Manly Inclusive Pride jersey backlash

[krissy]

I respect a person’s right to believe in whatever religion they like but I do not respect them using that religion to exclude people or make people feel without value.
What message does it send to gay people in the football community or the community in general? Sorry that is the most unchristian attitude there is. Just be good people and include everyone, it isn’t a difficult concept.
A religion that excludes people because they are different is a poor excuse for a religion.
I might add before I get accused of hating religion, I was educated at a religious school, had a very conservative upbringing and also have many gay family members & friends.

 

[weststigers]

No no you said "politics is creeping into sport".

I said "it has always been in sport".

I think you should check my post history. I said this "seems like politics creeping into sport" in the context of a larger post. Either way...this doesn't dilute the message I have said all along. My opinion is politics should be kept out of sport.

If you think it should be, then put up an alternate view and lets have an enjoyable and balanced discussion, but it seems this topic is running on emotion alone.

 

[swag_tiger]

Since when did someone's sexual orientation become political. If that's the case being straight should be political too but I never hear people say it's a political stunt. I hear it alot about the other side tho.

 

[stryker 69]

What I find interesting, jokes aside, is everyone seems to be on-board with indigenous round and the All-Stars match, and everyone is cool with Women's round, recognising the impact of women on rugby league.

But some dudes are not cool about the Sea Birds having an "inclusiveness" round focusing on sexual orientation.

So it's only acceptable to recognise some minorities but not others apparently.

Has the gay community had as profound an impact upon the game as the indigenous players and women?

 

[swag_tiger]

Has the gay community had as profound an impact upon the game as the indigenous players and women?

I bet you anything there have been some top class players that have been gay or of other sexual orientation but haven't come out.

 

[stryker 69]

I bet you anything there have been some top class players that have been gay or of other sexual orientation but haven't come out.

That’s fine. Their sexuality is irrelevant to their ability to play football.
This is in stark contrast to an individuals heritage which does bring certain facets to the game which are correctly celebrated.

 

[The Fresh Oil]

Doesn’t look that bad, clashes a bit with his eye colour but all in all, looks good

If I didn’t know I’d say they were sponsored by Centrum vitamins

 

[Champ1]

I respect a person’s right to believe in whatever religion they like but I do not respect them using that religion to exclude people or make people feel without value.
What message does it send to gay people in the football community or the community in general? Sorry that is the most unchristian attitude there is. Just be good people and include everyone, it isn’t a difficult concept.
A religion that excludes people because they are different is a poor excuse for a religion.
I might add before I get accused of hating religion, I was educated at a religious school, had a very conservative upbringing and also have many gay family members & friends.

Krissy , you said you respect a persons right to believe whatever they like & live their life however they want. I agree with you. However , arent you being discrimatory against the Manly players? Dont they have the right not to be gay , just like Ian Roberts has to be right to be gay? I didnt see anyone of those players say they excluded them or didnt value them , they simply made a decision based on their beliefs & values. Who is really is being discriminated against here because of their beliefs?

 

[jirskyr]

I think you should check my post history. I said this "seems like politics creeping into sport" in the context of a larger post. Either way...this doesn't dilute the message I have said all along. My opinion is politics should be kept out of sport.

If you think it should be, then put up an alternate view and lets have an enjoyable and balanced discussion, but it seems this topic is running on emotion alone.

That's fine I can respect that opinion; my post was only responding to that specific comment about the creeping.

And yes I disagree. Not only is politics pervasive in sport, and vice versa, I think sport can be a powerful force for political good, as a platform.

I can give you a bunch of other prime examples of politics and sport without even breaking a sweat:
Breakaway of the Northern Rugby Union (genesis of rugby league)
Celtic and Rangers
Black Power salute at the Olympics
Boycott of the Moscow Olympics 1980
In fact every Olympic games and hosting bid in history
Qatar winning the Football World Cup bid for 2022
Boycotting of South Africa during apartheid
Imran Khan becoming Prime Minister of Pakistan, and all the other sportspeople that became elected officials like Manny Pacquiao and Vitali Klitschko
Izzy Folau being banned from rugby
Muhammad Ali refusing the draft
Premier League's No Room for Racism campaign
The Bingham Cup
Saudi Arabian golf
removal of Russia from sporting competitions in 2021
Taiwan not being permitted to compete under their own name

So you can wish politics out of sport until you collapse, but it's unrealistic.

 

[weststigers]

What I find interesting, jokes aside, is everyone seems to be on-board with indigenous round and the All-Stars match, and everyone is cool with Women's round, recognising the impact of women on rugby league.

But some dudes are not cool about the Sea Birds having an "inclusiveness" round focusing on sexual orientation.

So it's only acceptable to recognise some minorities but not others apparently.

