an excellent job over 10 years fostering a family-friendly environment which Ms. Argent fails go a knowledge and, if she repeats the tone and attitude reflected in this article in her attempted dealings with the club, she shouldn’t be surprised if suddenly people are “unavailable”

  3. Hello,
    My name is John, I am
    a member of Brisbane Roar FC, I have only missed one home game since we started
    life in the A-League in 2005 (well, whilst I was not overseas travelling) and I
    am a very passionate supporter of the club. I travel to away games often including Tokyo, South Korea,
    China and the backblocks of Thailand. I also happen to be openly gay.
    In nine and a half
    seasons I have only witnessed one example of homophobia. A former player of ours scored against
    us at home and some folks started a chant featuring the six-letter ‘F’
    word. I was very upset about the
    goal but this really pissed me off. The astounding part was the reaction from the people around me.
    The chant was drowned
    out in seconds by my fellow supporters who objected to the use of it and it
    stopped. The next day in various
    online forums it was made very clear to all and sundry that any display of
    homophobia is simply unacceptable. I have never been so proud to call these people my friends.
    You see, this is the
    great thing about our code. It is
    the supporters that provide the atmosphere. There is so much that is in our hands that we as a group
    tackle the issues. The club does
    not have to do much but support us in these endeavours which they have done so.
    I’ve lost count with
    the amount of times I’ve had people say to me privately that they hadn’t had
    anything to do with gay people before and now we’re all good because I proved
    to them that I was a decent person. I am a firm believer that this is a much better tool to tackling
    homophobia than any Code of Conduct will ever achieve.
    I agree with Shelley
    Argent that the Football Federation of Australia need to amend the Spectator
    Code of Conduct to include ‘sexuality’ under clause (c).
    http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/site/_content/document/00000075-source.pdf
    I must also state that
    I think rules made behind closed doors and enforced on everyone else is
    counterproductive. People are a
    little weary of over-regulation and all it creates is resentment. However this is my opinion.
    Lastly, I would like
    to issue Shelley Argent an invitation to join me at a Brisbane Roar FC home
    game of her choice. She will get
    to witness first hand how we deal with things. Not just accepting of the LGBTI community but other sectors
    of the community namely ethnic groups, refugees, indigenous people and
    women. We deal with homophobia and
    it upset me to see people claim otherwise.
    Yours sincerely,
    John McCormack

  4. Hello,

    My name is John, I am a member of Brisbane Roar FC, I have only missed one home game since we started life in the A-League in 2005 (well, whilst I was not overseas travelling) and I am a very passionate supporter of the club. I travel to away games often including Tokyo, South Korea, China and the backblocks of Thailand. I also happen to be openly gay.

    In nine and a half seasons I have only witnessed one example of homophobia. A former player of ours scored against us at home and some folks started a chant featuring the six-letter ‘F’ word. I was very upset about the goal but this really pissed me off. The astounding part was the reaction from the people around me.

    The chant was drowned out in seconds by my fellow supporters who objected to the use of it and it stopped. The next day in various online forums it was made very clear to all and sundry that any display of homophobia is simply unacceptable. I have never been so proud to call these people my friends.

    You see, this is the great thing about our code. It is the supporters that provide the atmosphere. There is so much that is in our hands that we as a group tackle the issues. The club does not have to do much but support us in these endeavours which they have done so.

    I’ve lost count with the amount of times I’ve had people say to me privately that they hadn’t had anything to do with gay people before and now we’re all good because I proved to them that I was a decent person. I am a firm believer that this is a much better tool to tackling homophobia than any Code of Conduct will ever achieve.

    I agree with Shelley Argent that the Football Federation of Australia need to amend the Spectator Code of Conduct to include ‘sexuality’ under clause (c).

    I must also state that I think rules made behind closed doors and enforced on everyone else is counterproductive. People are a little weary of over-regulation and all it creates is resentment. However this is my opinion.

    Lastly, I would like to issue Shelley Argent an invitation to join me at a Brisbane Roar FC home game of her choice. She will get to witness first hand how we deal with things. Not just accepting of the LGBTI community but other sectors of the community namely ethnic groups, refugees, indigenous people and women. We deal with homophobia and it upset me to see people claim otherwise.

    Yours sincerely,
    John McCormack