Club Statement

[LostDoggy]

Re: Club Statement

Coming out is not hell, it's being honest to oneself and teammates

Ian Roberts - The Age - 21 May

WHAT was Jason Akermanis thinking? The thing that frustrates me about his comments regarding gays is what he says is of no benefit to anyone. His opinion - on something he knows nothing about - is a waste of time.

I don't know what motivated him to say what he said. Maybe he is just plain stupid, or perhaps he was just making a grab at some more notoriety for himself. He's coming up to retirement, he's got a regular gig on radio, so he may just be looking at getting more gigs for the future.

Article in full...

Even if any of them did think the same, they would surely realise it would be the wrong thing to say, and keep quiet. Akermanis should have realised that.

This line in the article sums it all up. Akermanis is not saying the “right” or “wrong” thing. He's speaking the truth (and condemning that truth). He should be commended on having the courage to stand up and say, “Hang on, no matter what you say we should say or think, we don't, and we need to change that.”

[Mofra]

Re: Club Statement

Sure he was married, but what politian resigns for infidelity? Gay ones, apparently.

He campaigned on a platform of family values - if he was busted with a woman prostitiute, I'm sure the end result would be the same.

Bingo - he's the closest thing we have in Australia to a Ted Haggard-type figure.

I doubt it's homosexuality or infidelity that forced him to resign - I'd guess gross hypocracy.

[Raw Toast]

Re: Club Statement

I'm sorry, but this is just wrong. Aker is not to be condemned for talking about being uncomfortable in the shower — I'll explain why I think that: He went on to say he wishes he'd have addressed it differently, sat down with the guy and tried to understand. Unfortunately, politically-correct media hounds have jumped on this classic quote of “homophobia” and rammed it down his throat. It is FACT! Young men, who are not as educated as they should be on gay issues, DO feel uncomfortable. Aker's point was that they shouldn't, but they will continue to be for some time yet as the education and tolerance levels are not where they should be. At no point in the entire article did he ever say that the current level of tolerance (or lack thereof) in the AFL was suitable or acceptable, and he goes on to say he hopes they rectify it soon. So that a gay player CAN shower naked with his teammates without it causing the fuss it would now.

I'm a bloke. Still a fairly young one (I'm only 27). I remember the first time I got invited to a gay club (ARQ I think it was) in Oxford Street in Sydney, I didn't know how to act, what to do, what to say. I wasn't myself at all really. I wore a Cradle Of Filth shirt and torn jeans, and would've screamed “Scared-stiff-hetero” to every bloke in there. I just didn't know, I wasn't used to that environment and it was all very new to me, and yes, I was homophobic. It took some time, and getting to know gay and lesbian men and women better, to correct my attitude towards it. Now, I would have no problem standing naked next to a gay man.

I think this is what Aker is trying to achieve. He acknowledges it's wrong, and wants something done about it so the AFL can get to that place it needs to be. He doesn't want PR-friendly media statements that are all warm and fuzzy with no substance, he wants solid foundations laid at club level.

I generally think Aker's heart is in the right place (on this and other issues), but he clearly says that part of the reason someone should NOT come out in AFL is because it will threaten the fabric of their club and and in his article and subsequent interviews strongly implied that AFL dressing rooms were not suitable for same-sex attracted men because of the nakedness and physical bonding (but-slapping and the like) that occurs within them.

I think you're right re the focus on education (which the Come Out to Play Report says is essential), and Aker's comments about doing things differently if he had his time again are grand. As you note attitudes can change, and I agree that it's generally personal experience which changes them rather than condemning things. Nevertheless, Aker has an incredible public platform and I think behaved irresponsibly in saying that people should not come out because of the discomfort it will cause others.

I think he was trying to make the case which the AFL Players Association Welfare office Pippa Grange made much better a week or so ago (http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/soc...0516-v6b1.html), that being the first player to come out will be hard. But the fact that he put into print some homophobic arguments is deeply regrettable and links into one of the main reasons so many same-sex people (particularly men) exclude themselves from sport when they would like to participate and reap the benefits that so many others do.

[The Coon Dog]

Re: Club Statement

I must say, I've enjoyed reading the posts here on WOOF about this issue.

Everyone with a point of view has put if forward in well thought out & reasoned manner.

Kudos to those involved.

[Doc26]

Re: Club Statement

I do wish all 'outed' Bulldog supporters would be briefed in Aker's topic of the week so we have some time to pull together a considered response for work colleagues wishing to vent each week. Being the only Dogs fan amongst a few hundred I have become the short straw for their vitriol and as such have become an apologist and defamation lawyer in one for him since he hit the Bulldog scene. As one of his pro bono defence lawyer's I'm now considering invoicing him.

[LongWait]

Re: Club Statement

I hope that Aker reads Ian Robert's article and B-RadBulldogs posts and realises that his recent attempt to profit at the expense of others has won him no friends.

In his article Aker disrespects other Bulldog and AFL players, implying they are not mature enough to embrace, and indeed welcome, an inclusive and supportive culture and workplace where sexual orientation is irrelevant. Past biases about player ethnicity, religion and political affiliations have largely been overcome and the game is better for it.