I don't think anyone has discussed these other rounds you've brought up so I wouldn't second guess anyones opinion as I'm sure they are all different.

It's a sport. Achievements aren't based on the colour of your skin, your sexuality, gender or any other personal attribute or belief. That's why sport is such a great equaliser - you can throw anyone in together, no matter their background and the best team wins.

Anyway. It looks like sport is becoming a platform for these things, and I'll keep watching because I love the game, but I think we have many platforms and government organisations outside of sport to push these issues. As evidenced by this very thread, they are heated topics and just cause to create division which is not what sport is about.

 

[jirskyr]

Has the gay community had as profound an impact upon the game as the indigenous players and women?

Have they been given the opportunity to have that profound impact?

Consensual adult sex between homosexuals was only legalised in NSW in 1984 and nation-wide in 1994. On the other hand, it's never been illegal to be a woman or an indigenous Australian.

 

[stryker 69]

Have they been given the opportunity to have that profound impact?

Consensual adult sex between homosexuals was only legalised in NSW in 1984 and nation-wide in 1994. On the other hand, it's never been illegal to be a woman or an indigenous Australian.

So they’ve had 28 years?

 

[jirskyr]

Anyway. It looks like sport is becoming a platform for these things, and I'll keep watching because I love the game, but I think we have many platforms and government organisations outside of sport to push these issues. As evidenced by this very thread, they are heated topics and just cause to create division which is not what sport is about.

Manly are literally calling it their "inclusivity" jersey and you reckon it's just a cause to create division?

Maybe if people weren't so sensitive to the recognition of other parties, everyone could have their moment in the sun and nobody would get upset about it.

I literally don't understand how recognition of one part of Australian society is cause to complain. Don't let it bother you.

 

[stryker 69]

Krissy , you said you respect a persons right to believe whatever they like & live their life however they want. I agree with you. However , arent you being discrimatory against the Manly players? Dont they have the right not to be gay , just like Ian Roberts has to be right to be gay? I didnt see anyone of those players say they excluded them or didnt value them , they simply made a decision based on their beliefs & values. Who is really is being discriminated against here because of their beliefs?

Good point, which will be well and truly lost in Jirskyr‘s 10000 word essay you are about to be bored with.

 

[jirskyr]

So they’ve had 28 years?

I don't understand your point.

The law only permitted openly gay relationships the past 28 years, and gay communities have since had to overcome hundreds of years of stigma and religious persecution to get to where they are today, which still isn't far enough that you can't have a rainbow jersey without some people objecting.

And when 44% of Australians still identify as Christians, and most (all?) forms of Christianity outlaw homosexuality, plus the 10% who are non-Christian religious but still oppose homosexuality (like Muslims), that's something like half of all Australians who still subscribe to institutionalised anti-gay doctrine, despite the gay marriage plebiscite.

So no they haven't had 28 years, and gay footballers still remain in the closet for fear of persecution and ridicule. They've had about 5 minutes of opportunity.

 

[jirskyr]

Good point, which will be well and truly lost in Jirskyr‘s 10000 word essay you are about to be bored with.

Oh this is the bit where you start being a prick again. I had such high hopes that you were over all of that.

 

[jirskyr]

Good point, which will be well and truly lost in Jirskyr‘s 10000 word essay you are about to be bored with.

By the way nobody is discriminating against the guys who don't like the rainbow jersey, they are permitted to sit the match out.

23 words

 

[The Fresh Oil]

Krissy , you said you respect a persons right to believe whatever they like & live their life however they want. I agree with you. However , arent you being discrimatory against the Manly players? Dont they have the right not to be gay , just like Ian Roberts has to be right to be gay? I didnt see anyone of those players say they excluded them or didnt value them , they simply made a decision based on their beliefs & values. Who is really is being discriminated against here because of their beliefs?

If the NRL refused to register players because of religious beliefs, that would be discrimination . Having an event that goes against someone’s beliefs is not discrimination. It’s inclusiveness and people are free to do what they like with that. The players can refuse to play. The club can stand them down for not wearing the businesses uniform for duty. The world keeps spinning.

What I think is happening is the players will pull the discrimination card because deep down they know they will be ridiculed for having outdated opinions that go against the current social norm. I reckon there’s people that are against women in league round and indigenous round too. They can also have that opinion.

 

[stryker 69]

🤣

 

[krissy]

Krissy , you said you respect a persons right to believe whatever they like & live their life however they want. I agree with you. However , arent you being discrimatory against the Manly players? Dont they have the right not to be gay , just like Ian Roberts has to be right to be gay? I didnt see anyone of those players say they excluded them or didnt value them , they simply made a decision based on their beliefs & values. Who is really is being discriminated against here because of their beliefs?

Where did I say they had to be gay?