Pride Cup founder Jason Ball says on-going education will lead to inclusion and help change homophobic attitudes in sport
Education is the key to inclusion and changing homophobic attitudes in sport says Pride Cup founder Jason Ball.
Local Sport
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THE Community Pride Cup celebrated diversity and inclusion in sport for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex communities but education will help further change mindsets and attitudes, says Jason Ball.
Ball, a premiership player with Yarra Glen and the first openly gay Australian Rules footballer at any level, is the founder of the Cup which, in its second year, was contested by Yarra Glen and Warburton Millgrove on Sunday, the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.
The rainbow, the international symbol of gay pride, was prominent at Yarra Glen Football Ground, painted on the 50m lines and on goalpost pads and umpire flags.
Senior football and netball coaches attended a match-day lunch where beyondblue chairman Jeff Kennett and St Kilda chief executive Matt Finnis spoke and a panel, which featured Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner Kate Jenkins, participated in a question-and -answer session.
AFL football operations manager Mark Evans also attended the day.
Next month, St Kilda coach Alan Richardson will lead a “train the trainer” workshop for all senior football and netball coaches on how to support young club people struggling with their sexuality.
Ball said it was essential young people felt safe and like they could be themselves in a sporting environment.
“I think probably the critical piece to the success of the Pride Cup has been that we’ve attempted to wrap education around the event. Homophobia is not talked about in sport and that’s why education is important, without it this is meaningless,’’ he said.
“The workshop with the coaches is important because they set the tone for club culture and we need to empower them to change and challenge.
“I was in the closet for a decade of my football life. Because of fear and the language used around the club I thought, if my team mates found out I was gay, they’d hate me or kick me off the team. A lot of people stop playing or leave sport because they’re in the closet.
“The Pride Cup is an opportunity to grow the game in different areas and it’s been incredible seeing how the local community and Yarra Glen has rallied behind the event.’’
The results of an Out on the Fields study released earlier this month revealed 87 per cent of young gay Australians who play sport feel they need to hide their sexuality. Half feared coming out would make them targets for bullies and 37 per cent were worried about discrimination from coaches or officials.
Other Pride Cup day highlights included a live broadcast of the day and game on JOY FM and Yarra Valley FM and a half-time Auskick session run by St Kilda footballers. Cup ambassador and former Melbourne and Carlton footballer Brock McLean was also in attendance.
Yarra Glen claimed the Pride Cup by defeating Warburton Millgrove by two goals, 13.14 (92) to 11.14 (80).
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