PFLAG challenge Brisbane Roar “inaction” on homophobia
Image: Photographer: Ann-Marie Calilhanna (Source: Star Observer)
A-LEAGUE soccer club Brisbane聽Roar has been urged聽by Queensland-based LGBTI advocates to signup to an agreement specifically addressing homophobic abuse by game crowds during games.
In October, Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) national spokesperson Shelley Argent met with representatives from Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Broncos, Queensland Reds and Brisbane Roar about making the stadium a 鈥渉omophobia-free zone鈥�.
鈥淚 am pleased to say that Suncorp is supportive of the idea,鈥� Argent said.
PFLAG plan to hold further meetings with the Reds and Broncos on the issue but Roar management said that existing measures were suitable.
鈥淗owever, the Roar Football Management Team have decided the Football Federation Of Australia聽鈥斅燬pectator Code of Behaviour is enough, including the four public announcements about expected crowd behaviour,” Argent said.
“But is it enough to minimise homophobia at sporting events?鈥�
Argent has expressed disappointment that the Roar鈥檚 Code of Conduct does not specifically mention homophobic behaviour or language.
鈥淓xclusion is not necessarily deliberate. However, its exclusion implies to me that the Roar either don鈥檛 care or don鈥檛 understand the impact it has on individuals and their families,鈥澛爏he聽said.
鈥淗omophobia increases suicidal ideation, depression and low self-esteem. Nothing good comes from homophobia, not even for the perpetrators, who just appear ignorant and to be avoided.鈥�
In the October meeting PFLAG proposed to the three teams that messages be displayed on stadium screens that homophobic language, like sexist and racist language, would not be accepted.
It was also suggested that on their websites, the teams include homophobia as behaviour that is unacceptable during games.
On a national level, earlier this year Australia’s five major sporting codes signed up to in the lead up to the Bingham Cup in Sydney.
The Framework was designed to provide a guide to sporting codes on how to address homophobia and offer an inclusive sporting environment, with each peak body determining their own policies using the Framework as a foundation.
One of the framework鈥檚 three pillars refers to tackling homophobic and abusive language: 鈥淓ach member union or club must implement policies which are consistent with the policy, such as prohibiting homophobic and abusive language within the clubs鈥� member protection policies, codes of conduct, or like documents.鈥�
A section within the sample anti-discrimination policy offered by the framework specifically refers to including 鈥減arents, guardians, spectators and sponsors鈥� when attempting to foster a positive and inclusive environment.
Last month, Football Federation Australia 鈥斅爐he governing body for the A-League聽and its clubs like Brisbane Roar 鈥斅爏aid for soccer staff, players and clubs as part of its commitments to the framework.
Argent has called on the public to challenge what she sees as the Roar management鈥檚 inaction on directly addressing homophobic language.
鈥淎s spectators we don’t have to condone the Roar’s inaction or the ignorance of others,鈥澛爏he聽said.
鈥淪o basically, if the Roar don’t want to be part of change, we the fans can lead the way. People just need to be aware.鈥�
Speaking to the Star Observer, Argent said that there has been 鈥渘o movement whatsoever鈥� with Roar management over the past few months and that her efforts to pay for adverts within team publications have continually been met with obstacles.
鈥淚 couldn’t get past [the switchboard], who said [they] passed my proposed advert-community notice on to some guy. I called every day to speak to [him], but of course he was always busy,鈥� she聽said.
鈥淚 even sent a copy of this proposed advert to The Coffee Club 鈥� principal sponsors of the Roar 鈥撀燼sking if they had an objection to this advert being placed in the magazine, but again silence.鈥�
Brisbane Roar management was contacted for comment but no response was provided at time of print.
Main photo credit: Ann-Marie Calilhanna (Source: Star Observer)
I must admit to being conflicted on this article; I agree we need to get this topic on organisations agenda like the Brisbane Roar and more importantly then to then get meaningful action. But then I’m conflicted by the overall tone and approach taken here – I look at the Roar and like Al see a club that’s done a lot for race, gender, and aboriginal players in the past so assume they are more forward thinking and open than perhaps this article suggests. So is the right approach to berate this club because they don’t (appear) to do exactly as we want, when we want in regards to our agenda? Are we likely to move forward with warmth and support with organisations like this with such an approach and are they going to be open and genuinely listen and engaged on this topic or will they fear the negative, almost bullying response portrayed here and so avoid it altogether? We need a sympathetic and supporting ear to help us change attitudes and behaviours and it sounds like the Roar and other clubs are moving in the right direction albeit not at a speed to everyone’s liking?
