Jonathon Moran: Israel Folau’s comments were damaging

Whatever way you look at it, the Israel Folau situation is complicated and ugly. As a gay man, I am torn because while I’m glad Rugby Australia has stood its ground, I actually feel sorry for Folau.

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Whatever way you look at it, the Israel Folau situation is complicated and ugly.

As a gay man, I am torn because while I’m glad Rugby Australia has stood its ground, I actually feel sorry for Folau.

I also truly believe he is entitled to his opinion, regardless of the fact that I find them extremely hurtful, divisive and just damned abhorrent.

But freedom of speech has its limits. And the question has to be asked, at what point does that freedom overrule the fact that what someone is saying is damaging and actually harmful?

Israel Folau was sacked by Rugby Australia for his tweet. Picture: Mark Kolbe

Suicide rates among gay, lesbian and trans communities is way too high and a lot of that in my opinion is due to the fact minorities feel ostracised from the rest of society.

Folau’s comments contributed to that and I feel sad for the hurt he caused with his hateful comments.

If it offended me, someone who is now very comfortable being gay, I can only imagine how much it might have cut a young guy or girl who looked up to him that is struggling with their sexuality.

A report by the National LGBTI Health Alliance found lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex youth aged between 16 and 27 are five times more likely to attempt suicide.

The tweet made by Israel Folau

Having been there, it is a horrible feeling. I suffered depression and struggled to find my voice as a young gay man and know first hand the things Folau has said can ruin lives.

Folau was and is a role model and with the $4 million pay cheque he received came a huge responsibility, more so than your average Australian because his job came with a public profile.

Herein lies the distinction, and why I am conflicted. There is a grey area, increasingly so with the rise of social media, as to what is public and what is private.

Folau talking to mates or in his church expressing his views is a different proposition to sharing what could be perceived as hateful statements online.

Social media isn’t private — people often forget that it is a public forum and anything he shares reflects upon him personally but also his employer and sponsors of the game more broadly.

The same thing goes for me, as a journalist working for The Daily Telegraph.

Folau knew that when he posted his detestable comments. He knew it was against the expectations of his employer, which they had made clear following previous inappropriate posts.

Jonathon Moran argues that Folau’s comments were damaging. Picture: Dylan Robinson

Israel Folau was once a poster boy for the 2014 Bingham Cup gay rugby tournament. Picture: Cameron Spencer

Therefore, he has, and should, suffer the consequences.

The irony of Folau being a poster boy for the 2014 Bingham Cup gay rugby tournament in 2014 should not be overlooked as well.

He was happy to pose for the front cover of the Sydney Star Observer then.

At the time, a Bingham Cup spokesman said Folau was a “strong advocate for ending all forms of the discrimination in sport”.

I believe no other code of sport in this country is as inclusive as rugby — RA boss Raelene Castle has shown that this past month.

Whatever her faults and taking away any argument over what should or shouldn’t have been included in Folau’s contract when it was negotiated, Castle has led by example and shown inclusivity, not exclusivity, as well as equality, are valued.

That in and of itself is a huge step for sport as a whole in this country and not something to be overlooked or under valued.

Other codes of sport talk the talk. Castle walked the walk for fear or favour and I admire that.

We’ve seen scandal after scandal engulf rugby league and other sports, from cheating to sexting, bar brawls and even assault.

And at the end of the day, nothing ever changes. It is swept under the carpet and dismissed as ‘boys will be boys’.

Thank goodness for Castle finally making a stand that should be observed with respect by all because it was the right thing to do.