Isaac Humphries on being the only openly gay basketballer to represent their country
When Isaac Humphries steps onto the basketball court, he’s not just representing Australia. He’s inspiring the LGBTQI+ community as the only openly gay player to play for their country.
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Isaac Humphries knows there is a heavy burden on his shoulders as the only openly gay basketballer to represent his country.
But it is a weight he is happy to bear, as he gears up to step out for the Boomers for two World Cup qualifiers against Bahrain and Kazakhstan in the midst of WorldPride 2023.
“It’s very important, I’m the only openly gay basketball player to ever represent their country in the world, so this ability is super important and now, as an Australian, Australia can put their hand up and say we’re spearheading that,” Humphries told News Corp after the Boomers’ Wednesday training session.
“We’ll see what comes in the future, but to represent my country during WorldPride is a special moment for me and my community.”
Humphries, 25, returns to the fold of the Boomers after injury forced him out of the reckoning for the Tokyo Olympics and says it’s another important step that can inspire the LGBTQI+ community.
“I truly think this ability for me getting out and doing stuff is very important,” he said.
“There was no point in me really coming out and just staying silent again because that defeats the purpose of what I’m trying to do for the world.
“There are people seeing what I do and feeling it and I’m very grateful and honoured to be that role model in that community for people.”
ICE AND THE ROOKS
Humphries is joined in the Boomers’ squad by teammate Mason Peatling who will debut, under their Melbourne United mentor Dean Vickerman, himself a rookie at international level.
“I’m 100 per cent a rookie like coach but, lucky for me, I know all the plays he’s talking about and everyone’s asking me questions on what Deano wants, so I’ve got the edge on them for sure,” Peatling laughed.
“It’s my first Australian anything, no junior national teams or anything like that, so it’s been a long time in the making and I’m super-proud to be a part of it.”
After a meteoric rise to the NBA and NBL stardom, Humphries spent the best part of two years recovering from injury before hitting the court with United this year.
He’s seen plenty and feels like “one of the older guys” on the roster.
“I think I’ve just got a bit more experience under my belt, been through a lot more physically and mentally throughout those times,” he said.
“I’m not a vet or anything but I’ve been around a little bit.
“I’m not the young guy coming in super-nervous all the time, I’m really comfortable here and obviously having Deano as the coach helps a lot of things, so yeah, it’s been great to catch up with all old teammates from Boomers things, NBL teammates and meeting some new friends too.”
PRIDE AND WHAT’S NEXT
Both men are out of contract and playing a waiting game as NBL free agency looms.
Peatling says Humphries has taken his standing as a role model seriously, putting in endless energy.
“He’s very well-measured and It’s his passion,” Peatling said.
“He understands what he is representing and the people he is representing and it’s really important to have someone who absolutely owns who they are like he does.
“It’s been a privilege to watch him on the same team because I can see what it takes and how much it means.”
Humphries was strong in condemning the Cairns Taipans’ decision to shun the NBL’s rainbow logo during the recent Pride Round.
But he believes he made his point and prefers to celebrate the huge step the NBL made to recognise the LGBTQI+ community.
“I said what I needed to say and we just let basketball speak for itself after that,” he said.
“My job, first and foremost, is a basketball player and, while this is a part of my life now and a part of who I am and what I bring to the world and for me I wanted it to be about celebrating what an incredible thing the NBL was doing and then hooping and moving on from it.”
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