I love Aker as a footballer but I am very, very disappointed in his article. I can't find any way at all to defend him.

[mighty_west]

Re: Club Statement

I think the main issue here, is the one that is the main talking point, the subject itself, after thinking about it, i actually think it's cleared a way for a player or players to "come out", and perhaps shifted whatever pressures on himself, i may be wrong, but i think he has almost taken a bullet here.

Imagine the absolute storm over the media without this article, just BAM, out of the blue, and the shock of it all.

In this day & age, regarding the clubs themselves, i don't think it would cause too much fuss, some players might be a bit iffy at the start, but i'd imagine it would be a different story at lower levels, where you get more redneck/bogan types, and i think it would be more of an issue outside of the clubs, supporters over the fence etc etc.

Unfortunatly alot of people are homophobic, just cannot accept it, i know first hand from a family member on my GF's side, she is gay, and half of her own family won't accpet her, and she is blood, i remember years ago working at a community radio station, and one of my mates [still is a good friend] "came out", he was shocked on how quick we accepted him for who he was, he was and still is the same guy as before he let us all know.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Club Statement

Agree with TCD, some very good points and opinions here.

In this day and age there are so many sexual variants to the accepted 'norm' that they all need to be accepted. The problem is that same are still seen as disgusting (major age differences) and are nowhere near treated with as much respect as same sex gets these days. Imagine a 19yo drafted kid coming into the club, and being in a relationship with a 40yo. The club/media riddicule would be huge.

Anyway, too much ranting on my behalf, and if too much debate follows, I (or a mod) can edit out the paragraph.

[Bornadog]

Re: Club Statement

I hope that Aker reads Ian Robert's article and B-RadBulldogs posts and realises that his recent attempt to profit at the expense of others has won him no friends.

In his article Aker disrespects other Bulldog and AFL players, implying they are not mature enough to embrace, and indeed welcome, an inclusive and supportive culture and workplace where sexual orientation is irrelevant. Past biases about player ethnicity, religion and political affiliations have largely been overcome and the game is better for it.

I love Aker as a footballer but I am very, very disappointed in his article. I can't find any way at all to defend him.

Think about it this way, ask yourself, why haven't any players come out in public to say they are gay? Is it homophobia? Are they scared of what their fellow teams mates, fans etc will think? there must be a reason.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Club Statement

What I really don't understand is Aker has written an extremely similar column like this a few years back, including his story about playing in the 2's at Mayne.
He knows this is an extremely thin line to walk on, so why did he risk it AGAIN!? It wasn't very necessary IMO.

Who amongst us can comprehend the Mysterious Mind Of Aker?! I'm hoping First Dog On The Moon is busily scratching away at a pictorial explanation. Then we might be able to say that sanity has prevailed.

[GVGjr]

Re: Club Statement

A kind explanation is that this was clumsy. But I totally agree with many of the thoughtful contributions here condemning this article. There is too much at stake for some of the young people who are struggling to come to terms with a world where they know many are suspicious and fearful of them.

Given the extreme sensitivity of this issue I am really disappointed that this article was not carefully vetted by the club. The topic could still have been covered, and I don't have a problem with Aker's personal view about it being unnecessary for a player to come out, but in a very confused line of argument, it just wasn't clear why. Too much pressure on the individual? Nobody's business? these are fair enough, but then cringe-worthy lines like 'could break the fabric of the club'. There was far too much emphasis on the discomfort in the shower thing too which seemed to show that deep down, it's about a very silly and immature idea that every gay guy is eyeing every bloke off and ready to hit on them at every moment.

Thank you to B-rad Bulldog for his honesty too. I have a beautiful gay son who has been through a lot in being brave enough to come out, and feel very sad that our club is caught up in this messy business. I hope some lessons have been learnt by everyone, and would love to see one of our team speaking out to firmly refute aker's views.

[Mantis]

Re: Club Statement

Then this:

Jason Akermanis furore ups pressure on Bulldogs - Brad Scott

[The Pie Man]

Re: Club Statement

Then this:

Jason Akermanis furore ups pressure on Bulldogs - Brad Scott

He probably has a point - but when Voss tried to imply the pressure was all on us in last year's semi, we smashed them and Eade came out after the game saying he knew we had them beat during the week when Voss tried it on.

Still, will be interesting to see how we come out tomorrow

[chef]

Re: Club Statement

Then this:

Jason Akermanis furore ups pressure on Bulldogs - Brad Scott

How does what Aker said yesterday put pressure on the team for tomorrows game? I don't understand It will put the spotlight on Aker, but he's showed time and time again he can handle the heat. It's not like he was bagging the Kangas.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Club Statement

Let's smash North Melbourne and put it all to rest. Aker expresses himself in a way that is easy for people to take out of context. I actually think he is wrong after reading many of the posts here. Look at the drug takers that are welcomed back into the fold. If a Gay player kicked goals nobody is going to complain. Sure, they outed player will cop heaps, but people will get used to it.

If Gary Ablett was gay, would you care, as long as he picked up 30 plus possessions a week?