Writing this article was like being knocked unconscious and magically transported back 15 years. Julia Gillard is prime minister, everyone is playing Angry Birds on the new iPad, and I am here writing about homophobia in sport. You know, 2010! Unfortunately, however, I’m not in some Rebel Wilson-type Netflix head-injury time-travel comedy, I am still in 2025 Australia. Despite this fact, in the last year or so there have been six separate incidents where an AFL player or coach has used a homophobic slur against an opposition player – including two in the last few weeks.
The AFL has suspended each player, and in the most recent case, Riak Andrew has been banned for a lengthy five matches. This has happened after all AFL players this year had to complete an LGBTQ+ education model. The AFL has taken such steps to try to stem the tide of homophobia in the game, but the tactics don’t seem to be working. Players are still being homophobic on the field, and many fans and supporters take this as license to be homophobic off the field. This is a culture issue, a player issue, and a fan issue – it is inbuilt and insidious. And it is harmful.
