Seven “deeply religious” players have stood down from the Manly rugby league club ahead of a crucial game against cross-town rivals Eastern Suburbs, refusing to wear a LGBTIQA pride jumper. “The seven players are understood to be Josh Aloiai, Jason Saab, Josh Schuster, Haumole Olakau’atu, Tolutau Koula, Christian Tuipulotu and Toafofoa Sipley,” The Australian reports.
The confrontation between the players and the club occurred after a Pride jumper featuring rainbow stripes was released to the media without the players being consulted. League identity Phil “Gus” Gould suggested on Nine’s 100% Footy “its a misunderstanding” caused by the decision being made in a marketing department without knowledge of the players’ culture and their religious background.
Media reports say that NRL rules won’t allow the seven players to wear an alternative jumper, and the club insists the pride jumper be worn.
It is likely that most of the players are Christians, given the Pacific Islander background of many of them. A similar incident occurred last year in the AFLW when GWS player Haneen Zreika from an Islamic community stood down from a game.
Conservative Christian group Family Voice says the forced wearing of the pride uniform is discriminatory. “The mandating of wearing a pride jersey is a slap on the face of Christian players and islander-communities who are strident Christian faith followers and closely aligned to their cultural heritage.”
Greg Bondar, Family Voice spokesperson suggested that the gay players could wear the jumper but asked if the club would hold a day for Christians or Jews.
Club owner Scott Penn told the SMH that the jumper was meant to include everyone. “It was totally an inclusivity and diversity jersey,” Penn told the Herald from New York. “It was never just about pride. It was about saying we want everyone in the game and making them feel they can get involved. Players have been put in a tough position…
““It’s just disappointing we’re here. We don’t want those players to be outcasts, but as a club we celebrate and support everyone. We have only done this from a good-hearted point of view.”
Peter V’landys, chair of the Ausztralian Rugby League appeared to reference the Folau controversy when he told the paper “We respect everyone. It doesn’t matter what your sexual orientation is, what your belief in marriage is, what your race is, what your colour is, we respect you as a human being. The game’s policy has been that for many years, and it won’t change.”
This sort of incident puts traditional Christians and LGBTQIA people and their allies into a zero-sum game. Neither side will “win.” The seven players will lose a game. The pride supporters will experience rejection. The club will fear being split.
You make it sound like this is just another cultural incident, but The whole point of the pride jersey is to confront the homophobia that’s too common in football settings. The cultural and religious excuse just doesn’t cut it. You wouldn’t accept the same argument if it was race based, and so we shouldn’t accept it for sexuality. What is sad, is that these players probably know what race-based discrimination is like, and yet they can’t extend their empathy to LGBTQI people? Discrimination should be called out no matter what. And you’re not being discriminated against when you’re rejection comes from your discrimination of others.
PS a little surprisingly same players are happy to wear a jersey that advertises a gambling company. No end to Christian hypocrisy on these topics.
Let’s accept your premise that a conservative Christian view on LGBTIQA issues equates to racism Would having people who thought the wrong thing read in the paper that they were going to wear a uniform campaigning for the cause be a good way to bring about a change of heart?