Straight athletes against homophobia
High-profile heterosexual male athletes in three countries spoke out against homophobia in sport, in the lead-up to International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) on Tuesday, May 17.
American wrestler Hudson Taylor has joined English rugby player and longtime GLBTI rights campaigner Ben Cohen (pictured) in denouncing sports-related homophobia as Cohen embarks on a tour of the US in support of his anti-homophobia organisation, the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation.
The tour included a stop in San Fransisco last Saturday where Cohen co-presented at the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation’s Media Awards.
Taylor is also doing his part to address homophobia in sport through Athlete Ally, a website he launched earlier this year as a resource to encourage respect towards GLBTI people in sporting communities.
Both athletes were moved to fight against homophobia through their own experiences witnessing homophobic harassment in sporting environments.
To mark IDAHO in Australia, AFL players Nick Duigan from Carlton, Bob Murphy from the Western Bulldogs and Daniel Jackson from Richmond selected the winners of youth mental health foundation headspace’s postcard competition on Monday.
The competition winners will be announced on Monday, May 23.
By BENJAMIN RILEY
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Thanks for including the timely reminder that these athletes were DEFINITELY heterosexual. Can’t run the risk of anyone thinking they might be, y’know, GAY OR BI themselves.
Also San Francisco Giants will make an “It Gets Better” video and the Paramatta Eels have joined the NSW anti-homophobia campaign.