New Zealand’s Olympic short track speed skater Blake Skjellerup says Aussie footballer Jason Akermanis, has caused damage & emotional distress, when Akermanis suggested this past week that there's no room for openly Gay & Lesbian athletes in competitive sports.
Blake Skjellerup Photo By Rachel Hepner
By Blake Skjellerup (Calgary, Alberta) May 27 | When I first read Australian footballer Jason Akermanis's commentary Tuesday morning urging gay players to stay in the closet, I had to laugh. I was not laughing with him, or at him, but at the irony of the whole story. Akermanis plays in a tough sport. It's hard-hitting and physically demanding. His comments about homoerotic activity in the locker rooms almost had me in tears, both tears of laughter and tears of sadness. I had to laugh, as here was Akermanis admitting that yes, "I engage in homoerotic activity, but I’m not gay." These are comments we have come to expect from the homophobic, intolerant, and ignorant society of today.
In a football locker room somewhere in Australia, a young gay boy, teenager — or even one of Akermanis's teammates — is reading these comments, and Akermanis's words have the power to send athletes into such disarray about their sexuality, they'll likely be left feeling confused and alone.
In my experience as an athlete — dealing with my sexuality as a teenager — the times I cried and fought off thoughts and feelings about my sexuality number in the hundreds. These players in locker rooms — not just in Australia, but all over the world — will read Akermanis's comments and take away one thing ... the same thought I had growing up: I cannot be gay. I cannot be a successful sportsman and be gay. They will be left battling themselves and their sexuality on a a deep and disturbing level.
Akermanis's comments to MTR Radio three days after his initial statement are directed toward athletes like myself, Gareth Thomas, and Matthew Mitcham — the ones who are not afraid to stand up for equality and to combat homophobia in sports.
In a football locker room somewhere in Australia, a young gay boy, teenager — or even one of Akermanis's teammates — is reading these comments, and Akermanis's words have the power to send athletes into such disarray about their sexuality, they'll likely be left feeling confused and alone.
In my experience as an athlete — dealing with my sexuality as a teenager — the times I cried and fought off thoughts and feelings about my sexuality number in the hundreds. These players in locker rooms — not just in Australia, but all over the world — will read Akermanis's comments and take away one thing ... the same thought I had growing up: I cannot be gay. I cannot be a successful sportsman and be gay. They will be left battling themselves and their sexuality on a a deep and disturbing level.
Akermanis's comments to MTR Radio three days after his initial statement are directed toward athletes like myself, Gareth Thomas, and Matthew Mitcham — the ones who are not afraid to stand up for equality and to combat homophobia in sports.
"There's articles everywhere written from these guys and all of them, of course, are gay so they think they know everything and they know more. They're making it personal about me, which is a very dumb thing to do because all I wanted to do was debate the facts. ... Maybe I've got a problem with it. What am I supposed to do? Do you think I'm the only one? That is an uncomfortable situation to be in.""
We do know more than you, Mr. Akermanis, because we are gay and we have been there. Did you ever contemplate suicide because you were born a heterosexual male? I don't think so. It is personal, and when you sit there and slaughter the hopes of gay athletes all over the world, we are going to make it personal. Yes, it may be uncomfortable for you to have a gay player in your locker room because, after all, what would become of those harmless homoerotic games? Your stereotype of gay male athletes is incorrect. Gay rights are a human rights movement, Mr. Akermanis. We do suffer from prejudice because of people like you. Instead of welcoming diversity and being a strong role model to your peers and the youth of Australia, you send the message that if you're different, you should hide it, because it personally makes you uncomfortable.
We do know more than you, Mr. Akermanis, because we are gay and we have been there. Did you ever contemplate suicide because you were born a heterosexual male? I don't think so. It is personal, and when you sit there and slaughter the hopes of gay athletes all over the world, we are going to make it personal. Yes, it may be uncomfortable for you to have a gay player in your locker room because, after all, what would become of those harmless homoerotic games? Your stereotype of gay male athletes is incorrect. Gay rights are a human rights movement, Mr. Akermanis. We do suffer from prejudice because of people like you. Instead of welcoming diversity and being a strong role model to your peers and the youth of Australia, you send the message that if you're different, you should hide it, because it personally makes you uncomfortable.
Posts
2 comments:
In so many ways how lucky the world is that Jason Akermanis plays a minority sport in a reputedly macho, beer swilling, kangaroo shagging nation.
And what an arse he is.
I suppose a campaign to make the macho man retract his words is out of the question? Is Aussie Rules Phobia a hate crime?
The AFL (Australian Football League) has recently supported IDAHO with a video that has been taken down on YouTube. I wonder why? I posted a link to it in the AwesomeDude News and Friendly Literature Forum, a link that I will leave as a memorial to the fact that it did exist.
I have also posted videos of AFL and Aussie sports-stars supporting anti-homophobia at
http://www.awesomedude.com/adboard/index.php?showtopic=5267&view=findpost&p=32689
The greater Australian people are not homophobic despite the perceptions of the Australian government and the influence of the religiously bigoted extremists.
I make no excuses for siding with Harvey Milk, in encouraging people to come out. The more that straight people realise that they know and respect, even have an affection for someone who is gay, the more we encourage them to overcome their socially conditioned, religiously perverted, totally unnecessary homophobia. The homophobic are the real danger to peace on this planet, not those who love each other.
Yes it is tough to come out, even threatening, and in some cases dangerous, but always liberating, and that is what the rest of us, who are out, need to be doing; supporting the young, the closeted, the frail, the athletic, the talented and especially the ordinary person who just wants to be who they are.
Making excuses to keep people in the closet, is deleterious to the individual's sense of self-worth, as much as it defeats, deflects, and detracts from, the objective of not just recognising but accepting, the universal nature of human sexuality without guilt. Indeed with celebration for overthrowing the chains of centuries of oppression.
And if we don't do it, we are in very real danger of losing most of what we have gained.
Homophobia is a learned response, like hate, racism and bigotry you have to be taught it, you have to learn it and practise it. Each of us must be the instruments of freedom from fear and hatred, showing everyone that their fears are unfounded, and their hatred is unnecessary, misplaced and, destroying of the human spirit's inherent capacity to love.
In the interests of that much praised ideal of "sportsmanship" it is indeed time to apply it to homosexual attitudes on and off the sports fields.
Post a Comment