Gay footballer Jason Ball says AFL slow on issue of gay rights

THE first openly gay Australian Rules footballer says it’s a shame not a single gay player had felt supported enough to come out, urging the AFL to do more in making them feel welcome.

Yarra Glen footballer Jason at a Pride March parade in St Kilda with former AFL players Daniel Jackson and Brock McLean in 2013.

AFL chief Gillon McLachlan has been asked to show greater leadership on the issue of gay rights.

Suburban player Jason Ball, who came out in 2012, said the fact there were no openly gay AFL players meant the league must be more proactive in making them feel welcome.

He said players feared their careers could be ruined if there was a negative reaction to their decision to come out as gay.

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More than 50 players joined forces this week to push for marriage equality through an AFLPA-sanctioned campaign.

Ball said McLachlan, who is adamant the league should not lecture the community on same-sex marriage and gay rights, was playing “catch-up” on the issue.

He called on him to show leadership by overhauling education programs, promoting campaigns and giving money for gay rights initiatives.

Jason Ball says the AFL needs to show more leadership on the issue of gay rights.

He said none of the recent campaigns or gay pride games, such as the Sydney-St Kilda Round 18 clash this season, were AFL initiatives.

Ball said he had been approached by AFL coaches who believed they had gay players and wanted advice on what ­approach to take.

While a large proportion of AFLW players were gay, Ball said it was a shame not a single gay male had felt supported enough to come out.

“The reality is the AFL has had many gay men playing the game for a long time,’’ he said.

“The AFL needs to take more leadership. It is ridiculous (McLachlan) feels he needs to tiptoe around the issue so much. He wrote a letter of support for marriage equality back in 2014.

“It’s not saying if you are homophobic you will get pena­lised, it’s about saying if you are a gay player you are going to be accepted and welcomed.

“It’s about saying it’s OK to be who you are. To date all of the things in this space haven’t been led by the AFL.”