In 1995, Ian Roberts became Australia’s first openly gay NRL player, but looking back, he regrets not “coming out sooner”.
Despite growing up in the 70s in a “homophobic and misogynist atmosphere”, Roberts told The Feed he’s always been at ease with his sexuality and open about it privately. For years, he wanted to come out publicly but he hit a drawback when he saw what happened when English soccer player Justin Fashanu came out in 1990.
Fashanu once said of his coming out,"footballers are very narrow-minded people. When you put yourself in the firing line, you are open to attack. I know I'm there to be shot down in flames."When Roberts eventually came out in 95’ he confronted some “horrible” homophobia but said, “the benefits far outweighed the positives.”NRL player Ian Roberts said he went through a"dark time" after retiring from the sport in 1998.
It was during this “dark time” that Roberts contacted suicide prevention organisation Lifeline for help.“The phone call with this person on the other end, just the power of that conversation, it validated what I was feeling. Now I understand, it’s okay to feel that way and this feeling will pass.” On Friday, 10 September - World Suicide Prevention Day - Lifeline will be hostingAustralians can
WAG's can't be WAG's, anymore. Any suggestions for a new acronym?
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Great story and a very important message