AFL transphobic?
Wednesday, 23 July 2008
The AFL has rejected implementing policy to stamp out sexual orientation discrimination in the sport, saying current guidelines are sufficient to cover all types of discrimination - despite lower leagues making inroads in this area.
The Victorian Country Football League (VCFL) released a statement two weeks ago saying the board was committed to implementing specific policy to deliver a message to country clubs that sexual orientation discrimination is "totally unacceptable."
AFL spokesperson Patrick Keane said there are no plans in the AFL to implement such policy, as racial and religious discrimination policies are in place already.
AFL guidelines, Rule 30.1 states that no person should threaten, disparage, vilify or insult another person on the basis of their "race, religion, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin," but does not mention sexual orientation.
In a recent case, a mediation session was held in an AFL Victoria (formerly VFL) league team after allegations of transphobia were made.
The mediation session involved a transsexual former committee member of the Northern Saints Football Club, Tess Emery, and the Northern Saints board. The session was mediated by the President of the Essendon District Football League (EDFL), Ian Price.
Emery said she felt "let down" by club administration and felt the board was ignoring her in meetings because of her transsexual identity.
According to Northern Saints Cub President Dan Kennedy, Emery was asked to leave the committee earlier this year for exposing confidential committee details on an online football forum.
Emery said she was relatively happy with the result of the mediation, but felt the Board didn't understand what she was saying because a silent culture of transphobia was at play.
"There is almost a mates club and if you're not part of it you're welcome but don't get too involved."
"We do not have any out gay players and there is a reason for that, and it's not because there aren't any," Emery says.
Kennedy said Emery is still welcome around the club and issues of transphobia only came up in the mediation session.
"When you're on a committee it's difficult when you've got people going in different directions...her sexuality was never a consideration," Kennedy said.
EDFL President Ian Price said he thought what happened to Emery was wrong, but denied transphobia was an issue. Price said although it may have been different 15 years ago, he doesn't hear names like 'poofter' on the footy field.
"You have to be careful what you say - you just can't say what you want anymore," he said.
AFL Victoria Community Development Manager Peter McDougall said he thinks sexual orientation discrimination is not an issue for football but for wider society.
"We can't be lumbered with every problem in society, but we're happy to play a role and support programs and still balance our core business of playing football," McDougall said.
McDougall said AFL Victoria is looking into implementing an educational program for sexual orientation discrimination for the next season.
by ANDIE NOONAN.
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