Saturday Magazine

6 Sep 2023

Saturday 2nd September, 2023: Dion Alexander, AFL: Eradicate Homophobia.

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Saturday 2nd September, 2023: Dion Alexander, AFL: Eradicate Homophobia.

Macca, Isaac and Paul talk to Dion Alexander, finalist Mr. Gay Pride 2022, about the change.org petition to eradicate Homophobia from the AFL.

“Homophobic language should be considered and treated as seriously as racial and any other form of vilification. Additionally, social media has become a breeding ground for homophobic language and slander, making it an unsafe space for LGBTIQA+ community members.

Homophobic derogatory language is tragically commonplace in our game. Research reveals a chronic use of homophobic language at all levels of AFL, from junior football to elite tiers, permeating among spectators too:

73% of teenage Aussie Rules (amateur AFL) players aged 16 to 20 reported hearing homophobic slurs from teammates in the past month.
43% of adult male VFL and Aussie Rules players admitted to using homophobic slurs with teammates in the past two weeks.
62% of LGBTQ+ fans have witnessed verbal homophobia or transphobia at an AFL game.

The AFL, Clubs, Players Association, Fans Association, State Leagues, and grassroots football clubs need to actually live up to its title as the people’s game by embracing diversity and inclusivity in its fullest capacity. It’s time for the AFL to take a stand against the ostensibly normalized homophobic culture within the sport so Australian Rules football is a safe and inclusively welcoming environment for players, staff, volunteers, and fans.

As a collective of LGBTIQA+ supporter groups, we are calling on the AFL to:

Implement mandatory diversity and inclusion training in every club for all players, and staff including security, game day staff, and administrators.
Review and strengthen the current anti-discrimination policies within the league, including strict reprimands for offenders.
Actively promote a culture of acceptance and support for equality in the sport, from the grassroots levels up to the elite tiers.
An option for AFL clubs to opt-in for their men’s team to participate in a pride game from 2024 onwards once the club and playing group have conducted in-house training and are ready to actively and positively participate, working towards a full pride round of all 18 clubs by no later than 2026″.

https://www.change.org/p/a-call-for-action-to-the-afl-to-eradicate-homophobia-in-australian-rules-football?