There has been a lot of discussion recently about a recent article published in 'The Age' about homosexual players in the AFL (Australian Football League). Jason Akermanis faces the Western Bulldogs to decide whether or not he will give up football or his media career. Now, the word is that he makes a lot of money playing footy, but more in his media life. But is this fair play?
I actually took the effort to find the article and had a read of his thoughts. Quite frankly, I don't see what the problem is. It is sound advice for homosexual members of the football teams. Now, whether or not a gay footballer outing himself will make a team fall apart is true or not, I cannot comment, I can certainly say that Jason is right in saying that we are far from ready to accept homosexual players in the AFL. There are two reasons.
1) The fans. There could be a lot of preasure from fans of the game against the player, and the player will find himself the target of bullying, assults (possibly) and the guilt of what might become of the fan basis. Fans might jump ship or preasure the club to get rid of the player.
2) The players. Jason was right in saying that knowing of a homosexual member of the team can make the standards of lockerroom nudity a very uncomfortable issue. Even if it is made clear by that player he has no sexual interest in them, I can't see them being comfortable around this person. Now, please put it into context. Consider the sex you are not attracted to, know that they might or might not be attracted to you, and having to be naked around them. That instant state of discomfort you are feeling is what would spread like wildfire.
Now Jason discusses in the article about lockerroom nudity when he was in the younger level of players. While he felt uncomfortable with this person in the showers, he was more than ready to sit and discuss sexuality with him, along with the problems the activists communitty are up against and the ideas he has for the future. Jason, by definition is not homophobic, just displaying the same point we all feel about nudity and sexuality.
Kicking up a stink about this point of view is rather unfortunate. I do admit some lines in his article are somewhat ill-advised and not properly thought out, but there is a point. The gay communitty, if they are the ones who started this stink, they had better be sure to think before opening their mouths. The heterosexual communitty, for their half, had better be thankful that Jason has at least taken the innitiative and put some context into this field. The article doesn't bag homosexuals, but advises that it is not a good time to come out. But advice is not the basis of life, and players can make up their own minds. Whatever they choose, I hope they are prepared for the consiquences either way.
If you want to bag Jason, be my guest, but make sure that you are doing so on a proper basis and not on a 'fly-off-the-handle' attack because of the stand he is taking. There will be a time when an AFL player can come out with minimal fuss, but today is, sadly, not that day. I also hope that, in the future, Jason can show his support for the homosexual communitty and back up some of the things he has said. If he wants to help AFL players come out in the future, as suggested, I hope he can back up his words. Ciao,
Perry!
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