Homophobia in rugby is not OK

Miranda Divine, a columnist at Sydney’s Daily Telegraph, recently wrote a piece about 19-year old West Tigers player, Mitchell Moses, who was recently embroiled in a controversy after a homophobic slur was caught on the referee’s microphone. In which Moses received a two week suspension for his actions.

 In the article Divine claims that this is nothing more than a;

“illiberal modern day crusade to hunt down homophobes, and who cares if he’s guilty?

“Rugby league will make an example of him to show how progressive it is. Paying obeisance to homo-fascism.”

The anti-homophobia movement is a little more than a liberal ideal that’s only spoken about by hipsters at trendy cafe’s over a chai latte. 

Homophobia in rugby is intended to imply that because of someone’s sexual orientation, that they are not equal, or not as good as someone who’s straight.

So what is the NRL allowing if they take no action over Moses’ comments? Would they be saying it’s OK to be homophobic of the rugby pitch? Would they be suggesting that if it’s OK to be a homophobe, then it’s OK to be bigot?

There’s a reason why it’s not OK to say these things, it’s offensive and hurtful.

Divine also claimed “There was no problem the players trying to punch each other.”

Urm…Miranda, I’m not sure how you could be more wrong! Players found guilty of striking offenses end up getting long suspensions. If you’re not aware of this, then you clearly don’t pay much attention to either code of rugby, and surely, someone who doesn’t know anything about the game shouldn’t be commenting on it. 

Divine went on to write, “Let’s get one thing straight. “Gay” no longer just means “homosexual”. The word has changed meaning over the last decade.”

Miranda, you mean, when a teenager says “that’s go gay”, they don’t mean that it’s a little queer? Or different? And it’s not meant in a derogatory manor?

Let’s just remember the definition of the word “gay”:

1. Homosexual
2. Light-hearted and carefree

When a young person says “that’s so gay”, where do you think the origin of the word lies? I’m pretty sure it didn’t come from “light-hearted and carefree”. It is a reference to homosexuals. And that has never changed.

When someone says the word “gay” during a scuffle on the rugby field, I hardly think they are referring to someone “sunny disposition”. It is intended in no other way than that to create offence in a homophobic manor.

And that’s not OK on the rugby field, and has no place in any part of modern day life.