Well said John McCormach, there’s always more that can be done and of course we shouldn’t be complacent; Roar supporters are generally good to excellent in my experience and I hope if continues with growth. I too am a regular game-day fan and I haven’t heard any homophobic comments at a game, not even in “jest”, so as I say no room for complacency but at the same time Roar have done an excellent job over 10 years fostering a family-friendly environment which Ms. Argent fails go a knowledge and, if she repeats the tone and attitude reflected in this article in her attempted dealings with the club, she shouldn’t be surprised if suddenly people are “unavailable”
Well said hope she takes up the challenge
Well said John McCormack. Actions speak louder than words in a code of conduct.
Hello,
My name is John, I am
a member of Brisbane Roar FC, I have only missed one home game since we started
life in the A-League in 2005 (well, whilst I was not overseas travelling) and I
am a very passionate supporter of the club. I travel to away games often including Tokyo, South Korea,
China and the backblocks of Thailand. I also happen to be openly gay.
In nine and a half
seasons I have only witnessed one example of homophobia. A former player of ours scored against
us at home and some folks started a chant featuring the six-letter 鈥楩鈥�
word. I was very upset about the
goal but this really pissed me off. The astounding part was the reaction from the people around me.
The chant was drowned
out in seconds by my fellow supporters who objected to the use of it and it
stopped. The next day in various
online forums it was made very clear to all and sundry that any display of
homophobia is simply unacceptable. I have never been so proud to call these people my friends.
You see, this is the
great thing about our code. It is
the supporters that provide the atmosphere. There is so much that is in our hands that we as a group
tackle the issues. The club does
not have to do much but support us in these endeavours which they have done so.
I鈥檝e lost count with
the amount of times I鈥檝e had people say to me privately that they hadn鈥檛 had
anything to do with gay people before and now we鈥檙e all good because I proved
to them that I was a decent person. I am a firm believer that this is a much better tool to tackling
homophobia than any Code of Conduct will ever achieve.
I agree with Shelley
Argent that the Football Federation of Australia need to amend the Spectator
Code of Conduct to include 鈥榮exuality鈥� under clause (c).
I must also state that
I think rules made behind closed doors and enforced on everyone else is
counterproductive. People are a
little weary of over-regulation and all it creates is resentment. However this is my opinion.
Lastly, I would like
to issue Shelley Argent an invitation to join me at a Brisbane Roar FC home
game of her choice. She will get
to witness first hand how we deal with things. Not just accepting of the LGBTI community but other sectors
of the community namely ethnic groups, refugees, indigenous people and
women. We deal with homophobia and
it upset me to see people claim otherwise.
Yours sincerely,
John McCormack
couldn’t say it any better!
Hello,
My name is John, I am a member of Brisbane Roar FC, I have only missed one home game since we started life in the A-League in 2005 (well, whilst I was not overseas travelling) and I am a very passionate supporter of the club. I travel to away games often including Tokyo, South Korea, China and the backblocks of Thailand. I also happen to be openly gay.
In nine and a half seasons I have only witnessed one example of homophobia. A former player of ours scored against us at home and some folks started a chant featuring the six-letter 鈥楩鈥� word. I was very upset about the goal but this really pissed me off. The astounding part was the reaction from the people around me.
The chant was drowned out in seconds by my fellow supporters who objected to the use of it and it stopped. The next day in various online forums it was made very clear to all and sundry that any display of homophobia is simply unacceptable. I have never been so proud to call these people my friends.
You see, this is the great thing about our code. It is the supporters that provide the atmosphere. There is so much that is in our hands that we as a group tackle the issues. The club does not have to do much but support us in these endeavours which they have done so.
I鈥檝e lost count with the amount of times I鈥檝e had people say to me privately that they hadn鈥檛 had anything to do with gay people before and now we鈥檙e all good because I proved to them that I was a decent person. I am a firm believer that this is a much better tool to tackling homophobia than any Code of Conduct will ever achieve.
I agree with Shelley Argent that the Football Federation of Australia need to amend the Spectator Code of Conduct to include 鈥榮exuality鈥� under clause (c).
I must also state that I think rules made behind closed doors and enforced on everyone else is counterproductive. People are a little weary of over-regulation and all it creates is resentment. However this is my opinion.
Lastly, I would like to issue Shelley Argent an invitation to join me at a Brisbane Roar FC home game of her choice. She will get to witness first hand how we deal with things. Not just accepting of the LGBTI community but other sectors of the community namely ethnic groups, refugees, indigenous people and women. We deal with homophobia and it upset me to see people claim otherwise.
Yours sincerely,
John McCormack