"The AFL has declared war on homophobia to stamp out ugly slurs and help save lives."

Even to Australians who prefer rugby, cricket or surfing, it doesn't get much holier than "footie" - think of NFL to the Americans, add in the NBA, and that's about how important it is.

"No to Homophobia" advertisements sponsored by the AFL were played on the scoreboard in the interval at the AFL pre-final yesterday and will be played again at tonight's pre-final, preceded by the announcement "As part of its commitment to making football a game for everyone, the AFL is proud to support a new campaign tackling homophobia. This campaign aims to remind people that discrimination in any form is never acceptable – whether it’s on the footy field or in everyday life.”

Open support doesn't get much bigger or better than that.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/anti-homophobia-ads-to-play-at-footy-finals-as-afl-declares-war-on-ugly-slurs/story-e6frf7jo-1226478598772

The first three reader comments leave a lot to be desired...

The first three reader comments leave a lot to be desired...

They show clearly that the campaign is needed.

The only homophobic remarks I've seen on our local forum come from an American and.... an Australian!

... The only homophobic remarks I've seen on our local forum come from an American and.... an Australian!

Homophobic Americans and Australians have a lot in common - except in Australia they are in a shrinking but equally vocal minority. They tend very much to be the religious right, redneck, etc, but the religious right are losing a lot of their edge in Australia due partly to the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney saying that women should vow to "submit" to their husbands in their wedding vows and partly to a massive pedophile scandal in the Catholic church.

copycatting? In Germany-and in fact even promoted by the lady-prime minister,.ms Angela Merkel, is a same-same campaign now running. But perhaps for a fullblood OZie thats even worse and/or unknown as pommieland?

I think you've missed my point, asanee. I wasn't saying that the campaign was anything new, but was commenting on the support from the AFL; politicians give their support all the time, for various reasons, but support from an independent organisation with the status of the AFL is, as far as I know, something new.

"unknown as pommieland"? I'm from "pommieland"!!

Edited September 26, 201213 yr by LeCharivari