Word for Word

27 Jan 2013

Embracing Diversity – Rugby Union & The Melbourne Chargers 2013

Health, Society & Culture, Sport

Around the world, professional football codes of all incarnations and on every continent – continue to struggle with the issue of homophobia.

From soccer to grid iron, ruby league to AFL there few – and in most cases there are none – who are out and proud gay men.

It is indeed, a cultural thing.

So why is Rugby Union different?

How is it even remotely possible for a gay rugby union club to emerge from the colossal grasp of the AFL’s homeland?

Not just emerge but to succeed at such break-neck speed that along the way they have been embraced by one of the oldest Rugby Union clubs in the nation – and then leverage their success to foster the re-birth of a rugby women’s team

How is it at all probable that they, together with the 20 teams that form their parental club affiliates – they could put their name to a ground breaking HIV stigma campaign – and garner the support of their sporting code and community alike?

Battling HIV stigma as ambassadors for the ENUF campaign (enuf.org.au is where you will find more information) is just another match on the field of life for Melbourne’s Gay Rugby team, The Melbourne Chargers.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 52:18 — 47.9MB)

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